“Louisa kept intouch with her over the years. Still does, I think. She’s doing much better.Graduated remotely, became an author, healed. She’s married, has a couple ofkids.”
I let out aquiet sob, tears now slipping down my face.
“Shit, sorry.”He reached over and took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I didn’t mean tomake you cry.”
I grimaced. “I’mone of those weirdoes who cries at everything.”
“I don’t thinkit’s weird that someone being hurt bothers you, though, Daisy,” Huck pointedout. “Itshouldbother you. I think the world in general has becomehardened and it’s nice to see someone who’s genuinely kind.” He gave my hand asqueeze again. “Don’t ever let anyone change that.”
“I won’t,” Ipromised, squeezing his hand back. “But you should probably be warned aboutsomething.”
“What’s that?”
“When I say Icry at everything, I mean, I cry at everything.”
He smiled.“Yeah?”
I nodded. “Theholidays are the worst. Those sappy coffee commercials? Forget about it. I’m apuddle on the floor.”
He chuckled.“I’ll make sure I buy stock in Kleenex.”
I lowered myhead and bit my lip, trying not to let out a schoolgirl sigh. He didn’t scoffor tell me I was weird. He just smiled gently and said he’d make sure to havetissues at the ready, indicating, one, he’d still be around at Christmas andtwo, he wasn’t bothered that I might cry at coffee commercials. He also hadn’tlet go of my hand. Lordy, I was really starting to like him.
I was alsostarting to turn in on myself and feel extremely uncomfortable with myvulnerability. “Um, can we change the subject?”
“Sure.”
I cocked myhead. “What did you think of Melody?”
“She was nicerthan the rumors.”
I laughed.“That’s a very diplomatic answer.”
Melody Morganwas the biggest pop and movie star on the planet and currently home planningher summer tour.
“I amnotherdemographic. Louisa’s more her audience,” he said. “I mean, I get that she’stalented, but I’ve never understood someone with that much money andopportunity bitching about their life, you know?”
“Definitely.” Inodded. “She doesn’t do that anymore, to be clear.”
“That’s good. Soundslike her man and kids have helped heal whatever ailed her.”
“Truer wordswere never spoken.”
Huck chuckled.“Why do you ask?”
“Well, sheinvited us over for dinner. Whenever we’re free, of course. But now that I’vesaid that out loud, it’s all very random and quick, and, well, Jesus, sorry—”
“Hey,” heinterrupted, squeezing my hand. “Dinner sounds great.”
“There’s nopressure and you can absolutely say no. She just happened to mention it—”
“Daisy.” Hesqueezed my hand again. “Dinner’s good.”
I shifted in myseat and forced a smile. “Okay, awesome. I’ll let her know.”
We pulled intothe parking lot, and I suddenly felt bereft that our time together was ending.
“What’s yourschedule like this week?” Huck asked as we rode the elevator to our floor.
