Disappointment flashed through her expression when she saw Daisy.
“Cash,” she chastised. “You know you’re not supposed to have girls in your room.”
“Don’t worry, Mom, Cash is only fucking his girlfriend, not Daisy.” Matthew howled when he said it.
Cash’s mom scowled at him. “Watch your mouth, Matthew. I know you’re just getting accustomed to living back at home, butI’d appreciate you keep a check on the language.” Then concern filled her face and she tipped her head to the side. “And the booze. It’s a Wednesday night.”
“Only had one beer.” Matthew gave her aScout’s Honorlift of his hand.
More concern, but she seemed to swallow it down for later before she turned her attention back into the room.
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Cunningham,” Daisy whispered as she lowered her hands.
“Mom, it was nothing. Daisy’s my best friend. You know that. I don’t get why she’s not allowed up here.”
Mrs. Cunningham softly shook her head. “Because it’s a rule your father and I decided on a long time ago.”
“A dumb one,” Cash argued.
Her expression softened. “Well, maybe. But I’d prefer it if when Daisy comes over, she comes through the front door. Or at least maybe not scream when she gets startled so I don’t know she’s here.”
She sent Daisy a wink, her smile kind and understanding.
“I don’t want to get Cash into trouble,” Daisy mumbled, her focus on her fingers that she nervously wound together, struggling not to break down and cry in front of them.
This was humiliating enough. The last thing she needed was for them to see how pathetic she really was.
“Well, I doubt very much you were causing any trouble. You’re the best influence he has.”
“What, not me, his amazing big brother?” Matthew slurred it.
“Certainly Daisy is a whole lot better influence than his big brother.” She gently elbowed Matthew in the ribs.
“Yeah, guess she keeps him on the straight and narrow. And now he’s almost as good as I was. Guess he had to show me up. As long as he gets into WVU to play, then I’m good with it.”
“That’s the plan,” Cash uneasily agreed, watching his brother with concern.
Things had been weird between them, but not nearly as weird as Daisy was feeling right then.
“First, you have to slay in Friday’s game. Both me and a couple of my friends have five hundred bucks on you. Don’t fuck it up.”
“Five hundred?” Mrs. Cunningham gasped.
Matthew squeezed her shoulder with a laugh. “I’m going to have to make money somehow, and as long as I’m betting on my baby brother, I’m golden.”
Matthew turned with a limp before he disappeared.
Mrs. Cunningham softly shook her head, worry on her lips as she watched him go, before she turned her attention back into the room. “Just friends?”
“Yeah, Mom. You know that,” Cash said, driving another stake into Daisy’s heart.
“All right, but leave the door open.” She shouted the last word as she turned and walked down the hall.
In silence, they listened until his mom’s footsteps disappeared down the stairs, then Cash turned to her and cracked up, his face full of a smile and his hazel eyes glinting as he grinned at her. “Well, that might have been painful, but I call it a win.”
She could only laugh uncontrollably.
Because no, she definitely didn’t feel like she was winning.
