“Daisy’s good at seeing the positive in everything.”
“So what? How is that going to turn me into an optimist?”
“Why don’t you try letting her rub off on you?” he suggests with a shrug.
“You really think all it’s going to take for me to get over the shit I’ve been struggling with for the better part of my life is to try sticking a freaking flower in my hair and going around acting like everything’s great even when it’s not?”
He sighs. “I was actually referring to her willingness to offer up her suffering for others. It’s not that far off from the way you’ve always been willing to make sacrifices for the people around you, only she does it with a smile and a prayer intention.”
I look away. “I should have known you’d try to make this religious.”
“Look, Landry, I’ve never tried to force my beliefs on you because I always figured it’d be more effective if I let you come around to it on your own,” he says, his expression more serious than usual. “The truth is the truth, regardless of our ability to stomach it. And you may be stubborn, but you’re too smart not to recognize the truth for what it is, even if it takes you a while.”
“But Daisy’s not as patient as you are, is she?” I venture after a second.
He nods. “And if you can’t deal with that, then you’d better back out now. Because I’m not letting you break her spirit, man.”
I clench my jaw and stare him down, and thankfully Daisy and her mom walk outside to meet us before I have to give him a verbal answer.
I acknowledge his terms with a short nod of my own, and he turns to embrace Daisy while Mrs. LaFleur hugs me and offers her gratitude.
“Thank you again for this,” Daisy says as we pull onto the road.
“No worries.”
She takes in a breath. “Landry, can I ask you for one more thing?”
I glance over at her and nod.
“I can’t put you in a position that would force you to sin. So before we go through with this, you have to promise me you won’t lie about it.”
“You mean, you don’t want us to keep it a secret?” I ask, furrowing my brow.
“No, I definitely think we should keep it to ourselves. But if anyone finds out, including Rowan, you have to tell the truth.”
“Okay.”
“And we’ll probably need to write our own vows. We can’t go in front of a judge and make promises we don’t intend to keep.”
“All right,” I say, biting back a smile. “I’m sure that’s doable.”
“Thank you.” She exhales, sounding relieved.
“Is that how you plan to help me?” I ask after a while. “By protecting my integrity?”
“Nah, you’re already a good person. But you could probably use some help letting everyone else see how good you are.”
CHAPTER 11
daisy
Landryand I both make it into the kitchen at the same time. His expression softens when he sees me in a white sundress.
“You look really nice,” he says quietly, shoving one of his hands into his pocket and fiddling with his car keys in the other.
“Thanks, so do you.” He’s wearing a fitted, white button down and dark slacks with a mint green tie. “My favorite color,” I add, pointing to the tie.
He shrugs shyly and reaches up to adjust it. “I didn’t have anything light green, but Lo let me raid Blake’s closet. And don’t worry, I didn’t tell her why I needed it.”
