Chapter Twenty-Four #2
“I have plans with Matt,” she said coolly. “It’ll be all you tomorrow.”
“You don’t care?” His brows knit.
Daisy laughed and set her purse on the counter. “I trust you. Amelia is comfortable with you and your family, so I don’t see the issue.”
Jameson looked distressed for a moment, then reverted to his crooked smile. “You’ll be thoroughly missed. Though I can’t say I’ll miss your game-playing skills.”
“Oh please. I always won.”
“No. I always let you win.”
“You didn’t.” Daisy grimaced playfully.
He shrugged, kissed Amelia on the forehead, and called over his shoulder as he left, “Guess you’ll have to come tomorrow to find out.”
Matt and Amelia were in the living room while Daisy finished getting ready.
After Jameson left the night before, she and Amelia had stayed up past bedtime—painting nails, eating popcorn, and, thanks to Jameson, watching Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Daisy already knew she’d blame him the next time Amelia repeated one of the movie’s curse words.
“Mom, it’s almost time. We need to leave!” Amelia called, buzzing with excitement for game night. Daisy was glad her daughter fit so easily with Jameson’s family, but she couldn’t ignore the thought of how fleeting these moments might be once the band was back in the studio or worse, on tour again.
She smoothed her clothes, a slimming black pair of jeans and a white top that revealed a sliver of midriff, slid on heels, and joined them in the living room.
Matt kissed her cheek. “Thank you for hurrying. Your child here was about to lose it.”
Daisy rolled her eyes, grabbed her purse, and headed out to drop Amelia off at game night.
Her palms began to sweat as the three of them drew closer to the house.
She hadn’t let herself think much about how this would go.
Would Matt come inside with them, or would she walk in alone?
Would Jameson’s family see her as a bad mother for leaving Amelia while she went out, or would they understand?
She shook the thoughts from her head as they pulled into the driveway.
It doesn’t matter, she reminded herself. At the end of the day, she was a good mother who had done her best with the hand she’d been dealt.
Daisy was surprised when Matt jumped out of the driver’s seat and came around to escort them to the door. Amelia raced ahead, rang the bell twice, and bounced on her toes until the door opened.
Margot stood there, smiling wide the moment she saw Amelia. “There’s my precious girl!” She scooped her into a hug and ushered her inside. “Everyone’s just through that hallway.”
Amelia didn’t even glance back at Daisy. She just bolted off, thrilled to see everyone.
Daisy stepped cautiously across the threshold. “Nice to see you, Margot,” she said. “This is Matt.”
Margot’s smile faltered, not quite meeting her eyes. “It’s a pleasure.” She quickly extended a hand. “You must be the boyfriend.”
“Yes, ma’am. And I’m assuming you’re the grandma.”
This time, Margot’s smile did reach her eyes at the word. Grandma.
“Yes,” she said proudly. “That I am. Come inside, both of you.”
Daisy nodded once and followed her into a living room full of familiar faces. The chatter quieted briefly as the pair entered. Everyone from dinner the week prior was there, along with two new faces.
She wasn’t surprised to find Amelia already snuggled between Lenny and Jameson on the couch, talking their ears off.
Daisy offered a general hello to the room and introduced Matt.
The group was warm and inviting, everyone except Kyler, who sat back with arms crossed, glowering.
His disdain was obvious, his eyes flicking toward Jameson as if to say, you’re really okay with this?
Jameson ignored him. Instead, he wove through the crowded room and offered Matt a handshake.
“Hey, Matt.”
Then he turned to Daisy, greeted her with an English kiss to the cheek, and whispered so only she could hear, “You look beautiful.”
The unexpected affection startled her. Goose bumps rose across her skin, her cheeks warming with embarrassment.
Instead of reacting, she looked up at Matt. “Ready to go?”
“Sure.”
“Bye, Amelia,” Daisy called across the room.
She turned back to Jameson. “Please call if you need anything. We should be back around nine.”
Jameson walked them to the door. “Sounds good. You kids have fun.”
Their plans for the night were simple: dinner at Miguel’s, one of their favorite date spots, followed by a new movie at the theater. But Daisy had a sneaking suspicion the night wouldn’t go as planned.
The car ride was quiet, the silence heavy. She knew Matt too well not to recognize it. He was upset, and she didn’t need to guess why.
The sudden presence of Jameson Kingston in her life had shifted everything.
This should be a fun night, she thought sarcastically as they pulled into the restaurant.
Seated in a quiet corner, Daisy dropped her menu onto the table with a thud, forcing his attention. “Please tell me what’s wrong.”
Before he could answer, she added, “And don’t say nothing.”
Matt set down his own menu, lighter than hers, and looked her directly in the eye. “I’m tired of this, Daisy.”
She waited.
