Page 80 of Meet Me at Sunset Cove

@MidwesOpe: I knew it was all for show. Daisy’s just another clout-chasing influencer.

@BookwormBarista: Can’t believe she’d use someone like that. Disgusting.

Daisy’s eyes widened in horror as she clicked on the video she’d been tagged in, her heart pounding in her chest.

Daisy Decker caught in a lie.

The blood drained from her face as her own face filled the screen. She sat on the porch of the Barrett house, wearing her lilac overalls and mittens. It was an outfit she’d worn in a video weeks ago, footage from the YouTube channel…but the words. She’d never said any of that.

“It was all just an act,” her voice said, shrugging casually. “This whole thing started out as a fake engagement.”

“Hunter had to be engaged in order to inherit the house, so it just made sense.” Daisy felt sick as she watched herself continue, her eerie smile in conflict with the words she was saying. “He needed a fiancée. I needed content.”

Daisy was dizzy, the air trapped in her lungs. “But then…Logan showed up. And I realized I didn’t want Hunter.” The Daisy on the screen brushed a hair behind her ear, blushing. “Logan and I, we worked because we wanted the same thing. We were both out to win. To be the best…”

Daisy really was going to be sick. She leaned back, closing her eyes as she pulled in a stale breath, the final words of the video ringing in her ears, laughing. “I didn’t want to have to rebuild everything I worked so hard for when everything fell apart because of Hunter Barrett. He isn’t worth it.”

Robin

This is bad, Daisy…

Daisy

I never said those things. I don’t know where that video came from. But it’s a total fake.

Daisy called Hunter. She had to warn him. Explain to him…What? She hadn’t said those things…but she didn’t have an explanation. Who would have even done this? Maybe Logan, but he wasn’t tech-savvy enough to create a fake video like this. Was he?

The call went to voicemail.

She dialed again and again. The call was ignored.

Daisy’s heart raced, the blood rushing through her ears. Her fingertips felt numb, prickly. The air inside the car felt stifling. Hot.

She looked up, realizing the Uber had stopped. They were outside Hunter’s dad’s house. The windows were lit with Christmas lights. Daisy stepped out of the car, her knees wobbling as she clutched the envelope with white knuckles.

He would understand. Hunter knew her. He trusted her. He’d listen. He had to.

Daisy’s boots made no sound as she made her way toward the house, up the steps. Before she could reach the door, it swung open, and the walkway filled with warmth and light. Hunter stepped outside, closing the door behind him.

Daisy stilled.

Hunter’s face was a solemn mask. Emotionless. Distant.

He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning a shoulder against the doorjamb. “I don’t think you should be here.”

“Hunter please, let me explain.” Except there wasn’t anything to explain. She had no idea where the video had come from, let alone the things she’d said.

“I don’t want another explanation, Daisy.”

“Hunter—”

“Every time I hear you out, you somehow convince me it was all just a misunderstanding. I’m done.” Hunter wouldn’t look at her. His dark eyes scanned the surrounding neighborhood, the sidewalk, the melting snow. But not her.

“Please, Hunter.” Her voice broke as tears built up behind her eyes.

His jaw pulsed as he shook his head. “I can’t believe you did this to me again.”

“I didn’t—Hunter, the video’s not real.”

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