‘David, right, of course,’ he said, stepping up to shake the man’s hand. ‘So nice to meet you.’ If there was one thing Elliot understood, it was the pain and embarrassment of running into your ex and their new person. He’d experienced it one too many times before moving here.
Daisy mouthedthank youover David’s shoulder and scurried around the counter to stand next to Elliot. She grabbed his hand in hers, twining their fingers together, and Elliot had to swallow the startled sigh that wanted to escape his lips. It had been a long time since someone had held his hand. And Daisy’s was so warm and small and perfect.
‘I didn’t realize you were seeing anyone,’ David said, clearly still trying to piece together what was going on while Elliot tried to keep his shit together about a girl holding his hand like he was twelve.
‘Yes, I’m seeing someone.’ Daisy still sounded a bit unhinged, so Elliot gave her hand a gentle squeeze. She looked up at him with a surprised smile. ‘I’m seeing someone,’ she said again, rolling her shoulders back. ‘Noteveryone announces new relationships on social media, David.’
David frowned but Daisy charged forward, this time with her eyes on Elliot. ‘His name is Elliot and he’s a…’ Her voice trailed off, and her eyes widened in panic. Okay, so she had learned his name but apparently, that was it.
‘I’m an architect,’ he said, turning his attention back to David and away from Daisy’s amber-colored eyes. He didn’t even know that was a real thing. Amber eyes. Heshook his head. Not important right now. ‘I’m working on a new design for the inn, actually.’
At the mention of the inn, the woman who was clearly David’s new girlfriend, came hurrying back over to his side.
‘Are they renovating soon? I would hate for that to interfere with our wedding day.’ Her brow furrowed in concern.
‘I guess you should probably look elsewhere, then,’ Daisy blurted out and then immediately looked like she regretted it when the woman’s frown lines deepened.
Elliot tried not to smile when he added, ‘You know how these projects go; things will probably be a mess for a while. Personally, I would steer clear of the whole place.’
Daisy squeezed his hand in a silent thank-you, and Elliot hadn’t felt this pleased with himself in a very long time. Possibly ever. Helping Daisy lie to her ex and his girlfriend might be his new favorite thing to do. He really needed to get out more.
‘Right, well, we’ll take that into consideration.’ David’s gaze flicked between the two of them like he still wasn’tbuying their little skit. Feeling bold, and high on Daisy’s hand squeeze, Elliot removed his fingers from hers and draped his arm over her shoulder, tucking her tight to his side.
And if he thought holding her hand was life-altering, well, having her entire body pressed against him was another plane of existence all together. Hereallyneeded to get out more.
If she was surprised or put off by the move, Daisy didn’t show it. In fact, she tipped her head to rest on his shoulder as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
David narrowed his eyes. ‘When did you say you two got together?’
‘About a month ago,’ Daisy said at the same time Elliot said, ‘Last fall.’ Christ, even in fake relationships he wasn’t on the same page as his partner.
Daisy laughed manically again, like she was coming undone. Elliot hugged her tighter as though he could keep her together.
‘Has it only been a month?’ he said with a laugh. ‘You know what they say, time flies when you’re having fun!’
‘Right, but?—’
‘Don’t you two have an appointment to get to?’ Daisy cut David off before he could ask any more questions or dispute the use of that phrase in the current context, which admittedly made no sense.
‘We probably should get going,’ Hailey said, looking happy to take any excuse to get out of this awkward situation.
‘I guess we should.’ David gave them one last suspicious look before his fiancée dragged him out the door.
‘It was nice seeing you two!’ Daisy cooed. ‘We should double-date sometime! Don’t be strangers! Y’all come back now…’
Daisy continued to call out insane goodbyes until the two were gone, and she finally slumped away from him and blew out an incredibly long sigh of relief followed by a bit of existential moaning.
Elliot stood quietly until she was done.
ChapterThree
When Daisy’s brain was finished melting, she looked up and found Elliot still standing beside her. He seemed to be waiting patiently until her breakdown was over.
‘I am so sorry about that.’
‘I can’t say I was expecting it,’ he said with a lopsided smile.
Daisy groaned and ran her fingers through her shoulder-length hair. Of course, she hadn’t washed it in days, and it was a stringy mess. Of course, David wouldn’t have shown up on a day when her hair looked good. That would be too much to ask from the universe.
