Page 7 of Sweet
Of course, he did his share of tormenting her, so it was only fair.
“Daisy was acting superweird when she dropped off the rent check,” Emmie said.
Don’t you dare.Spider narrowed his eyes and shook his head a little.
Emmie grinned so hard her dimple popped out. “I think she likes Spider.”
Betsy’s eyebrows went up and her mouth formed a surprisedO. “Is that so?”
“She’s just being friendly.” Spider did not need Betsy getting interested in his love life. Or lack of it. “We see each other at the café most days, you know?”
Emmie pressed her lips together, keeping her eyes on him. “I know. She said bye like she was seeing him at the café. It was pretty embarrassing.”
Spider glared at her. “People misspeak. It happens.”
“Well.” Betsy was smiling. “You know I love Daisy Rivera. She’s such a bright girl and an incredibly hard worker. I think the two of you—”
“She’s a kid.” Spider cut Betsy off even though he could practically hear his mother screaming at him for interrupting an elder. “I mean… she’s nice and all, but isn’t she going to college next year or something? That’s what I heard.”
“She was second in her entire senior class,” Betsy said. “Can you believe that?”
“Uh-huh.” Spider concentrated on eating his roast, glaring at Emmie when Betsy was distracted.
The last thing he needed was Emmie or Betsy playing matchmaker. He had enough stress in his life without thinking about Daisy harboring a crush on him and anyone encouraging her. Emmie was imagining things, and Spider didn’t need the trouble.
Because even if she was interested, Spider knew he was the last thing a girl like Daisy Rivera needed.
Chapter 3
Daisy stoodoutside the Ice House on the corner of 7th and Main with Roni while Olivia argued with Stan, the guy doing security out front of the bar.
“We’ll keep track of Roni, okay?” Olivia was the most reasonable of her cousins. If anyone could talk them into the bar, it was her.
Roni leaned against the painted cinder block and looked down 7th Avenue. “Do you think any of the guys from the tattoo shop are inside?”
Daisy’s mind immediately jumped to Spider. “I have no idea. It’s not like I come here all the time or something.”
“Some of those guys are kinda gross, but a couple of them are way hot.” Roni kicked her feet against the wall. “You know the one with the buzz-cut hair?”
Daisy bit her lip, grateful to see Olivia waving them over. “Oh look. Come on.”
Stan held up his hand before the girls could enter. “You” —he pointed at Roni— “do not go anywhere with any of these dudes alone. Do you hear me?”
Roni rolled her eyes. “Oh my God, Stan. I’m just here to hang out and have a beer.”
“No fucking beer.” Stan glared at Olivia. “You told me—”
“She’s kidding.” Daisy tugged on Roni’s arm and stepped on the edge of her shoe. “Kidding. She’s just being a brat. We’re not drinking; we just want to hang with Olivia.”
Stan was still suspicious. “I’m not worried about you, Daisy.”
Olivia walked up and put her arm around Roni’s shoulders. “We’ll keep her in line. And we won’t sit at the bar. Promise.”
He raised one finger. “No slipups and no problems. You don’t get a second chance.”
“Okay!” Daisy shuffled Roni into the bar before her little cousin could get another word in. Technically, the Ice House was eighteen and up, but since Roni was close and Stan was best friends with Olivia’s older brother, he usually let them in as long as the bar was quiet.
“Don’t give Stan a heart attack.” Olivia laughed a little. “Roni, I swear you’re going to get us all arrested one of these days.”
