Page 69 of The Main Event

“Yeah, she’s just like everybody else,” Levi drawled as my mouth went dry. When I glanced at him, it was impossible to miss his smirk. “You’re freaking hilarious.” He shook his head and then stood. “Hey, girlfriend.” He opened his arms. “Come and give your favorite guy a hug.”

Daisy’s smile looked friendly enough as she crossed to us, but somehow, I wasn’t surprised when she plowed her fist into her best friend’s stomach. “You’re in so much trouble,” Daisy warned as Levi started coughing and sputtering. “You’ve been gossiping with my mother? Behind the dumpster? What is wrong with you?”

Levi’s face was red as he forced himself to straighten after doubling over. “I forgot how hard you can punch.”

“That’s all you have to say?”

Levi considered it for a beat, then shook his head. “Jax wants to buy you a drink. He was just talking about it. I’ll see where Corey is with our orders. I already know what you want.” With that, he took off toward the restaurant, leaving me with a wild-eyed Daisy.

I tried to be cool. I sipped from my glass, even though there was no alcohol left. “Rough night?” I asked because I didn’t know what else to ask.

“I’m going to kill him,” Daisy threatened. “There’s going to be pain.”

I inclined my head toward the seat he’d just vacated. Drinking with Daisy again was dangerous. I was no longer certain I had a choice in the matter. “Sit down and tell me about it.”

Daisy’s eyes went wide. “You want to hear about my dinner with my parents?”

“Actually, I find your situation with your parents utterly fascinating,” I replied. “On paper it shouldn’t work. It does, though. You’re clearly all happy with the arrangement.”

“Your parents aren’t happy?” She looked curious, but also leery. Getting to know me was as dangerous for her as it was for me.

“I’m pretty sure my parents haven’t shared a bedroom since I was conceived.”

“Really?” She cocked her head as she sat. “That’s kind of sad. According to my mother, she and my father were doing it right up until she realized she was in love with Rosie. Then even after.”

“Because she felt guilty?”

Daisy nodded.

“Yeah, we don’t feel guilt in the Hunter family. At least that’s what my father says. When he missed my high school graduation, he said it was for work. He handed me a card with a check. The same when he missed my college graduation. My family is all about money and that’s it.”

“George wasn’t like that. He was all about the people.”

That’s what she wants from me,I realized. She wanted me to care about the people at the hotel … and I did. Her most especially. “My family sucks. That’s why I want to hear about your family.”

The awkwardness that had been plaguing us for two weeks evaporated in an instant as she rested her elbows on the table. “Well, my night was full of intrigue. My father brought his girlfriend to family dinner for the first time.”

“How new is she?”

“About six months, I guess. They were cagey on the timeline. Probably because my father feels guilty about not mentioning her before. We kind of knew, though. Levi and I have been making jokes for at least three months.”

“What about the other girlfriends he’s introduced you to? Did you ever get attached to them? He might not want to risk it unless it’s serious.”

“He’s never brought a girlfriend to dinner before.”

“Never?” I was floored. “How long have your parents been divorced?”

“A long time.”

“And you’ve been having these dinners every week since then?”

“Well, not for the first three months or so.” Her smile was impish. “My dad was kind of mad and hurt. He came around pretty quickly, though. I mean … he still saw me during those three months. He didn’t see much of Mom though.”

“He was probably afraid that he would lose you when it first went down. Still, it’s commendable that he did the right thing for you. He could’ve been a dick and insisted that your mom split physical custody with him. Then you would’ve had to commute between Salem and Boston. He didn’t do that.”

“I’ve always loved Salem,” she admitted. She took the glass Levi handed her and scorched him with a look as he sunnily headed off to a nearby table with Corey.

I nodded in thanks to Corey as he handed me my whiskey. I wasn’t surprised when he followed Levi. They were clearly trying to give Daisy and me time alone together. Could they be anymore transparent? I wasn’t upset about the move. There was nothing I enjoyed more than talking to Daisy. Okay, I might’ve enjoyed kissing her more. Her presence was soothing, though. I’d never been around anybody like her.

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