She narrowed her eyes. “What do you want, Ducky?”
Daisy laughed. “Nothing. But I reserve the right to keep that compliment in my back pocket for a later date.”
She cupped her daughter’s face. “I’m so proud of you and acing your finals, baby.”
“Not sure I aced them.”
“Of course, you did. With how hard you work? How could you not?” She wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “You’re a rock star.”
“Thanks, Mama.”
“Hey, baby girl,” Booker said once he reached us, leaning down to kiss her cheek, then mine.
“Hi, Daddy.”
“Any issues gettin’ here?”
“Harm delivered metout de suite, safe and sound, as you can see,” Daisy sassed.
“I see that French degree is payin’ off,” he retorted.
She smiled. “Speaking of that… do either of you care if I skip the walking ceremony in June?”
“Hell, no,” Booker said.
“Not at all,” Dani said.
Daisy sighed in relief. “Oh, thank god.”
Her parents laughed. “You kids go have fun. I’ve got plans for your mom.”
“Ew, gross, way too much information,” Daisy complained.
Booker pulled her away and Daisy faced me again.
“Did you get the hot neighbor’s number?” I asked.
Daisy had met the ‘hottest guy on the planet,’ and that was saying something in my bestie’s opinion. Daisy didn’t wax poetic when it came to guys and she initially thought he was her neighbor, Louisa’s, boyfriend, but come to find out, he was her brother. He’d already had a run-in with Cash and Archer, shoving Cash up against a wall, so I immediately liked this guy. Anyone who would stand up to Cash was good in my book.
She groaned, pressing her hand to her stomach. “Oh my god.”
“What?”
“Sort of?” She grabbed my arm and dragged me into the kitchen. Luckily, it was empty. “He totally gives me the collywobbles, Teagan. I made a total fool out of myself.”
“Spill,” I demanded.
“I invited him tonight, which was so dumb, because he won’t come, but Harm says he was totally checking me out, and watchinghimlike a hawk to make sure I was safe. He rode down in the elevator with us, using the excuse to get the mail, then asked for my phone so he could put his phone number in it. He said, ‘Text me the address to this shindig and we’ll see if we can make it.’ And Harm said that was a baller move and I’m kind of clueless when a guy likes me.”
“Well, Harm’s totally right.”
“About which part?” she asked, as I poured the wine.
“All of it.” I smiled. “You’re way too hard on yourself, for one, and I think Huck’s totally interested, for another.”
“I just don’t understand why I lose my ever-blessed mind around him,” she breathed out.
“Yeah, that’s the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question.” I shrugged. “You’re usually so eloquent around boys.”
