Chapter 17
Daisy
Daisy hadn’t seen the Connors in over a week.
They were out of town for a few games, and she was alarmed at how much she missed them.
Every night she had picked up the napkin with Connor’s phone number on it, debating if it would be weird to text him.
On the one hand, he’d given her the phone number, which indicated she’d be welcome to use it. On the other hand, what would she say?
If she texted, it would be evidence of her thinking about him.
She set the napkin on her coffee table, where it had been sitting all week, and opened her laptop, going over the script for their next podcast episode.
Valentine and Hazy had managed to get some points on a power play together.
She and Roxie had screamed in excitement about it as they watched.
It wasn’t the whole line with points, but considering all three of them had been in multi-game droughts, she considered it a huge win.
Daisy walked a fine line with the podcast. She needed to accurately report on the team, but also be clear she was rooting for them every step of the way.
And she couldn’t reveal her working relationship with them, or any other inside information that might violate the terms of the NDA she had signed.
The balance felt impossible to manage. Roxie would be there soon to record the episode, and Daisy was still editing her notes, putting in details about the previous night’s game and looking for anything that might give away her close relationship with the Connors.
Roxie knocked a few minutes early, and Daisy didn’t hesitate to answer.
But it wasn’t Roxie. Hazy stood in her doorway, casual as ever.
Her eyes bugged out of her head, and she examined herself, evaluating her state of being.
She wore pink boy shorts that didn’t cover her full butt cheeks and a white band shirt with a stain on the front from her lunch.
Her hair was greasy as fuck, and she didn’t have a drop of makeup on.
“Daisy!” He pulled her into a hug that she belatedly returned.
“What are you doing here?”
Confusion crossed his face. “Um, Beanie told me to be here at 3:00.” He checked his phone. “It’s 2:50, but it doesn’t seem like you were expecting me. I wanted to text you to confirm, but Beanie wouldn’t give me your number.”
“I wasn’t expecting you. And I never gave Connor my number.”
“Oh.” The bewilderment in his voice mirrored Daisy’s own thoughts. He hooked a thumb over his shoulder, pointing to the elevator. “Do you want me to go?”
She kind of did, but she didn’t want to be rude, so she stepped aside and let him into her disheveled apartment. Before the latch clicked the door into place, another knock sounded.
Roxie let herself in. She dropped a duffel bag of equipment onto a dining room chair and started pulling off her sweatshirt before she noticed the two people staring at her. She was a deer in headlights when she saw Hazy.
“Aw, fuck. You’re early.”
And that’s when it clicked for Daisy. “Explain,” she demanded. Anxiety and frustration bubbled in her veins.
Roxie ignored the demand and finished stripping off her jacket, draping it over the chair. She sighed and reached out to Hazy for a handshake.
“Well, I guess Daisy isn’t going to introduce us. I’m Roxie.”
Recognition dawned in Hazy’s eyes, and he bypassed the offered hand to scoop her into a hug. “You have no idea how ecstatic I am to meet you. I have so many questions.”
Roxie laughed. “I’m sure you do. Connor told me a bit about the cabin trip. I’m ecstatic to meet you, too. Trust me. For different reasons, though.”
“Seriously, Roxie. What the fuck?” Daisy crossed her arms, aware she was being a brat.
Roxie stepped away from Hazy and helped herself to a soda from the fridge. She handed one to Daisy and Hazy.
“I need you to breathe. This is a little push to get things going. You would never ask them.”
“Yeah, because we have a professional relationship, Roxie. It’s unprofessional to ask clients for favors. We aren’t friends.” Daisy winced at the words as they flew from her mouth. They weren’t true. She hoped to maintain friendships with the Connors well after their working relationship ended.
“Fuck. That’s not what I meant,” she tried to backpedal. But the damage was done. He looked like Daisy had kicked his puppy.
Daisy expected him to walk away from her, and she braced herself for the incoming emotional damage.
But he stayed rooted to his spot in her kitchen and said, “I know what you meant. You still didn’t have to say it.
If you think we aren’t friends, you’re lying to yourself.
You better never say those words in front of Lover. It would crush him.”
She stepped closer to him, needing reassurance they’d be okay. “I’m sorry. A lot is being thrown at me right now.”
“I can see that.” He squeezed her arm, seeming to understand what she needed, then addressed Roxie.
