Chapter Twenty-Nine #2
She looked around at the high ceilings and laughed. “You think?”
But as her father chuckled, Daisy’s gaze drifted toward the hallway where Jameson remained, and the truth settled heavy in her—some pirates stole booty, others stole souls, but some… some stole the parts you’d promised to always protect.
Amelia’s birthday party was in full swing. Kids from her class were running wild in the backyard, shrieking and playing with inflatable swords.
Lenny and Kyler were on the deck with Anna and Riley, while their parents gathered around the patio furniture sharing wine and stories. Daisy’s body stung with remembrance—it was like being transported into the past, when things were simple, and indecision didn’t grip her.
“Hey, boss!”
Daisy turned to find Jessica striding through the patio doors, dressed head-to-toe in pirate chic, with a black leather dress, boots, and a tricorn hat perched at an angle.
“Hey! Thanks for coming.” They hugged tightly.
“Like I’d miss this? First, I love my Amelia girl. Second, I never say no to a costume. And third… I’m hoping to go home with a hot musician by the end of the night.”
Daisy elbowed her. “This is a kid’s birthday party, you know!”
“So? I’m single and not opposed to looking anywhere I can—church, the club, or a nine-year-old’s party.”
“Well, good luck with that. Most of the guys here are taken.”
“What about Lenny?”
Daisy shrugged. “Maybe, but you’ll have to get through Anna first.”
“Get through what?” Anna, of course, appeared out of nowhere.
“You hitting that?” Jessica grinned, nodding toward Lenny.
Anna laughed cynically. “Been there, and I’m good. Let’s just say he peaked too soon. I’d tell you to go for it, but I hate to see a good condom wasted.”
Daisy pressed her hands over her face, laughing. “Okay, can we not? Little ears everywhere.”
Anna mimed zipping her lips and disappeared inside.
Daisy showed Jessica where to set her gift, then grabbed a drink and joined a group of parents.
She made her rounds, pretending to be interested in small talk, pretending not to feel Jameson’s gaze from somewhere nearby.
He was never far. Every time she thought she’d escaped him, she’d sense him again.
It was bewildering.
Daisy was mid-conversation with a few parents from Amelia’s school when Jameson appeared behind her. She didn’t have to turn to feel the ripple he caused because every mom flushed and every dad straightened up.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said smoothly. “Just making my way around. I wanted to formally introduce myself.”
Gina—the self-proclaimed “hot mom”—stepped forward a little too eagerly. “We met at pickup once! I’m Caleb’s mom. He just adores Amelia, and so do I. She’s the sweetest thing.”
“Thank you,” Jameson said. “And thanks for coming. I know it’s a bit of a hike down here.”
“Not at all.” Gina fluttered her fake eyelashes. “Your home is beautiful. We’d go anywhere to celebrate Amelia.”
Daisy caught another mom’s knowing glance. Funny, because Gina’s kid had never come to a single party before. In fact, half of these parents had never RSVP’d to a previous birthday, but throw a rock-star dad into the mix, and suddenly, everyone was quick to say, “Yes.”
Jameson lingered, charming as ever, before excusing himself to talk to the caterer—though a handful of parents trailed after him, hanging on his every word.
Annoying, sure. But at least it kept him busy.
Soon, the buffet opened. Amelia and her friends darted toward the chocolate fountain made to look like a volcano and the sushi spread displayed on miniature pirate ships. Jameson, well, Alice had outdone themselves. It was, Daisy admitted, spectacular.
Anna sidled up beside her, giving her a little squeeze. “Are you doing okay?”
Daisy forced a smile. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
“Because we know you. And this can’t be easy… sharing her, sharing this.” Anna gestured at the scene. “And…”
“And?” Daisy pressed.
Anna hesitated, then leaned in. “And it’s Jameson. Your first love, your first everything. That can’t be easy either, unless you’ve totally shut that down.”
Daisy’s heart skipped. She hadn’t told Anna anything, not about the kiss in LA, and not about last night.
Anna was her sister in all but blood, but she was also opinionated as hell, and Daisy needed time to sort through her own chaos before braving Anna’s commentary.
Still, she felt the change in her friend’s expression, the dawning realization that Daisy hadn’t “shut it down.”
“Daisy,” Anna whispered. “You didn’t.”
People were everywhere. “Later, okay?”
“I will literally die if you make me wait.”
“Then I guess I’ll call the hearse now,” Daisy teased.
Anna rolled her eyes. “Fine. But I’m coming back to yours tonight.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything else.”
Her appetite gone, Daisy slipped inside. The noise dulled as she entered the mudroom, taking the cake out to prep with candles. She was just about finished when the door clicked behind her.
