Chapter 21 #2
She shook her head and spoke directly to Connor. “I’ll tell you some of it, but a big chunk needs to be between you and me. There’s a lot you don’t know, and that’s my fault. But this is not the place.”
“Go put your puppies away. We’ll comb kittens while I explain.
” They did as she asked, and she used the time to gather herself.
When they sat in a circle holding helpless baby animals, she explained.
“I told you about my first kiss with a boy named Patrick. I told you he was my best friend. I told you he got me into hockey. But I left out the key detail that my Patrick is Patrick Mills. I thought that’s why you guys were mad.
I wanted to tell you, but I planned to be choosier about the timing.
I wasn’t going to say, ‘I’m going to help you bond as a team, and, oh, by the way, I’m besties with the enemy. ’”
Valentine seemed to be softening toward her a little as she spoke. Hazy was hesitant, and Connor’s gaze remained hard. “I am pissed about that,” Valentine said, “but I’m more disappointed in you. I thought you were better than to sleep with a married man.”
This again. Daisy couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m not sleeping with Patrick.”
Hazy wasn’t sold. “I don’t believe you. You ran into his arms. He was all over you!”
Daisy sighed and held up a finger as she called in backup. Sophia answered on the second ring. “Daisy! Have you talked to Connor yet?”
Daisy grimaced. “You’re on speaker, all three Connors present. They’re convinced I’m sleeping with your husband.”
Sophia’s giggles were infectious. “Gosh, I miss you. Never a dull moment.”
“I miss you too. I’m going to ask you some rapid-fire questions.”
“Oooh, fun! I’m ready.”
Daisy motioned for the Connors to get their phones out. “I’ll start with some ID verification. What’s your name?”
“Sophia Mills.”
“What was your maiden name?”
“Wheeler.”
“When is your wedding anniversary?”
“Your birthday.”
“Which is?”
“May 9th.”
“Just a sec, Sophia. These boys have slow thumbs.”
She waited for them to fact-check Sophia’s answers before continuing.
“Okay, now the fun stuff. How long have Patrick and I been friends?”
“Forever.”
“How close are we?”
“Closer than two people should ever be. You two have the weirdest relationship I have ever seen. It’s terrifying and beautiful.” Sophia’s tone wasn’t judgmental, or wistful, or bitter. It was factual. Daisy loved her so much.
“How long did Patrick and I date?”
“Three years.”
“In that time, how many times did we sleep together?”
“Zero.”
“Who did Patrick lose his virginity to?”
“Me.”
“Who did I lose my virginity to?”
“I don’t remember the guy’s name. Kyle maybe? The weird, uptight, blonde guy.”
“Tyler. He was the worst. What would you say my relationship is to you?”
“We’re family.”
“Last one. Why did Patrick and I break up?”
“Sexual incompatibility.”
“That’s a great way to put it, actually. Thanks, Soph. Anything you would like to add?”
“Hear her out guys, she’s trying. She and Patrick are a package deal. It’s hard to get used to at first, but I trust them so deeply they couldn’t convince me they were having an affair if they tried.”
Before she hung up, she asked the Connors, “Do you have any questions Sophia might be able to shed some light on?”
Hazy and Valentine shook their heads, but Connor spoke loud enough to be picked up on speakerphone. “Your husband told me he took Daisy home. I still don’t believe nothing is going on between them.”
Sophia remained silent on the other end for several beats. “Beanie, I’m guessing?”
Connor nodded but then remembered Sophia couldn’t see him and said, “Yeah.”
“I hope we can be friends someday. You and Patrick would get along so well if you knew how much you have in common. Patrick was a dick, I’m sure. But there is zero chance they are fucking. You should talk to Daisy.”
Sophia was right. Patrick and Connor would get along great, if it weren’t for her. Connor didn’t have a response for Sophia, so Daisy said, “Okay, Sophia. Thanks for your help. I’ll talk to you later. Love you!”
She ended the call. The Connors remained quiet and continued to pick fleas off their kittens. Daisy’s was flea-free and mostly dry, so she rubbed a flea treatment into its fur and fed it a few treats before picking the last kitten out of the carrier and getting started on its bath.
She still didn’t know where they stood, and trying to further explain herself wouldn’t help. They worked together to finish the kitten treatments and groom a few more dogs. Then came the best part. Daisy led them to the open yard filled with toys, obstacles, and agility equipment.
She left them waiting while she unlocked a few kennels, and when the yard was full of dogs, she stood back to admire her handiwork.
