Page 116 of Guys Can't Write Romance
“But we’re gonna. Ever since she bailed, you’ve been gun-shy about getting close to anyone. Am I wrong?”
“When did you become a shrink?”
“When I had the busted leg and was stuck watching Dr. Phil on TV. But am I wrong?”
Chad leaned back on the couch and ran his fingers through his hair. “It would be easier if she didn’t just break up with some guy who makes more in one month than I’ll make in ten years.”
“And there we have it, folks. Honesty. I get it, bro. She’s scary because she means something to you. But a wise man once said, if it’s not terrifying, it’s not real.”
“Who said that?”
“Me.”
Chad gave a light snicker. “Don’t quit your day job.”
“And don’t let fear blow it for you with Daisy.”
Daisy woke to sunlight streaming through the living room windows and the smell of coffee. For a moment, she was disoriented, then remembered falling asleep during the movie. On Chad. Who was now conspicuously absent, though she was carefully tucked under a blanket with a pillow beneath her head.
A yellow sticky note was stuck to the coffee table:
‘Had to go before my first class. Didn’t want to wake you. Text me if you need anything. Or if you want to watch another terrible movie. -Chad.’
“Well, well, well,” Chloe’s voice came from the kitchen. “Look who’s finally awake.”
“What time is it?”
“Almost seven.” Chloe appeared with two coffee mugs, handing one to Daisy. “So... want to tell me why Chad spent the entire night as your personal pillow?”
Daisy sat up, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders. “Nothing happened.”
“Obviously. You’re still in your typewriter pajamas.” Chloe settled into the armchair. “Though I have to say, for nothing happening, it was pretty cute.”
“I just needed a friend.”
“A friend who dropped everything at the gym to bring you comfort food and watch Hallmark movies?”
“How did you know he was at the gym?”
“He was still in his workout clothes when I got home.” Chloe grinned. “Which, by the way, not a bad look on him.”
“Chloe!”
“What? I’m just saying, those gym shorts were working for him.”
Daisy buried her face in her coffee mug. “Can we not?”
“Fine. Then let’s talk about how you somehow slept through him extracting himself from the couch this morning, when you used to wake up if Ethan so much as breathed wrong.”
“That’s different.”
“Yeah? How?”
“I don’t know. It just is.” Daisy fingered the edge of Chad’s note. “Besides, I just broke up with someone. The last thing I need is to...”
“To what? Be happy? Feel safe? Actually have fun?”
“To rush into anything.”
