Page 103 of The Life Daisy Devlin Designed
“If it isn’t a good time ...”
“I always have time.”
Rosie sounded so sincere that Daisy felt tears threaten again. Jesus, she’d been so judgy.
“Is this about Matt?”
“Not directly.” Daisy stared out the window, which had started to mist over.
She filled her in, keeping things as vague as possible, aware of other people around. After she’d finished, she braced herself for Rosie to tell her that she shouldn’t have kept secrets from James, and that it was basically her own fault.
“Both of you are at fault,” Rosie said finally.
Daisy sighed. “Yeah, maybe. Oh, there’s one more thing. I overheard Matt talking to Charlie on the phone. I only heard bitsof the conversation from Matt’s end, obviously, but it sounded like he wants me back in his life.”
“Forget about Matt for a minute,” Rosie said. “Try to put yourself in James’ shoes.”
“I know he’s hurt, Rosie, but I’ve told him that nothing really happened between Matt and me. I don’t think he believes me. He even thinks I told Matt about the app.”
Rosie was silent for a moment. “And there’s nothing you’re leaving out?”
“I don’t even know anymore,” Daisy admitted. “Everything’s such a mess. My feelings for James, my feelings for Matt.” How did she explain that she’d never fully got over Matt? That she’d managed to justify her feelings for him, even after he’d told her why he’d left. “Things just got in the way after that night I stayed over, I guess. Kayley Lynch moved into the guest wing, and every time I was there in the house, it was always full of people. We just hadn’t got around to talking anymore about us.”Or doing anything about it.
Rosie sighed. “Well, do you want my opinion?”
Ah, no, I just rang for the craic.“Please!”
“If Matt wanted you back, he’d have found time to talk to you. And you’d have found time too, Daisy.”
It wasn’t that simple, Daisy thought. Rosie had no idea what her job was like – what her life was like.
“Look, flirting with Matt wasn’t the smartest move,” Rosie was saying now. “But you’ve got to put him out of your mind and out of your life. You have James to think about!”
“He walked out!”
“Daisy, I know James isn’t perfect, and I really wish he’d been there for you a bit more lately, but by the sound of it he was trying to hold his company together. And he obviously left because he was upset!”
Daisy pushed the rest of her coffee away. “So should I phone him and just ...” She stopped. Even if they made up now, would anything really change, or would their relationship continue to drift?
“Listen, now,” Rosie said, “forget about Matt, he’s in your past. Where he deserves to be, after believing those rumours. Who does that after five years with someone?Gobshite!”
“He was twenty-five! Guys are still immature at that age.”
“Well, that was then. What about now? He bought that software James’ company wanted, didn’t he?”
“Rosie, Matt works in the same industry, it was just a coincidence.” Was it, she thought? Of course it was, she couldn’t start going down that rabbit hole.
“Well, it sounds like he moved pretty quickly.” Rosie sniffed loudly. “Walk away from him! James has been a bit of a fecker lately but, lookit, he’s basically a good guy. He’ll get over himself and he’ll get another job, and you’ve got your own career.”
Rosie fell silent, and Daisy knew she was giving her a chance to let this sink in.
A waitress came over to clear Daisy’s plate, leaving the half cup of cold coffee in front of her.
“You’re right, thanks,” Daisy said slowly.
Rosie tutted. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not really listening to me?”
“Ah no, I appreciate it. I just need to figure it out now.” She felt a rush of emotion for her sister. “Thanks.”