Volunteering was one of her favorite things to do with clients.
You couldn’t work for a good cause without building a sense of camaraderie with those in the trenches with you.
Valentine and Hazy played tug and chase with a few dogs, and Connor sat in the middle of the yard letting several dogs lean on him for scratches and kisses.
It was the best thing she’d ever seen in her life.
On his own, he was so pretty. A type of beautiful that should be illegal.
But paired with shelter dogs? Her brain couldn’t comprehend it without melting a little.
She was going to be crushed if they couldn’t work things out and at least remain friends.
Daisy would prefer more, but beggars couldn’t be choosers or whatever.
She swallowed her nerves and took a chance, sitting within touching distance of him in the grass and letting some dogs investigate her before giving them vigorous rub downs.
It had been a struggle to keep her hands to herself all day.
She needed touch to feel connected to her friends and loved ones. It let her gauge the dynamic.
Being so close without touching him felt impossible, but she didn’t reach out. He would come to her when he was ready. A millennium passed before he tapped his toe to hers. It was something at least.
“The jersey threw me off.”
Daisy gave him a sad smile. “That’s what I thought you guys would be most upset about.
It wasn’t cool of me to toss Patrick on you in front of the team.
I didn’t know practices were going to overlap.
I was trying to keep everything separate until we were stable.
Your game was improving, and I know how important your play is with an expiring contract and the trade deadline coming up. ”
Connor gave her a rueful look. “You told us you were the biggest Seattle Freeze fan around, and the first game you came to, you wore enemy colors. And you didn’t try to hide it. You were right there on the glass.”
“That’s what I wore the first time I ever saw you play.
In high school. Back then it was team colors and the high school jersey.
Then it was college, then the minors, and then it was his NHL debut.
It became our tradition. Now he lives so far away, and I never get to see him play unless he’s in Seattle.
I’ve never hesitated, because as much as I loved the team, Patrick was real. ”
“Roxie had one of those outfits when we dated. The good-luck outfit that had to be worn the exact same way to every game.”
Daisy laughed. “She hated that fucking sweatshirt. Your awful school colors made her skin look green.”
Connor agreed and shifted his weight so their shoulders pressed together. They each had a dog on their laps and gave soft strokes to noses and ears.
“That game was the first night I struggled to wear the San Jose jersey into your arena. I did it. For Patrick. But for the first time ever, I altered my game day outfit. He didn’t notice, but I knew.
It felt wrong to have him so represented, when you guys had become real too.
My sweatshirt under my jersey was a Seattle one.
” She shoved the sleeve of her hoodie up her arm and held her wrist out to show him.
Their numbers were faded, but still legible.
That eyeliner pen wouldn’t budge, regardless of how much she’d scrubbed.
Hiding the marks from Patrick the previous day had been a nightmare.
Connor ran his fingers over the numbers. His skin against hers brought instant relief to her anxiety. Goosebumps formed as he stroked the sensitive skin.
“Are you coming to the game tomorrow?”
Daisy said, “Yes. Grayson and I will be there.”
“Same seats as last time?”
She nodded.
“Good. You were right. You can’t get much better.”
She put her face in her hands and groaned. “I hoped you wouldn’t spot me.”
“It was hard to miss when he pointed right at you.”
“Oh God, and I was celebrating so much!”
Hazy and Valentine joined them on the ground, bringing some happy, worn out dogs with them.
“You really were,” Hazy said.
“I cheered for the Seattle goal too.”
Valentine said, “Too little, too late. It was a blowout. The damage was already done.”
“What are the chances you’ll lose the damn San Jose jersey for tomorrow’s game?” Hazy asked.
She smiled, prepared for him to give her a hard time. “Not a chance in hell.”
The hurt on Valentine’s face crushed her soul. Connor wouldn’t ask her to wear his jersey, but Valentine might. She held out her wrist for him to see. “You’ll be represented though.”
The light in his eyes returned. “I like this. You should do this for every game.”
“I don’t go to every game.”
“Well, when you do, you should. You’re coming tomorrow? To see Patrick?”
Connor grimaced, and Hazy rolled his eyes. “Yes.”
Valentine considered it, and when a lightbulb went off for him, Daisy’s hackles raised. “What if we bet on it?” he asked.
“Ha. You didn’t learn your lesson betting me the last time? I don’t make bets I won’t win.”
Hazy offered his two cents. “Then you have nothing to worry about.”
She couldn’t help herself; she loved a good bet. “And what are the terms of this proposed bet?”