Page 28 of Fake Coral and Keys

With controlled, deliberate steps, I move toward Daisy and wrap my arms around her waist. I dwarf her small body in mine. My heart clenches. I can’t imagine anyone hurting her. Hitting her. Screaming at her. I’d fucking kill anyone who so much as looked at her sideways, including that scum bag who dared speak so rudely to her. Daisy is too pure, too good for such grotesque crudeness. I hate that I’ve accidentally given Justine more fuel to throw at Daisy, but I didn’t realize just how toxic her obsession was.

And I should know what obsession looks like.

Daisy spins in my arms to face me, and it feels like my chest is being squeezed. Did I just betray her further by not walking away from Justine? It’s disturbing to think Justine is spreading lies about Daisy to people she trusts. I’m not really her boyfriend, but Justine doesn’t know that. Why would she tell me all this? To cause a rift between Daisy and me? Or is it something worse? Is it true? Is Daisy possible of lashing out so maliciously when she feels cornered? It’s common for people in abusive relationships to resort to lies to cover up being abused. I’d seen it one too many times in the women my father broughthome. He was a real bastard, and I had stopped him from hitting a girlfriend on more than one occasion. The women always defended him, saying it was her fault. Even I constantly lied to cover up the fact that he abused me. My stomach twists to think that Daisy had endured even a smidgen of that.

I could imagine her lying to cover up the abuse. I’ve witnessed her make excuses for her sister, but to threaten slander on anyone who tried to reveal her abusive relationship? It doesn’t fit. Not what I’ve seen of Daisy.

But what have you really seen of her, Blake? You’ve followed her and stalked her on social media. What people post on the internet isn’t who they truly are. It’s a front. A show for followers. You know it’s not the truth, Blake. You know, because you’re a fake too.

“Everything okay?” Daisy asks, and I realize I’ve just been standing here, holding her for a second too long.

Pressing my nose to the soft skin below her ear, I breathe in her floral scent. A shiver runs through her as my lips brush along her neck. “I miss your sweet taste flooding my mouth.”

Daisy’s shuddered breath gives me a satisfying rush that travels straight to my cock.

Lily loops her arms with Amber and Erin, backing away. “I guess we’re done.”

“I need to get you back in bed,” I say when they are out of earshot.

Daisy smirks. “I think you just miss the comfy mattress.”

I laugh, and it feels good. Like the tension from the conversation a few minutes ago is unwinding from around my neck. “It is a pretty amazing bed, but I like it better when you’re in it, naked.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

DAISY

Now

There’s something wrong withBlake.

Ever since yesterday, he’s been tense. He’s quiet and seems distant, his mood dark. He’s not been his usual sunny self. I’m hoping today he relaxes because it’s making me uneasy. Blakes’s done such a great job convincing my family he’s madly in love with me that my mother constantlysmiles, and even my father seems pleased. Hell, even Kane was talking to him last night at dinner.

Whatever is going on, I hope snorkeling today and the resort party tonight will reset his mood. I hope. His strange demeanor freaks me out a little. I’m worried he’s having second thoughts about our arrangement. What if he doesn’t want to continue? The idea makes me all panicky because if he weren’t to go on future Gatherings and I had to tell my family we broke up, I’m pretty sure they’d fault me somehow. For sure, Erin would. Because if I can’t keep such a wonderful doting man who appears to love me like crazy, then I must be broken.

That’s what they’d think.

But how long can I expect him to carry on a pretend relationship? I can’t keep him playing this role forever.

“You ready?”

I look up from my phone to find Blake standing in the doorway leading to the patio. He’s in blue swim trunks with little stars all over them and a dark blue rash guard. He said something about needing to protect his tattoos from the sun, so wearing the UV protection in a shirt was easier. I hate it. Even though it outlines his muscles, and as he slides his hand to run it through his black hair, I spy his tone abs, I would much rather see him bare-chested. Maybe. The thought of Justine’sthirsty eyes all over him makes me glad I’m the only one to see his glorious body and the artwork inked into his skin.

We’ve had sex basically every chance we’ve been alone, and a sweet ache rests between my legs. The sight of him right now makes my belly feel all wiggly just thinking about this morning and the way he feels moving inside me with long strokes. How his arms tense, holding himself above me.

“Daisy?”

I glance up, not realizing my eyes have drifted back to the phone in my hand. While waiting for my family to get ready, I’ve been scrolling through Lily’s social media feeds. She’s posted several pictures of me, and the comments have left me shocked. There are so many saying how beautiful I am, some have little heart eye emojis, and some have a line of fire emojis. A few are quite rude, but overall, the comments are lovely, but the pictures are liked by so many I feel like there must be a mistake.

The bed dips as Blake sits next to me. He tugs at the bathing suit strap at my collarbone. “Another one of your sister’s?”

I look down at the coral-colored suit. It’s a two-piece with a thick strap that wraps around my middle. This bathing suit has more fabric, which seemed like a good idea for our snorkeling trip today.

“How does it feel having your picture liked by so many people?” Blake bumps my shoulder with his making me realize I’ve gone back to staring at the picture of me by the pool. I have to hand it to Erin. She really is good.

“It’s surreal,” I say, unable to tear my eyes off the image. “It doesn’t even look like me.”

Blake leans in close to study the image. “I’d say that looks exactly like you.”

---