‘Okay fine, also kissing. Not so much with the speakeasies.’
Iris gasped far too dramatically for the moment.
‘Kissing?! You’ve been holding out on me.’
‘It just happened!’ Although, she was totally holding out on her friend. Iris knew nothing about The Orgasm Incident or the kissing at Beltane, but Daisy figured there was no point in backtracking now. She’d never hear the end of it.
‘And how was it?’
Daisy had to bite back the dreamy sigh that nearly left her lips.
‘Good.’
‘Liar!’
‘Incredible.’
‘That’s better. I’m happy for you, Daisy.’
‘I don’t know what it means.’
‘Maybe just be thankful for incredible kisses.’
‘More middle-of-the-night wisdom.’
‘You’re welcome. Now read me the next entry.’
Daisy cleared her throat, happy to divert Iris’s attention to her aunt. She read,
August 12, 1925
Nate says he’s going to marry me someday.
I said, we’ll see.
‘She’s sassy. I love that,’ Iris said.
‘Me, too.’
‘Keep going.’
September 3, 1925
If I were a respectable girl, I would have said yes to Nate’s marriage proposal and no to everything else, but I did it all backwards. I gave it all up for free, as my mother would say, and now Nate could leave me ruined if he wanted to. Maybe it’s a test. Maybe I wanted to see if he would.
As for the act itself, I can’t regret it. Nate was as tender and gentle as any man could be.
‘Tender and gentle!’ Iris practically squealed. ‘I think I have a crush on a dead guy.’
Daisy laughed. ‘Me, too.’
‘Aunt D is really into self-sabotage, though. I mean, Nate is obviously sweet and kind and good in the sack. What more did she want?’
‘She’s clearly scared.’
Mercifully, Iris did not call Daisy out for being just as scared as her great-aunt. She was too busy whispering to someone on her end.
‘Daisy? Archer is here to relieve me of baby-holding duty.’
