Chapter 17
There is no doubt in my mind that a man invented the sound of an alarm clock, or at the very least, a woman invented it to be just as annoying as one.
Groaning, I stretch my arm out and slap the machine until it shuts up, then pull my zebra print comforter up over my head. Why would anyone ever want to be woken up like that? An awful sound when you’re being alerted to something important? Sure. But just to wake up? Absolutely not.
The right way to wake up would be the sun beaming into my room slowly, the scent of pancakes and coffee in the air, and the sounds of birds chirping a happy tune. Has that ever been my reality? Nope, but a girl can dream. Well, not today though, because my dumb ass forgot to shut off my alarm.
I could sit here, soak up the never changing silence, or I could head to the shop. I’m pretty sure that I need to check inventory anyways, and it’s the perfect excuse to not wallow in self pity because I have nothing to do.
I roll back over and flip open my phone. Five missed calls from Daisy and three unread text messages. Not sure how I didn’t wake up to all of these. I laugh, letting my amusement in my ability to sleep get the best of me as I open up the texts.
DAISY: Just wanted U 2 knw I got home safe
DAISY: Let me know U did 2
DAISY: HELLO?
My fingers clack on the keys as I formulate a response. Before I can press send, Kelly Clarkson’s Miss Independent echoes through my room. A fitting ringtone, as it’s Daisy’s favorite and reminds me of her anytime it comes on.
“Hey, Dais,” I answer, stretching my arms as I yawn.
“Oh, thank God, you’re okay.” Relief consumes her voice.
I rub the sleep from my eyes, feeling more alert hearing her panic. “Hah, yes. I’m sorry, I passed out the second I hit my bed last night and forgot to text you.”
“Well, I’m outside.”
“What?” I look at my clock. “It’s six thirty in the morning.”
She blows out a breath. “Well, I didn’t know if you were dead.” She isn’t irritated, just anxious.
I crawl out of my bed, the phone still pressed to my ear, and slide on my hot pink fuzzy slippers. “And what if I had been?”
“Then I probably wouldn’t be talking to you.” She laughs, but I know she really was worried by her tone. “Now, get down here and let me in.”
I’ve already made my way down the stairs and to my front door. Swinging it open, I reply, “Done,” as I click end on our call.
The instant our eyes connect, she throws her arms around me. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” Her hug is tight and filled with love, like she is. I raise both my arms up and hug her back just as tight.
Letting out a soft chuckle, I add, “I’m glad I am too.”
We release one another, my heart feeling more full than it had a moment ago. Such is the magic of Daisy. I swear, she’s like a pocket full of sunshine. If only I could have a fraction of her positivity and love.
“So…” I waggle my eyebrows at her. “Where’d you disappear to last night?”
Daisy tucks a piece of hair behind her ear and offers me a bashful grin. “Do you wanna go to the shop for a muffin and some coffee? I’ve got so much to tell you and I need some caffeine.”
“Wait, so you kissed him? Or did he kiss you? Who kissed who?” I spit out so many questions at once, leaving no room for her to reply.
“He for sure kissed me. At least the first time, in the bathroom—”
“In the bathroom? Daisy, Oh. My. God.” I’m beyond excited for her, but never did I think she would make-out with a near stranger in a public restroom.
“Are you going to see him again after this? Is this gonna make signing him a little…I don’t know…
weird?” Her confidence falters, so I try to pivot.
I don’t want to dull her excitement, I just worry for her.
“Figure it out first. No need to worry about something that isn’t even defined. ”
Some of the light has dulled in her bright blue gaze, and a trickle of guilt settles in my chest. Shit, I didn’t want to rain on her parade.
Not everyone is as pessimistic about love as I am.
I find myself about to say something, anything, to ease the worry I created, but she flashes me a soft smile.
I think she gets where I’m coming from, and luckily she still chooses to be hopeful.
“Sorry for leaving you alone. I was just so excited to go anywhere with Sawyer that I was a bad friend and didn’t even think of where that left you.”
“Daisy,” exaggerated annoyance sounds from me. “You are not a bad friend. Not for that, and not for any other reason. I’m really glad you’re interested in someone. I mean I’ll punch him in the fucking face if he hurts you but you seem so happy. I’m excited for you.”
