Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 104745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Bang
Go on another date
Bang
Repeat, but not necessarily in that order.
So what could she possibly want to talk about?
And in person!
I drag a worn hoodie over my head, then slip on my sneakers, my brother’s lying on the couch when I hit the bottom step.
Since when is he an early riser?
I’m the one awake at the ass crack of dawn. I’m the one who has to coax him into jogging before class. I’m the one half done with my day before he even gets dressed.
“Going somewhere?”
I pull on a baseball cap. “Daisy wants to get together. Said she has something to talk about.”
“This early?” My twin pulls a face. “Yikesss...”
Yikes? What the hell is that supposed to mean?
“Don’t say yikes. What the fuck, man.”
Seriously, what a dick, putting those negative thoughts in my head that I wasn’t thinkin’ about before.
Asshole.
“You don’t have to sound so defensive,” he demurs. “I’m just sayin’ yikes. Chill. Early usually doesn’t end well.”
For him, maybe.
For me? That remains to be seen.
Anyway, he doesn’t have to be a dick because he’s tired.
“Is Ryann around?”
Drew shakes his head, eyes back on the TV. “Hasn’t come home yet. I think she’s on her way back today from Dallas’s, but it won’t be until later.”
Good.
Don’t get me wrong: I like my brother’s girlfriend, but if I’m being honest, it would be cooler to have a dude living here than a chick; having to worry about farting and burping and shitting ourselves in her presence is a drag. Not that I think she gives a crap, but it does keep a guy on his toes not knowing if she’s reporting our behavior to Dallas.
Sometimes it feels like we’re living with a goddamn spy.
“There’s a chance I’ll bring Daisy home with me.”
“That’s interesting.” He looks in my direction. “So you don’t think she’s gonna dump you?”
“No, jackass! I don’t think she’s gonna dump me. We’re not a couple.” Yet. “She would have told me. We were up talking most of the night.”
The bastard shrugs. “Good luck then. I’ll be here all morning in case you come back alone. We can go lift.”
Ye of little faith. “Fuck you, dude.” I can’t muster a smile or a laugh.
“You should be nicer,” he shouts at my back when I leave. “We only have each other.”
The sound of his laughter follows me out the front door and down the steps.
Cocky shit.
Since when does he cop an attitude?
Fucking snot.
My ass cheeks are still puckered when I pull into the café where I’m meeting Daisy. She’s already here, waiting for me at a back table, menu already in hand and open like a book.
I stop and look at her for a few seconds, drinking my fill.
Damn, she’s cute.
She glances up.
Motioning me over, she sets the menu down, fussing with the silverware and napkins as if clearing a spot for me.
Coffee appears as if by magic; water, too.
“Oh my god, I’ve been dying for you to get here.”
My brows go up. “Oh?”
“Yes, we have so much to talk about.”
“We do?”
Daisy laughs as if I’ve said something funny, picking up the menu again. “Why am I looking at this? I already know what I want.” She sets it down.
“Are you nervous about something?” Shit, what if my brother was right? What if she’s about to tell me to piss off and she’s not interested? What if she’s about to tell me she’d rather date Drew?
I mean, it’s unlikely but not entirely impossible?
Some people find us interchangeable.
I plop down and remove my ball cap, tossing it on the table and running my fingers through my hair. I stick my face in the menu, too, wanting everything but only ordering four eggs sunny side up, turkey bacon, hash browns, and a pecan sticky bun.
Oh, and orange juice.
Daisy orders the farmer’s delight, whatever that is, clasping her hands in front of her on the table, grinning at me.
“Spit it out,” I tell her, not able to stand the suspense.
“So I was thinking.”
“About?”
“I have a plan.”
I smirk. “Isn’t it a little early for planning? Can’t we eat first?”
She sits back in her seat, hands disappearing beneath the table, and my gut turns. Did I just disappoint her? Her eyes aren’t as sparkly all of a sudden, and now I feel like an asshat.
“Just kidding. Tell me what’s on your mind.”
Daisy perks up again, like a plant that’s just been watered and placed in the sun.
“You know how we talked about taking things slow?”
Uh. No.
I actually don’t.
Still, I nod because it feels like the right answer.
“We’re pretty touchy-feely already,” she tells me, smiling up at the server when he sets down a plate of small, delicate croissants and an even smaller plate of butter. “Oh! Cute!” Daisy reaches for one, distracted. “Like I need more carbs for breakfast.”
She turns the bite-sized croissant this way and that, studying it like a gemologist studies a diamond.