“I’m tired of sending messages that go unanswered when I’m away. I’m tired of not having a normal relationship. And I’m tired of some other man stepping into your and Amelia’s life and getting everything I’ve wanted for years.”
There it was—the raw, exposed reason for his pain.
“He’s not getting everything,” she said, placing her hand over his. “He doesn’t have me.”
“Not yet,” he muttered, pulling his hand away.
“Matt, he doesn’t and he never will.”
He shook his head, eyes hard. “I barely have you, Daisy. I see the way he looks at you, how he reacts when you’re in the room. He’s waiting to sweep you off your feet.”
“You’re off base,” she argued. “He’s trying for Amelia. We both are.”
Matt ran a hand through his hair. “And Amelia. He acts like he hasn’t been an absentee father all her life, and suddenly—”
Daisy got defensive. “Stop it. You know why he wasn’t there. Don’t call him that. I won’t have it.”
Matt held a haughty expression. She’d just proved his point. “Of course you defend him.”
“He’s her father, Matt. What do you want me to do? Forbid him from seeing her? Move out of the state so they don’t have a relationship?”
“Of course not. I just expect consistency.”
She opened her mouth to ask what he meant, when their waitress interrupted and took their order.
“I need you to elaborate on that. How am I not being consistent?”
Matt gave a short, cynical laugh. “How can you be so blind, Daisy? I’ve been here for three years.
Three damn years. I’ve helped raise Amelia.
I’ve loved her like she was my own. I’ve been there when he wasn’t.
And now, to see you all together, the time you’re spending, the little family you’re rebuilding…
it hurts. It’s like a punch to the gut.”
Daisy sat in silence, his words pressing heavy on her.
She felt awful knowing her choices had caused him pain, but what was she supposed to do?
Deny Jameson the right to see his daughter?
She knew Matt wasn’t asking for that, not outright.
But it sure felt like he was leaving her with no other option.
The food arrived and the owner came by to chat, a welcome distraction that eased the tension for a bit.
But after he left, Matt set his fork down and said, quietly and intensely, “I want it all, Daisy. Not this half-assed bullshit. I want to be a parent to Amelia, a real boyfriend to you, and one day, hopefully soon, a husband.”
The words hit her like a wave. She sat frozen, unsure what to say. Part of her wanted nothing more than the normal life Matt described; part of her was still so afraid.
The damage was already done, and she didn’t know if she could ever fully trust again.
It wasn’t fair, to him or to her, to keep living a life shadowed by doubt.
After several long seconds of stillness, Daisy whispered, “I want those things too, Matt. But… I need time.”
He blew out a breath and flagged for the bill. “I love you, Daisy. Even though you won’t say it, I know you love me, too. I believe we can go the distance, build a good life together. I know you’re scared, but I know what I want, and it’s been right in front of me for years.”
She didn’t answer as he paid and led her out to the car. They drove back to Rebecca and Charlie’s, forgoing the movie and not speaking a word until they pulled into the driveway.
After a long minute, he said, “I’m going back to New York the day after next. I’ll be staying for a while. My dad is finally having his hip replaced. I’ll help my mom while he recovers.”
“Of course,” she murmured.
“I think we should use the time apart to think about what we want—what we want from this relationship.”
He said “we,” but she heard “you.” She knew where he stood. Now the cards were in her hands.
“Are you… breaking up with me?” she whimpered.
“I want all of you, Daisy. I’m ready to choose you, day in and day out.
No more games. I need you to trust me. You loosen your grip every time I go back to New York like you’re bracing yourself for the same betrayal someone else left you with.
You practically give me free rein, as if it’ll hurt less if you don’t ask questions.
But, Daisy, I’ve never once taken advantage of that.
Not once. I could have. God knows the opportunity was there.
I’ve tried to flirt, tried to see if the grass was greener, and every single time, my thoughts circled back to you.
So I’ll say it again: I want it all. As risky as it is to let you go right now, it’s one I’m willing to take. I need you all in on us.”
Daisy’s face brimmed with tears. His declaration was potent and lovely and terrifying. She wanted to pull him into her arms and say yes, but the fear sat heavy.
“Okay,” she managed.
He seemed ready to press, to coax her into a decision, but then his shoulders sagged. “I’ll wait here while you get Amelia.”
“You don’t need to wait. It’s not even seven; she won’t want to leave.”
“How will you get home?”
“Jame—” she began, then stopped. “Someone will drop us off.”
“Daisy, I don’t mind—”
“Please, Matt,” she said softly, cutting him off. “Just go home.”
He hesitated. “Can I at least come over tomorrow to say goodbye?”
She nodded, then opened the car door. Before she climbed out, she glanced back over her shoulder and murmured, “I do love you, Matt. I just need more time.”