Daisy shook her head. “I didn’t even think to ask.” She couldn’t think about anything right now. This was her dream. She’d envisioned it from the time she was fifteen years old, and now it was gone. Justgone.
“I’m going to go lie down.” She headed towards the couch, where Beckett’s smell was on the pillow. Hugging it to her stomach, she lay down and stared at the grain on the coffee table. Somehow life would go on. It had to. She just had no idea what to do with it. All she’d ever seen was this goal. Once she achieved that point, she had a goal to hit after that. But she’d never planned tonotget there. She needed some time to figure thatout.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Beckett putthe puppy back in his cage. He’d written a new online ad for the little guy and posted pictures. “That should get you a home.” He rubbed the dog’s ear through the bars before standingup.
His phone played “Hail to the Chief.” He smiled. “Hey, Kelly. Daisy isn’there.”
“Beckett. I know. You’re lookinggood.”
He laughed. She said that every time they talked now. “I feelgood.”
“Great. Do you feel ready to get on aplane?”
No.“Why?”
“Because we just got the permits forColumbia.”
“How did that happen sofast?”
“I’m not gonna lie—we bribed a couplepoliticians.”
“O-kay. How soon?” He could spend a couple more days with Daisy, make sure the puppy had a home, play basketball with Jason, and say a proper farewell toQuin.
“Fivehours.”
Her words hit him like a sucker punch to theface.
“It’s now or never—well, now or more money. Can you makeit?”
He thought about all the clothing he had in Daisy’s linen closet, the extra shoes—all of which would have to stay behind. That worked out well, because he’d be back and he’d need something towear.
This trip would be their first one—hopefully all would go well and they’d move forward in their relationship even though they were miles apart. His chest seized. It was a modern world—they could make this work. He had to believe that. Besides, now he had a beautiful reason to return that had nothing to do with closet space and everything to do with the stunning woman who held his heart. “I can make it.” He dug the keys to Daisy’s car out of his pocket. Kelly filled him in on the details as he drove, and by the time he pulled into the garage, he had everything he needed to begin a newproject.
He was in such a hurry to pack that he didn’t see Daisy on the couch until he almost sat on her. She was sleeping, her lips slightly parted and her hair cascading over his pillow. The sight was almost too much to bear, knowing he’d be gone in less time than it would take to wash and dry thesheets.
He brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers, bringing her to consciousness. She smiled when she saw him and then dove into his arms as if she’d been sinking and he was her lifepreserver.
“Hey, hey.” He ran his hand down her hair. “What’sthis?”
She sniffed. “I lost it.” She proceeded to tell him about the makeup contract falling through. His leg bounced. He listened as patiently as he could, knowing there was a plane he had to catch. Finally, he couldn’t take sitting any longer and he got up to organize the few things he had on the side table as she spoke. Most of it would stay behind, but he wanted the beard oil and his phonecharger.
“I am sure you can find another sponsor,” he said as he searched for his toiletries bag.Bathroom! He headed thatway.
Daisy followed, talking as they went. “It’s not a regular sponsorship. This was supposed to be my own line of cosmetics. That’s a huge deal in the industry and major brand recognition possibilities.” She twisted her hair behind her head. Her eyes were rimmed with red. He hated that she was crying overthis.
“Daisy, you’re amazing. You’ll find a way.” He threw his toothbrush and toothpaste into the bag and zipped it shut. His bag was in the garage. He headed there next, walking backwards so he could face her as he spoke. His words flowed faster than river rapids. “Your channel has more followers than NASA and you’re smart—oh my gosh, you’re so smart. You can make this work for you—I know you can. I believe in what you’re doing withEveryDayGlam!Heck, I’m a product of your mad skills.” He waved his arm down his body. “This isn’t a hurdle—it’s merely a bump in your road.” He grabbed his bag and headed back to the front room, where he proceeded to roll his clothing and stuff it in thebag.
“It’s not just that, I feel lo—” Her hands stilled. “Why are youpacking?”
He stopped, taking her by the shoulders. “I have to catch a plane.”Have to—what an interesting choice of words. In all his years with FreeWater, he’d never said hehad tofly out—getting on the plane was always the first step in an adventure. This time, he felt like he was leaving the biggest adventurebehind.
“The permits came through. We’re finally going to bring water to the lowlands. This is huge for them. They literally battle alligators for fresh water. I’ve seen women with one arm try to carry their babies—this is so great.” He kissed her forehead, wishing he could pour his excitement into her, though his personal excitement levels were slightly off and he wasn’t sure if he was talking her into this or talking himself into leaving. There were five pairs of jeans on the shelf; he took one and three pairs ofshorts.
“You’re really leaving,today?”
“As soon as Ican.”
