Page 53 of The Main Event

Well, now I was in a pickle martini of my own. I actually wasn’t all that interested in the drink. All the while we’d been waiting for it, I hadn’t anticipated the moment she would expect me to drink it. It wasn’t that I hated pickles. I didn’t. I just didn’t think they belonged in a martini. I had no choice but to follow through, though.

I took the cup from her, lifted it to my lips, and with only a second’s hesitation, I took a tiny sip. Since I didn’t die, and the sip wasn’t nearly as disgusting as I was anticipating, I took a bigger swig. “Huh,” I said after I’d swallowed and pulled back far enough to look at it. “That is … surprisingly good.”

Daisy was smug as we walked away from the table, thus allowing others to order their drinks. “Told you.” She took a big swallow of hers, then swept her eyes up and down my suit. “The Monopoly man? Really?”

“His name is Mr. Monopoly, and he’s a beloved figure in American culture.”

“I’m pretty sure they have Monopoly in other countries.”

That was a fair point. “I happen to think it’s an amazing costume.”

“And you found out about the party at the last minute and were left scrambling,” she guessed.

“That, too.” I lifted my shoulders. “Jesse invited me this morning. I didn’t have time to get a proper costume, though.”

“What would you have dressed up as if you had the time?”

“I probably would’ve just gone for something I already have in my closet at home.”

“You still have a place in Boston?” She almost looked surprised at the realization. “I didn’t even think about that.”

“I have a condo.” Why I felt the need to take it further was anybody’s guess. “It’s a fine condo. It doesn’t have any character. I’m keeping it for now until … well … until I know what I’m going to do.”

“Maybe keeping it suggests you already know what you’re going to do.”

I didn’t like how icy her tone had gotten. “Daisy, wait.” I followed her as she tried to cut down an alley. Chasing her seemed ridiculous on the face of it, and yet here I was. “Wait,” I insisted when I finally caught up to her. I didn’t grab her arm—that was too alpha—but I managed to get in front of her. We weren’t that far away from the crowd, and yet it felt like we’d traveled to a different country because the noise was so muffled. “Just wait,” I snapped out.

Daisy sipped her drink, her eyes piercing.

“What?” I asked when she didn’t say anything.

“You told me to wait.”

“Oh, right.” What was I going to say again? “It’s just a condo. I can’t unload it until I know if I’m staying.” I felt like an idiot repeating it—wasn’t that already obvious?—but I’d been desperate to keep her from disappearing.

“You don’t have to explain it to me,” she replied. “It’s none of my business. I just wanted to know what your costume would’ve been.”

“Ash.” I blurted it out.

“Ash, as in…” She trailed off.

“As inEvil DeadAsh. I have a great costume and a fake chainsaw.”

Her lips quivered. “I would’ve loved to see that costume. Anything is better than the Monopoly man.”

“Mr. Monopoly, and I’ll have you know I dressed up as him as a kid too.”

“To make your dad happy?”

I was thrown. Hardcore. “How did you know that?”

“Because everything you do, deep down, is because of your father.”

“I don’t care about my father.”

“Yes, you do.” Daisy’s tone softened now. “He did a real number on you, to the point where you don’t even know who you are. It’s sad. I hope you find who you’re meant to be.” She started to move away, and then stopped again, for reasons I couldn’t imagine. “Perhaps Tammy can help you figure it out.”

“Tammy?” She was starting to move away from me again, but this time I reached out and wrapped my fingers around her wrist. I wasn’t going to keep her here against her will, but there was no way I could let that comment slide. “What the hell does Tammy have to do with anything?”

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