“She got theimpression we were having a romantic dinner last night. I can only assume itwas because you didn’t change that light bulb above the table before we aterather than after. Think about it. We had candles lit, a table for two,etcetera.”
I rolled myeyes. “Jesus, sissy, I was tired. And it’s not like you couldn’t have changed ityourself.”
“You know mystepladder doesn’t reach that high. Besides, I’m a lady. I shouldn’t have to doall that manual stuff,” she retorted. “I save all that shit up for when you orDad come to visit. It makes you feel useful.”
I laughed. “God,we’ve created a monster.”
“You sure have.”She dropped the mail on the coffee table and flopped down beside me on thesofa. “What happened this morning?”
“What do youmean?”
“When I ran intoDaisy, she asked me to apologize to you, and I quote, ‘Can you please apologizeto your boyfriend for me again. I’m sure he’ll fill you in.’ So, whathappened?”
“It wasnothing,” I said, unpausing my game, and focusing back on the screen.
“Hmm-mm,” shemurmured, standing, and grabbing her purse. I didn’t think anything of it untilshe let out a gasp and suddenly smacked me on the arm. “You slammed Cash Carverup against the wall?” she screeched. “Why the hell would you do that?”
“What the hell,Lou? How did you even know about that?”
She waved herphone in the air. “Doorbell camera, Huck.”
“Right.” Ishrugged. “Whatever. He was being a dick to Daisy, and I didn’t know he was herbrother, but it doesn’t really matter. No one should talk to her that way.”
“He’s abiker,Huck. Part of a club you don’t mess with. Oh my god, you didn’t just blow outyour knee, you got a traumatic brain injury as well.” She groaned. “No wonderher dad was here.”
I paused my gameagain. “Why are you freaking out, Louisa? If Daisy apologized—which she didn’tneed to do, I’ll point out—then obviously, no one’s concerned.” I narrowed myeyes. “Unless you’ve got a thing for this Cash guy.”
“No, I don’thave a thing for Cash,” she said on a huff. “Cash is kind of a dick. But,still, you don’t mess with the Dogs of Fire, Huck. Okay?”
“It’s done,LouLou. Yeah? Besides, I can handle myself.”
“Fine.” Shesighed. “Are you hungry?”
I shrugged. “Icould eat.”
“Sandwich?”
“Yeah, that’d begreat. Thanks.”
She nodded andheaded into the kitchen while I went back to my game.
* * *
Daisy
Two weeks later,finals were over (and passed, thank god), and I had taken an entire week offwork. I mean, I ran my own company, so it wasn’t like I couldn’t do thatwhenever I wanted, but I hadn’t for a long time, and Ineededit. Teaganand I’d originally planned to fly to Vegas just the two of us, but her dad hadlocked that down pretty quickly after the birthday fiasco, so we were trying tofind something else to do far enough away from the parentals, but close enough forthem not to freak out.
I was graduatingearly, but the ‘walking’ ceremony wouldn’t happen until June, so I had to makea decision about whether or not I wanted to do the pomp and ceremony with myclass. My initial blush was a big fat no, but I needed to talk to my parentsfirst. They’d paid for my education so they may want a say in that decision.Tonight was family night at the club, so I planned to talk to them then.
My phone rangjust as I pulled a pint of Mountain Blackberry Revel ice cream out of thefreezer. I glanced at the screen and smiled as I took the call. “Hi, Daddy.”
“Hey, Ducky.What time do you wanna be picked up?”
“Picked up?” Ifrowned. “What do you mean, picked up? I was going to drive.”
“Baby girl,” hegrowled.
“I’mkidding,”I retorted, prying off the lid of the tub. “Wow, you’re in a mood.”
