Page 93 of The Summer I First Saw You
He laughs quietly, brushing his lips against my own one last time before he steps away. “Just listening to you describe the creaminess of Havarti cheese has gotten me hard, Daisy. The bar is set pretty low.”
“I did taste a Gruyere today that—”
“Stop,” he pleads. “Seriously. Liam’s definitely going to walk in here ready to throw another punch, and I’ll probably allow it. So if you want me standing when this is done, you’ve got to promise you’ll be a good girl.”
My mouth curves. I’m on the cusp of sayingI’ll be such a good girl for youin a filthy voice before I realize that’s the exact kind of shit he’s talking about. “I’ll do my best.”
I carry the pitcher of margaritas I made to the deck, and he follows. I’m just starting to pour the drinks when Liam and Emerson park in front of the house. She’s smiling as they climb the stairs.
Liam is not.
Emmy hugs everyone while Liam looks around him with a scowl.
“I guess if you had to be seduced by a predatory old man,” he finally says, “this was a decent house to allow it to happen in.”
I laugh. “Fuck off.”
He gives me the slightest smile. “I’m just saying…you’ve still got a room at my place, and it’s always open. You don’tneedto stay here.”
Harrison wraps his arm around me, staking his claim. “She wasn’t being held hostage, Liam. And she’s not going anywhere.”
Liam’s nostrils flare. Emmy slides her hand into his as if he’s a child who’s about to run into the street.
“You still haven’t explained how this unfolded,” he says, looking from me to Harrison.
I bite my lip as Harrison and I exchange a glance. Those months before I arrived are his to share, not mine. But it sort of feels like it’s time.
“You might not be aware of this,” Harrison begins, “but your niece is quite the little blackmailer.”
Liam’s still scowling…but then his mouth softens and an unwilling laugh escapes him. “Yeah. I guess that lines up.”
The last of my guilt slips away. I knew their friendship would recover eventually. But that it only took about five minutes makes this feel more perfect than it already did.
48
DAISY
At the end of the week, Harrison drives me to the airport.
He parks and walks me all the way to security. I’m sick to my stomach as he holds me against him to say goodbye. I’ll see him next weekend. It’s ridiculous that I’m so sad.
“It’s only six days,” he says.
“Six days,” I repeat.
It’s still too long, and we both know it.
Late that afternoon, I land at Reagan. It’s ninety-nine degrees and a hundred percent humidity. Traffic is snarled the whole way into the city. I don’t know why the hell I’m here.
I get to my apartment at last, struggling with my suitcases. Claudia, my roommate, helps me get everything inside and then lowers the boom.
“We’ve got a bit of a problem,” she says. “Helen’s still here.”
Helen is the girl I sublet my room to in June. She was supposed to have moved out earlier this week, but apparently the house she was renting with friends just got condemned. “She’s a nice girl. I told her you and I could share a room until she finds something else since I’ve got a king-size bed.”
“Which you usually share with your boyfriend.”
She shrugs. “I’ll tell him he can’t sleep over.”
