Quinton wiped his fingertips as he considered her comment. “Are you sure he didn’t say he was amazed by the success of your channel?”
“I’m pretty sure he didn’t mean it as a compliment.”
“I’m pretty sure he’s not sure what to think of you.” Quinton suddenly became extremely interested in what was in his sandwich. “If you want, I’ll ask him to move out.”
“What? No. Why would you make him leave?”
“Call it an older brother instinct. You always had stars in your eyes when it came to Beckett. He’s not a teenager anymore, and you don’t look like a little sister anymore.”
Three puppies finished at the same time. Two began to wrestle while the third watched them like they were idiots. Daisy scooped up the observer. Quinton’s advice or opinions or whatever you wanted to call them slathered over her like cheap lotion. “So what? There’s more to me than my channel, and if that’s all he sees, then I don’t want him.”
“I don’t think it’s your channel that makes him drop things when you walk into the room.”
“Beckett Kingsley isnotinto me,” Daisy insisted. “And even if he were, he’s not interested in a real relationship.”
“And you are?”
“Aren’t you?” she countered.
Quinton opened his mouth and closed it again as if he’d thought better about what he was about to say. Daisy continued to clean the puppies and place them back in their kennel. She snuggled each one close and scratched behind its ears. Each one had a different personality, which made them all the more loveable.
Quin finally spoke, though his tone was reflective. “I wasn’t looking for something serious. I had school and then wanted to get this place off the ground. But I’ve had my eye on someone.” The tips of his ears turned scarlet.
“Really?” Daisy found a puppy toy and dangled it in front of the last pup’s nose. He jumped at it with both paws.
“Yeah. She doesn’t know I exist.”
“Aww, Quin. You should ask her out.”
He scrunched up the takeout bag. “It’s complicated.”
Daisy shrugged. “Isn’t it always? I mean, does love come easy to anyone?”
“Mom and Dad make it look effortless.”
“Mom and Dad have had thirty-two years of practice.”
“True,” he conceded.
Tayla, a vet tech with a long, blonde ponytail and covered in freckles, poked her head into the recovery room. “Your next appointment is in room five.”
“I’ll be right there.” Quinton threw his garbage away, and Tayla waved before ducking back out of the room. “Thanks for lunch.”
“Anytime. I’m going to stick around for a while, maybe I’ll take one of these guys for a walk.” Daisy found the cleaning supplies and mopped up the mess the puppies made on the floor.
Quinton paused at the door. “I haven’t seen you this upset in a long time.”
She lifted her eyebrows, not sure what to say or where he was going with this.
“I’m just saying that you might care more about Beckett than you profess.”
“I—” she started to protest.
“You don’t have to be honest with him about it—or even me—but you should be honest with yourself.” He practically ran out of the room after firing off his advice like a cannon.
Daisy thought about her deep response to Beckett’s negative comments. There were several internet trolls who made it a point to tear apart each and every one of her episodes, and their comments—which were mean-spirited and personal—never stung like Beckett’s, and she hadn’t even heard it firsthand. Vivian was more protective than a mama raccoon, but she never made up drama. Beckett must have said something to tip her off.
Daisy took a leash off the hook and chose the most energetic puppy to go for a walk. She needed to get outside and get out of her head.