“I assume this has something to do with the podcast?”
Roxie grinned at him and nodded. “Connor said you would be down.”
“Hell yeah I am, I love doing this kind of stuff. I’m media trained and ready. I’ve been dying for Daisy to ask but assumed she’d ask Beanie first.”
“Daisy would die before she asked Connor Greene for help with anything, let alone this.”
“Roxie.” Daisy snapped a warning, but her best friend rolled her eyes in answer.
Hazy studied her. She couldn’t help but fidget under the attention. “That’s okay, she doesn’t have to ask. He’ll come through, anyway.”
Roxie handed them each a stack of papers. Daisy flipped through the script. “None of this is what we had planned.”
“Yep. We’re winging it. Are you ready?”
Daisy sighed. “I guess. It’s going to be a tight squeeze though,” she said as she led them to her messy bedroom.
Clothes lay scattered on the floor and bed, and glasses of water and half-finished novels were piled high on her nightstand.
She hadn’t meant for Hazy to know her at this level, but they were friends now, so whatever.
She opened her small walk-in closet, ushered her friends inside, and closed them in. They sat in a circle on the floor, squeezed so close together their knees brushed. Roxie grabbed equipment from her bag and passed it around. Hazy’s gaze roamed around the tiny space.
“Why are we in your closet?”
Daisy couldn’t help but laugh. “It helps with the sound quality. Why did you think?”
He shrugged and accepted a tiny microphone from Roxie. “I don’t know, man. I’m just along for the ride. I came to your home out of the blue with no word from you because Beanie told me to. I don’t ask a lot of questions.”
“That could be super dangerous,” Roxie said.
“Ehh. Maybe for sweet little things like you. I felt pretty confident Daisy wouldn’t shoot or stab me.”
“That’s a little presumptuous. I could be a serial killer.”
“You’re not though.”
“But I could be.”
“I can’t see it. But I guess that means if you are, you’re doing a great job hiding it.”
Daisy preened, “Thank you!”
They started recording, and Daisy went through her normal introduction before Roxie took over.
“Today we have a special guest. We’ve talked a lot about the Connor line here on the pod, and while we have been critical at times, we haven’t been clear enough about our relationship with them.
We are not haters. In fact, we may be their biggest fans.
Connor Greene and I dated for some time in college, and we split amicably.
I’ve followed his entire professional career, happy to cheer him on from afar.
We hadn’t spoken for several years until about a week ago when we were able to reconnect.
But while my relationship with Beanie has been next to nothing in recent years, and I’ve never met Valentine or Hale, Daisy is well acquainted with all three men.
Daisy, what can you tell us about your relationship with the Connors? ”
“There are restrictions about what I’m allowed to disclose, which is why I haven’t talked about it before now. But I can say I have gotten the opportunity to spend a pretty significant amount of time with them.”
Daisy hadn’t been able to read ahead in the revised script, so Roxie surprised her by saying, “That’s right. We haven’t been keeping secrets! I figured out a way to get around that pesky little NDA. Today we’re being joined by Connor Hale. Connor, how are you doing today?”
“I’m doing good, Roxie. Happy to be here.”
“Good, we’re so glad to have you joining us. Have you listened to any of our previous episodes?”
“Yes! I’ve listened to every episode. When Daisy admitted to having a podcast, we decided to see what she had to say. You guys are sweet. It’s nice to be supported through a cold streak.”
“Well, that’s embarrassing. I’m not sure we would’ve gushed so hard if we had known you would hear it. Before we get started, to reassure Daisy here, can you tell us what limitations you’re under? Do you also have an NDA you need to follow?”
Hazy chuckled. “No, I don’t have an NDA, but some details aren’t mine to share. I’ll let you know if there’s anything I can’t answer.”
Roxie squealed into the mic and did a little happy dance. She infused a hint of drama into her voice when she said, “I have to admit, I don’t know what has been going on, so I’m as excited as anyone to get some juicy gossip about my best friend.”
Daisy objected. “There’s no juicy gossip to be had. Trust me. Maybe we can stick to hockey. That’s a safe place to start.”
“Hmm,” Roxie said. “I don’t believe you, but I guess the fans are here for the hockey, so we can address that too. Hazy, your line has been struggling out there. Why do you think that is?”