Page 45 of Electric Kiss

As Daisy stepped into Archer’s office, she felt a knot form in her stomach. He sat at his desk, staring at hiscomputer screen. He looked up as Daisy walked in and motioned for her to take a seat. As she entered the room, she saw only Archer was present. Daisy greeted him with a nod, feeling the knot in her stomach tighten. Archer motioned again for her to take a seat, and she sat down, feeling like a prisoner waiting for her sentence.

“I hope you’re feeling better now,” Archer said as she sat down.

Daisy nodded, unsure of what to say.

“I called you here because I wanted to talk to you about Nate,” Archer continued.

“I thought this was our monthly meeting?”

“It is, but that starts in fifteen minutes. I sent a message to Jason and Luke to come by a little later so I could talk to you.”

“Oh. Well, we’re partners in this business, and you’re making this into a boss and subordinate meeting. So if this is about me, why are we having this meeting in your office?”

“Because you’ve been avoiding me.”

This was true. She timed it so that she wasn’t around when Archer picked up Teddy. Daisy had also taken to locking her back door.

“Are you feeling better, Daisy?” Archer asked, his voice gentle.

Daisy nodded, unable to meet his gaze. She had been avoiding him for a reason. She didn’t want to face the consequences of her weakness the day the gravestones were revealed. It had nothing to do with the gravestones and everything to do with the tin and its contents. She wasn’t ready to tell him she was in contact with their mother.

“I’m sorry for avoiding you,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just needed some time to myself.”

Archer reached across the table. “You don’t have toapologise to me. You’re my little sister, and it took Nate’s speech to see I’ve been neglecting you. You have always been so far ahead of us in maturity every year growing up. It never occurred to me you might be suffering.”

“It’s fine. I’m just dealing with some stuff that I can’t figure out.”

“Will you tell me about it?”

“Not now. I want to get it straight in my head, and then I can talk to you all.”

With a gentle smile, Archer reached out and took his sister’s hand in his.

“Just know that we’re all here for you, no matter what. You can always come to me, okay? I’ll be your rock.”

Daisy’s eyes filled with tears, and she squeezed his hand back. She had found another rock while her brothers were making a life with the women they’d fallen in love with. Still, it was good for Daisy to know they’d be there for her when she revealed her secret.

“Thank you, Archer. You have no idea how much that means to me.”

“Okay, whenever you’re ready.”

Daisy sat in silence for a moment, staring at her brother. She knew she had to tell him eventually, but the thought of revealing her secret made her stomach churn. How would she tell him she had been in touch with their mother her whole life?

Archer sensed his sister’s hesitation and gently squeezed her hand. “Whatever it is, you can tell me,” he said softly.

A knock on the door interrupted them, and then it opened. Jason stuck his head around the door.

“Safe to come in?” Jason asked.

“Of course, it’s safe to go in,” Luke said, shoving himaside. “She’s our sister. We gave him fifteen minutes to be big responsible brother. Now we get to be the nice guys.”

As soon as Jason entered the room, the tension between Daisy and her brother, Archer, disappeared. She cleared her throat, trying to break the awkward atmosphere.

“Hey, what’s going on?” she asked, looking from Luke to Jason.

“I’m fine. He’s fine,” Jason said, thumbing to Luke. “What’s going on with you and Nathaniel Hill?”

Daisy spoke, her voice shaking slightly. “We’ve been spending time together,” she said. “I know none of you will approve.”

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