April’s smile dipped a little into something softer. “Because despite everything you fear about yourself, you’re one badass bitch, Daphne Love.”
Daphne’s smile fell away too. “What?”
“Aries are bold and brave. I know you don’t always feel like that, but the face you put out into the world, it’s all fire and strength. Your paintings, your family, the way you grew up, the way you chose the life you wanted, even when you were only eighteen, even with everything that followed. It just makes sense.”
Daphne stared at her, something deep inside aching, but not unpleasantly. The feeling was more akin to awe, even comfort at being seen like this, all her masks toppling to the ground.
April kissed her one more time before pulling her toward the group. Daphne swallowed down her swell of emotion, then caught Ramona’s expression, a look that could only be described as concern on her face as she glanced between Daphne and April. Daphne didn’t have time to think on it too much as Sasha pulled her into the booth next to her, April sliding in on the other side next to Ramona.
A whole honey whiskey pie sat in the center of the table, a single candle lit in the middle. April quickly called for attention, then led them all in a horrible rendition of the birthday song. Daphne laughed as she blew out the tiny flame, a thousand wishes flitting through her mind.
The Devon.
April.
A birthday just like this.
She had to hold back a few happy tears as everyone clapped, and then Owen, the owner of Clover Moon himself, came and took their food and drink order. The group fell into their own discussions, centered mostly around Dylan and Ramona’s Cloverwild wedding, which was only two days away. Daphne knew April washelping, of course, but Olive was Ramona’s maid of honor, and even right now, April’s expression looked a bit glassy, a bit detached.
Daphne stretched her foot under the table, tapping April’s ankle. April glanced across the table at her, then winked, and Daphne nearly melted into a puddle right there.
April cleared her throat, then started making a case for why she should be able to offer flash tattoos at the wedding.
“I’m still waiting to tattoo your ass, Dylan Monroe, as promised,” April was saying.
“As promised?” Dylan said. “When was that promised?”
“It was implied when you walked into my shop for the first time,” April said.
“Two years ago?”
“There’s no statute of limitations on art.”
Ramona laughed, and April smirked and folded her arms. She had that glint in her eye Daphne had quickly become obsessed with, mischievous and sexy and sassy all at once.
Owen set down a plate of golden fries, and Daphne stuffed a few into her mouth, grinning around the food as she hooked her feet around April’s under the table. And in that one moment, she was happier than she’d ever been in her entire life.
Chapter
Twenty-Three
April loved watchingDaphne.
Her cheeks were a little flushed, her green eyes still bright with excitement and surprise. April hated that Daphne had been alone most of the day, but she was glad she was able to give her this tiny get-together, that April had planned something that made her smile this much. Her face was like a sunrise, and she—
“You’re drooling,” Sasha said, kicking her foot under the table.
“I am not,” April said, clearing her throat and forcing the admittedly dopey smile off her face. Daphne was engrossed in a story Dylan was telling about her days onSpellbound, a show Daphne had watched obsessively in college, apparently.
Sasha lifted her brow in that knowing way she had. “Please. You’re writing poetry in your head about her smile or her eyes or some shit.”
April smiled without her teeth. She’d definitely keep just how true Sasha’s assessment was to herself. “Or some shit? You’re such a romantic.”
“Speaking of romance,” Sasha said, dragging a fry through some ranch and popping it in her mouth. “What are you going to do after Nicola pulls the trigger?”
“By all means, let’s not dance around the issue,” April said.
“Not my style,” Sasha said.
