“Do they knowthat it’s the twenty-first century and women are perfectly capable of takingcare of themselves, and we don’t need to be watched over by knuckle-dragging,chest thumping, neanderthal, macho, manly men?”
“My, that was alot of adjectives.”
“I getdescriptive when I’m irritated.”
Mom rolled hereyes and sighed. “I’ll go get the door and make everyone breakfast.”
She left theroom, and I slid out of bed. “My family has absolute perfect timing, asalways,” I muttered sarcastically.
Huck chuckled,wrapping his arms around me. “It’s okay. I don’t have protection with meanyway, so it’s all for the best.”
“Right.” Heatflooded my cheeks, and I pulled back from him. “Well, um… I think you shouldprobably go now.”
“Hey.” Hefrowned. “What just happened?”
I shook my head.“I just think with everything that’s happened, it would be best you go home.I’ll text you later, okay?”
“Dais—”
“It’s fine.” Icrossed my arms to keep myself from reaching out to him. “I’ll text you.”
He studied me withnarrowed eyes, then walked out the door and I burst into tears.
“Ducky?” Momwalked into my room a few minutes later and found me exactly where Huck hadleft me. “Oh, baby girl, what happened?”
“I just made atotal fool out of myself,” I cried as she wrapped her arms around me. “Huck’snever going to talk to me again.”
“Oh, sweetness,what happened?”
“It’s notimportant. I just told him to go home, and now I think he’s going to hate meforever.”
“He’s not goingto hate you forever, honey. I highly doubt he hates you now. Not even for asecond.”
“Mom, guys don’tlike drama. And I’m kind of all drama these days.”
Mom let out aquiet snort. “If you knew how much crap I put your daddy through, you’d knowhow wrong you are, baby. If he’s worth his mettle, no amount of drama will keephim away.”
“ButIwant to be worth it, Mama. I really like him.”
She lifted myface and smiled. “You are always worth all of it, sweetheart. Don’t ever doubtit.”
I bit my lip andnodded, not entirely convinced I believed her.
“Come on,Daddy’s on his way with breakfast.”
I sighed.“Okay.”
* * *
Huck
I walked back inLouisa’s condo trying to figure out what the fuck just happened. I didn’t thinkI’d done anything to hurt Daisy’s feelings or offend her. Jesus, I was fallinghard for her, and to hurt her would be akin to cutting off a limb. I dragged myhands down my face and took a deep breath.
“That bad, huh?”Louisa asked, walking out of the kitchen. “What happened?”
“Not sure,” Iadmitted. “Daisy asked me to leave.”
Louisa frowned.“Walk me through everything.”