“Well, I still shouldn’t have left you.”
I gather my hair, dropping it as I realize I don’t have a ponytail holder on my wrist. “I mean, technically, Sawyer stopped me from following you so I’ll blame him. Even more so I’ll blame him for leaving his blockhead friend behind with me.”
“Wait, Rhett? What happened after we left? How did you get home?”
“Believe it or not, he walked me home,” I grumble.
It still doesn’t make sense to me why he chose to stick around.
Maybe he’s a masochist or a glutton for punishment.
It’s not like I have ever been particularly nice to him.
And yet, like the annoying kind gentleman he is, he walked me home regardless.
Maybe there’s more to that cowboy than meets the eye.
Daisy halts her steps, her gaze widening in interest as she looks back toward my house and then back at me. “What, did he stay?”
“Ew. No,” I say, trying to sound convincing, knowing I don’t mean it, and by her expression, she does too.
She crosses her arms. “Kaylee, you’re not fooling anyone. What happened?”
Her ringtone goes off, directing her attention away from me as she snatches her cell phone out of her pocket. The huge smile on her lips tells me all I need to know.
Sawyer.
“He asked me out.” Excitement radiates from her and I can’t help but smile too, seeing her this happy. “He said next weekend, though.”
“Ask him to hangout this weekend. Fuck waiting for things you want.”
She types away, the returning messages come nearly as fast. “He asked for my address, he’s going to hangout with me now.
” She practically jumps up and down, but then her face shifts to the most serious she can muster.
“You’re not off the hook. You better tell me what happened when I get back.
” She peers down at her clothes, before flicking her eyes back up at me, a look of slight horror on her face.
“I need to change.” Turning to head home, she stops, giving me one more great, big hug.
I’ve never really been a hugger, but Daisy is.
It’s definitely taken some getting used to.
“Thanks for being my BFF, I’ll call you later. ”
I wave her on, laughing at how excited she is, then head into the shop. All the patrons are served and happy, the shop itself is clean, and the girls stand behind the counter, giggling while they clean up from the morning rush.
I walk behind the counter and back to my office, tossing my bag on my desk and grabbing my inventory notebook before heading back to the counter. Hannah and Ginny turn to greet me with smiles.
“Good morning, Miss Kaylee,” Ginny says, “You just missed your friend.”
“My friend?” I look at her like she’s crazy. Daisy hadn’t mentioned checking here first for me.
“A real handsome guy, about six something, with the dreamiest brown eyes,” Hannah says as she twirls her pin straight hair around her finger.
They don’t have to say his name, I know, without a doubt, they are talking about Rhett.
“Oh, yeah, not my friend.”
“Funny, he said the same thing,” Ginny offers sweetly.
“Yeah, if he hadn’t said that I wouldn’t have slipped him my number. Just in case. I’m a girls’ girl.” Hannah giggles. “He’s so hot.”
Irritation courses through my veins. Is it the hangover or am I just annoyed at the sound of her piercing laugh?
“Let’s focus on the work and less on finding a boyfriend, Hannah.
” I try to remain lighthearted, and add a laugh so she doesn’t get so scared she quits, but I think her confession pisses me off.
Not because of Rhett, I could give a shit less about him, but because this isn’t a matchmaking service, it’s a job.
I head back toward the office, pretending I forgot something, when in reality all I forgot was my patience. Handing out her number isn’t that big of a deal, I’m sure it happens all the time, but for some reason my irritation is next level.
A soft knock comes from behind me. Ginny stands there, an apologetic gleam in her eyes. “I’m really sorry about Hannah. That should have never happened, no matter who it was.”
I furrow my brow, shocked that an apology is coming for something so miniscule. “Oh, no one is in trouble.” I look toward my desk, searching for anything to stand out. “I just forgot…a pen,” I say as I lift one up in the air.
The corner of her lips turn up slightly. “Either way, I know that it’s not very professional and had I set that expectation when I trained her, she would have known better.”
It’s a shame she feels the need to apologize, especially on behalf of someone else, but the longer I think about it, the less I think it’s about the action, and more about it being Rhett.
Am I… jealous?