Page 84 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
“... It’s fine…”
Candace was either too distracted to change or did not bother. She settled in under the covers beside Daisy, as far away as she could manage on a bed that was just barely meant for two people. While Daisy was propped up on her side, watching the woman, Candace lay stiff as a board facing the ceiling. She was so awkward and nervous, it was beyond adorable.
Daisy made conversation, hoping to ease the tension.
“You know, I haven’t slept off-island since I was a kid.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. My parents used to close the cafe during the winter months. We took a lot of road trips, visiting all sorts of places. My dad was a history buff and my mom loooved art museums, so picture a bored kid getting dragged around a battlefield reenactment. I’m grateful, though.”
In the low light, Candace’s expression was impossible to read. Likewise, the emotion in her strained voice was complex. “They were good people. They didn’t deserve what happened to them.”
“Most people don’t deserve the shit life throws at them. That’s how it is. It just makes savoring the good things important. At least, I’m starting to believe that.”
“You’re right,” Candace agreed with a sigh. Fabric rustled as she looked towards Daisy. “Are you okay? Will you be able to sleep?”
Around a not-entirely-feigned yawn, Daisy assured her. “I think I can manage. The weirdest part is how not-weird it feels. But maybe it’s present company.”
“What do you mean?”
“I guess I feel safe with you. Thanks for picking up earlier. I wasn’t sure you would, but I’m glad you did. I hope it doesn’t get you in any trouble.”
“I’ll smooth things over,” Candace said. And yet, there was hesitation in her tone. She went on slowly, as if each word was a considerable choice. “Daisy… the meeting I was in earlier… I saw…”
“What? Did you see something that’ll finally shut that ass-hat up?”
“I—”
Springs screeched in protest as Candace thrust onto her side, towards the wall. She finished, “I saw something to look into. I’m going to figure this out, I promise. Goodnight.”
“Thanks, Candace. G’night.”
Daisy was not sure what else to say, or why something that should be good news filled her with unease. Maybe because she cared less about taking down Peter Perry, less about Bagel Bombs!, than preserving this peace with the woman she wanted to be with. How could she make Candace understand?
The warmth that radiated from her, the sheets that were tinged with her sweet scent, threatened to lull Daisy into a deep slumber. She stayed up as long as she could, piecing together their first real date.
Candace Perry was a princess, and princesses deserved perfection.
Chapter 21
Candace
There was no doubt about it.
Candace was not a good person. If she were, she would never have gotten herself into this position. She would have stayed on her side of the boardwalk and left Daisy DeMarco alone.
Instead, she kept getting closer.
After visiting Norman, their not-date ended as platonically as any outing could. They were just two sexually compatible adults who happened to sleep in the same bed. Candace was fine with that; glad, even.
She could not bring herself to be honest about what she saw at the meeting about Daisy’s parents, or Bagel Bombs! imminent doom. She needed more information before she let herself take the bait Daisy so deliciously dangled before her. For now, visions of Daisy licking that ice cream cone—of long, lieth curves atop her bed cast in neon glow—would have to be enough to satisfy her.
And yet, Candace was greedy.
As they returned to their separate lives, Daisy and Candace went back to texting at their old frequency. Maybe more, as her phone did a vibrating dance every couple of minutes from its place atop her desk. The rusted, hollow metal made an impossible-to-missvruuuuumsound each time, catching Janice’s ire.
The woman huffed, saying, “You kids and your cell phones. Always stuck in your screens, never in therealworld. Don’t you know there’s a hurricane heading this way?!”