She turned—and froze. Jameson filled the small space.
“Um, hi. Do you need something?” she asked, pulse leaping.
“Daisy, come on. Can you stop treating me like I have the plague?”
“I’m not—”
He cut her off gently. “We both know you are. And we both know why. I’ve been dying to get a moment with you alone all day.” He stepped closer. She took a step back.
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” she blurted. The air in the room suddenly felt thick.
“What? Talking to me? Or… last night?”
Daisy pressed her palms to her face. “I don’t know. Both, maybe. Last night was… a lot. The song, the painting, the wine…”
“Daisy.”
“I just need time, okay? I haven’t had a second to process it all. Right now, I want to focus on Amelia and deal with us later.”
He didn’t answer right away. He just stood there, one hand on his hip, watching her like she was the most complicated, most precious thing he’d ever seen.
Finally, she met his gaze, gathering the courage to ask, “What do you think?”
“Of us?”
She nodded.
Jameson didn’t answer right away. He took a good look around, mulling over his next words.
“I think last night was the best night of my life,” he said quietly.
“For the first time since you came back, I have hope. Hope that we can be good parents—and maybe more than that. I think I’ve carried a torch for you since the moment I saw you in that cafeteria thirteen years ago.
It’s only burned brighter, no matter how hard I tried to put it out.
And I think—” He smiled, almost shyly. “I think that I love making love to you and that I want to do it for the rest of my life.” He paused, taking a step closer, lowering his voice, “And I think—actually, I know, that I’m in love with you, Daisy Daniels. I don’t think I ever stopped.”
Her eyes filled. She had never known what it felt like to hold someone else’s heart in her hands until now. But there she was and Jameson had just handed her his own.
Steadily, he took one last step, closing the distance, resting his forehead against hers. “I want it all, Daisy. Please tell me I’m not on this island alone.”
And then—the door swung open.
“Oh my! I’m so sorry.”
Margot froze in the doorway. Daisy jumped back, mortified.
“Amelia’s finished eating,” Margot said delicately. “She’d like to start the cake. She sent me to find you both.”
“Thanks, Mum,” Jameson said smoothly. “Tell her we’ll be right out.”
Margot hesitated, eyes flicking between them before she retreated.
The second the door clicked shut, shame washed over Daisy like cold water. Her eyes stung, her head hurt, and the spell she was under had shattered.
“Daisy…”
She held up her hand. “Just stop. Please. I can’t do this right now.”
She brushed past him and fled back outside.
Thankfully, Jameson had enough sense to bring the cake when he followed.
The crowd gathered around Amelia, who stood beaming as the candles flickered.
Daisy and Jameson flanked her on either side, the picture of family.
As Amelia closed her eyes and blew out nine bright flames, Daisy clapped along with everyone else, pretending her heart wasn’t tearing in two.
As the crowd dispersed, Daisy started to cut the cake, when she heard Amelia gasp.
Both Daisy and Jameson turned just as Amelia bolted toward the man standing at the gate.
For a second, Daisy thought her brain was playing tricks on her. But no, there he was, sunlight catching on his hair as he kneeled to catch the birthday girl.
“Matt,” Daisy breathed.
Amelia wrapped herself around him. “Matty! I didn’t know you were coming. I can’t believe it came true!”
Daisy’s hands trembled as she passed the knife to her mother and walked toward them. “Can’t believe what came true?” Matt asked, still holding Amelia.
“Oh, nothing.” Amelia looked up. “Mom, did you know Matt was coming? Was this a surprise?”
Daisy stopped in front of them, a smile plastered on tight. “No, sweetie. This is a surprise to me, too.” She met Matt’s eyes. “Hi.”
He let go of Amelia and pulled Daisy into his arms. “Hi, back.”
She stepped out of his hold quickly. “When did you get back in town?”
“This morning. First flight I could get. I didn’t want to miss this, and I missed you. Both of you.” He turned back to Amelia with a grin.
Amelia launched into a mile-a-minute rundown of her party, the pirate ship, the chocolate fountain. And Daisy’s eyes found Jameson across the yard. She expected fury. Instead, she saw sadness. And something else… compassion.
Because he knew. He knew she was standing in an impossible place. There was no fear in his gaze, no jealousy, just understanding. And maybe, a trace of pain.
After several minutes, Amelia darted back to play with her friends. Matt turned to Daisy. “Can I have a minute?”
She nodded faintly. “Of course.”
They walked in silence toward the back of the property, to her garden. The air was heavy, fragrant, and cruelly calm.