Her smile grew. ‘Okay.’
‘It’s really just that one observation.’
She raised an eyebrow like she didn’t believe him, but she at least answered his question. ‘My mom used to love dressing me in these frilly dresses when I was little. Usually, bright yellow or bubblegum-pink or baby blue. It was a lot. Add that to my name and I used to get teased.’
‘Teased for wearing bright colors and being named Daisy?’ Elliot was incredulous.
‘For being a flower.’
‘Wow.’
‘Yeah, kids are the worst. And wildly uncreative in their insults. Anyway, in fourth grade I demanded to pick out all my own clothes, and I chose all-black. I tried to change my name, too, but it didn’t stick.’
‘To what?’
Daisy rolled her eyes like she didn’t want to say. ‘Jade.’
He couldn’t help his grin. ‘You thought Jade was a better name than Daisy?’
She was picking at the sleeves of her sweater, but she answered him from behind a curtain of hair. ‘Cooler, yes.’
Elliot inched closer, nudging her shoulder with his. ‘For what it’s worth, I think you’re cool.’
‘Well, you’re a giant nerd so I’m not sure that means a whole lot.’ She glanced at him with a mischievous smirk and he laughed.
‘Wow, harsh.’
‘Anyway, I’m not going to stop now. I like black.’
‘It’s very versatile.’
‘And it brings out my eyes,’ she teased, batting her eyelashes.
‘Remind me not to compliment you anymore,’ he grumbled, but was secretly delighted that she was smiling again.
‘No way! I like compliments and I like watching you turn pink.’
She booped the tip of his nose and laughed.
‘What’s so funny?’ Jack asked, returning from his errand alone.
‘Elliot’s ability to change colors,’ Daisy said, grinning at him.
‘And Daisy’s resistance to wearing any,’ Elliot shot back, and Daisy feigned offense, slapping a hand to her chest as she gasped dramatically.
Jack’s gaze flicked between them. ‘You two have a weird way of flirting.’
‘We’re not flirting,’ Daisy said, a bit quicker than Elliot would have liked. ‘We’re practicing.’
‘Right,’ Jack said with his own little smirk. ‘I know how this movie ends.’
‘How are things with Gabe?’ Elliot asked, derailing whatever Jack was going to say about fake relationships always ending in real ones. At least on the Hallmark channel.
‘Big development! He asked if I was going to Beltane and I said yes and he said great, I’ll see you there!’
‘Oh… that’s… great?’ Did that mean Gabe had asked him out or just compared plans? Maybe Elliot did need to practice.
Daisy smacked his arm like he should understand just how big this news was. ‘It’s really great, Jack. You know how things get at Beltane!’
