Page 73 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
“And Daisy, if Peter Perry follows through on his eviction threat, mytheiahas a lawyer who would be happy to represent you. She’ll make sure you get a fair payout, and then you can set up shop somewhere else. Sue him for libel if he goes after your brand. No harm, no foul, you can both move on with your lives. Right?”
“No,” Daisy decided without a second thought.
“‘No?’”
“Nope. Not good enough.” Daisy took in a deep breath of the dewy nighttime air. To Candace, she deadpanned, “This is your fault.”
“W-what?”
“I think you’ve rubbed off on me, and I’ve gotten greedy. I don’t care if we can get what we originally wanted. It’s not enough if it means my partner gets taken away.”
“Daisy…”
Candace bit her lip and tried to hide her watery gaze. She was so adorable that Daisy could not help going on.
“We’ve had to play that jabroni’s game this whole time, so let’s change the rules and take him down. If you’re in, I am too. Okay?”
“Yes. All in.”
It was hard to say what Candace was thinking. She looked like she was holding her breath, holding back what she felt or wanted to say. Yet, the smile that curved her lips was pure mischievous joy. Leaning forward, she propped her elbows on her knees with her chin atop her folded fingers. The insecurity that filled her eyes gave way to determination as her business side took over.
“That being said, we’re going to have to play this smart. Let’s talk details…”
From there, the group discussed the nitty-gritty of their plan. Candace would start working at the pier on Monday. She would do whatever her uncle asked and fit in as best she could, while using her access to find the dirt they needed. No more shifts at Bagel Bombs!, grocery store trips, or baking help.
At the end of the day, it had to look like the #BagelBabes‘broke up.’
They would use their social media platform to sell the separation, letting people draw their own conclusions through vague posts and a distinct lack of Candace-content. Daisy would make sure to play up her punk persona, acting like a jilted ex to anyone who directly asked about her former partner. Rio said they were available to pick up some slack at the cafe, and Demi offered to help with the occasional inventory run or batch bake. Things were going to get harder for Daisy once again, but this time, she was not alone. By letting old friends further in and trusting new ones, they had a chance to take Peter Perry down—a chance Daisy would need to take if she was ever going to get closer to Candace.
It was well past midnight by the time they had their con worked out. Candace tried, and failed, to hold back a yawn. With a glance at her phone, she said, “I think we’d better call it here. I need my beauty sleep if I’m going to play super-spy.”
“Stay over.” Three pairs of wide-eyes were suddenly on Daisy like floodlights. She stammered out, “I mean, if you want. It’s not safe to drive when you’re tired.”
For a moment, it looked as if Candace might accept. It was the last time they could share the same physical space together for the foreseeable future. The last night they could spend as friends, or whatever their relationship was turning into. However, with untraceable disappointment, Candace shook her head.
“Thanks, but I’ll be alright. My laptop is in my room, and I’ll need it to get started on those social media posts ASAP.”
“I’ll follow behind you just in case,” Demi offered. “It’s not too far out of my way.”
It was, Daisy knew, but she kept the comment to herself as Candace agreed to the escort. If it meant everyone got home without getting into an accident, she could keep her jealousy in check. At an amble, they headed out from the porch to the cars parked along the sleepy suburban street. Demi said hergoodbyes and hopped in, while Candace lingered by her driver side door.
Did she feel the same lead weight in her stomach? Daisy wondered. There was only an arm's length between them, yet the distance seemed to expand by the second. Soon, it became an impassable void.
“Well—”
“Yeah—”
They spoke at the same time, cutting each other off. It was hard for Daisy not to laugh… at the absurdity of their situation, the bittersweetness of it all, and the cowardice that kept her from making her move. Candace was about to put everything on the line for her, but was it out of guilt? Or something more? If Daisy was wrong about her feelings, it would make things supremely awkward. So, she laughed. Candace did, too, though it was more of a sigh.
Ever formal, the princess extended a slender, manicured hand. Daisy took it and pulled her into a full-body embrace. Candace squeezed back. There was too much to say, more than either of them could manage at the present moment. For now, this would have to be enough.
“See you around, Perry. Text me when you get home.”
“I will.”
Then, like she was never there at all, Candace was gone. Daisy dragged herself back to the patio and flopped into the Adirondack. A light spark and distinctly skunky smell reminded her that Rio was still hanging around, watching the whole sordid scene.
“That sure was embarrassing. Wanna talk about it?”
