I had to admit I was a little anxious to go out with Daisy. We’d only been… seeing each other for a few weeks, and although I could hope no one knew anything yet, I wasn’t naive to think Drea hadn’t gossiped to the whole city about it.
It wasn’t that I was ashamed of Daisy—far from it, actually. I was just scared. If we acknowledged the situation, if we breathed life into it, then it might go away, and being with her felt so good that I didn’t want it to go away. Being with her felt like I had finally found a place where I belonged.
“Hey, Kaia!” Rylee yelled from the bar when we walked in.
I smiled and waved at her. “Hey, Rylee!”
“Fallon and Mackenzie just got here not long ago. They’re in a booth over there.” She pointed to where a redhead was nuzzled in the neck of a brunette. Yup, that looked like them to me.
I laughed and thanked her, leading Daisy to the occupied booth in the corner.
I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry to bother you. Is this seat taken?”
The Bennetts came up for air, and Mackenzie helped Fallon clean off her lipstick. “Of course not. Sorry.” She shrugged.
“Oh,I’m sure you are.” I rolled my eyes and let Daisy slide in first.
“Hey, guys. You look like you’re enjoying yourselves there,” Daisy signed. I laughed and relayed the message.
“Have you guys ordered yet?” I asked.
Fallon shook her head. “Not yet. We wanted to wait for you guys.”
Rylee came up and took our order. Fallon and Mackenzie ordered the same shot, and I ordered a lemon drop. Daisy put a hand on my wrist. “Are you sure you want a lemon drop? Do you remember the last time you drank those?”
My blush was strong, and of course, Mackenzie noticed. I groaned and rubbed my neck. “Actually, can I get a strawberry daiquiri, please?” Daisy told me her order, and I relayed the message to the waitress, who left with a smile.
“Not a fan of lemon drops, huh?” I was surprised when it was Fallon’s voice that dripped with sarcasm.
I gave her a look and shook my head. “They’re fine.”
I glanced at Daisy. “What?” I shrugged.
“Tell her why you don’t like them, Kaia.”
“Hell no. Please don’t make me talk about it. I’m so embarrassed.”
She rubbed my leg under the table, and I had to swallow past the desire creeping up. I hadn’t even had a sip of alcohol, and yet my body was already feeling warm.
“Oh, come on. It’s funny.”
It was not funny, but I rolled my eyes and told the story of our trip to the go-kart track. Of course Fallon and Mackenzie busted out laughing, as did Daisy. “Guys, it’s really not that funny. I was drunk.”
“At least you had that excuse,” Mackenzie said with a wink.
Daisy squeezed my leg and leaned in to kiss my cheek. “I thought it was cute. It made me feel all types of things.”
Thankfully, the waitress came over with our drinks, distracting everyone from my embarrassing drunken story. After we started drinking and sharing a spinach and artichoke dip appetizer, the conversation continued to flow pretty smoothly.
Nobody joked about my drunken flirting, and Fallon and Mackenzie continued to touch and love on each other. They enjoyed each other while still making sure we weren’t neglected.
The alcohol was starting to set in, and the fact that they were busy in their own world and couldn’t see us helped my confidence. I reached under the table and caressed Daisy’s leg, moving my fingers up and down, getting closer and closer to where I wanted to be the most. Not too close to be indecent in public, but close enough her eyes started to flutter, if only slightly.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Any chance I got, I stared at her. She was perfect, and she was mine. She was really mine. I’d never take that information for granted.
Mackenzie’s voice startled me. “I’m going to use the restroom. I’ll be back.”
I nodded, turning toward Daisy. “Kenzie’s going to the bathroom. Do you need to go?”
