Page 88 of The Life Daisy Devlin Designed
Daisy stared at James. “Sorry for interrupting.” She was amazed at how steady her voice sounded.
“You’re not – don’t be silly,” James said quickly.
Daisy didn’t miss the brief look he gave Alma.
“I was just on my way out, excuse me.” Alma stepped neatly past her.
A moment later, the front door closed, and Daisy spun back to James.
“What’s going on?”
He pushed his hand through his hair. “Nothing! Why would you think there’s something going on?”
Daisy sucked in a breath. Was she overreacting? She didn’t think so. “Don’t gaslight me, James. I just walked in on you and Alma –”
“Doing what?” James shoved his hands into his pockets. “Jesus, Daisy, if anything was going on, do you think we’d be doing it in the kitchen where you could walk in? Like you just did?” His jaw tightened. “Why would you even assume something like that?”
Because you’re ridiculously close to Alma. Because I’m projecting. Because I’m just not sure about us anymore.
She folded her arms. “So what were you doing?”
James went over to the fridge and took out a beer. “Want one?”
“Maybe you shouldn’t be drinking while you’re on an antibiotic.”
He sighed. “I’m celebrating.”
“What?”
Instead of answering her, he opened the beer and necked some back.
Daisy took a steadying breath. “What did Alma put in her pocket?”
“What?”
Let it go, Daisy, ignore it.But it was a scab she couldn’t stop picking.
“When I came in, Alma had something in her hand. A box.”
He hesitated. “Oh, that. It was one of those Funko Pops she collects. I’d had it for ages and I’d forgotten to give it to her.”
He was lying, she thought, feeling sick. But how could she challenge him when she was lying too? This was her moment: she just needed the courage to say something.
“James?”
“Aren’t you going to ask me why I’m celebrating?”
“What are you celebrating?”
“We’re making an offer for a new app.” James sounded relieved. “It’s exactly what the company has been looking for.”
Daisy nodded. “Great.”
“Yeah.” James rubbed a hand over his face. “We’re buying from a couple of college graduates. But I won’t relax until it’s a done deal.”
Daisy forced herself to focus on what James was saying. “You’d think they’d want to develop it themselves, wouldn’t you?”
His eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”
