Page 91 of Hoax and Kisses
“Okay,” Daphne says. “Is she staying for dinner?”
My throat grows tight. “Only if you want her to.”
“I don’t mind.” She shrugs. “Can I show her my flower encyclopedia?”
“You’ll have to ask her, but I’m sure she’d be interested.” With a deep breath, I close the space between us and Zoey.
“Hey, Daphne,” Zoey says with a small wave. “Did you have a good day?”
My sister studies her, brows furrowed, attention catching on Zoey’s damp hair. “Yes. Did you get wet too? Do you smell as bad as my brother?”
Whoa, why am I getting thrown under the bus like that?
Zoey’s eyes widen for a second, though she replies quickly. “I did, yes. I think Matt smells worse than me, though, so maybe we should sit in the back together to avoid him.”
Daphne giggles. “That would be better, yes.”
Damn. It’s gonna take my heart a minute to settle every time these two interact. Zoey has an ease I cannot put into words. She just… goes along with whatever my sister says. No overreaction, no outrage or frustration. Daph’s comments glide over her as if she’s stated she loves her perfume.
A warm flutter fills my chest. I’m not used tonothaving to fight for Daphne.
I grasp the handle of the sliding door and roll my eyes, though I can’t help but chuckle. “Okay. Get in before it starts raining again.”
Daph clambers into the van, but Zoey hesitates, smiling at me.
“You too.” I nod at the open doorway.
“My shoes are ugly and now I smell?” she asks in a teasing whisper. “I’m not optimistic that I’ll win your sister over.”
I squeeze her hand. “Trust me, you’re rocking it. She wouldn’t have chosen to sit in the back with you if she wasn’t comfortable.”
Zoey gives a playful sniff in my direction. “Or you smell terrible.”
Grinning, she slips into the back seat.
Bringing a woman home after the Andie nonsense, especially while Daphne is under the same roof, turns out to be more anxiety-inducing than I anticipated.
As soon as I slide the key in the door, my limbs freeze and my throat becomes as narrow as a straw.
Will Zoey care that the TV’s on for the next hour? Daph’s favorite show is coming up, and there’s no way I’m turning it off. And what if Daph gets uncomfortable because Zoey chews with her mouth open? What if she has a meltdown because Zoey uses her heavy blanket on the couch or sits in the spot she’s claimed for herself?
Maybe I should have gone over Daphne’s main triggers before—
“Are we…. going in?” Daphne asks.
“Y-yes.” I clear my throat, giving her a tight smile. “Yes, sorry. Go on.”
I unlock the door, and Daphne darts inside, throwing her backpack on the bottom step and running up the stairs to her room. Before I can turn to Zoey, she interlaces her fingers with mine. “You okay?”
I nod. “I think so.”
“Thank you for letting me into this part of your life. I know it’s a big deal.” She smiles, warm and soft. The combination is deadly for my heart, but her words ease my anxious thoughts.
“Come on in.” I move out of the way, and as she passes me, I spot the state of the kitchen.
Fuck.
The counters are littered with bowls. A cereal box lies on its side, its contents splattered on the floor. Daph’s schoolbooks are stacked beside her hairbrush and the pajamas she left behind this morning. And the sink is full of plates from the last few dinners.
