Page 2 of Fake Coral and Keys

“You’re a Conner, Daisy.” Lily gestures to the worn-looking luggage at my feet. “Conner’s don’t buy used.”

I glance down at my bags, then back at Lily. She is unbelievable. I want to tell her they are vintage, and I found them at an estate sale last month, but there is no point. If it’s not shiny and new and branded by someone famous, Lily thinks it’s hideous. Instead of answering, I return my gaze back to the hangar door and hope this iswhen Blake walks in.

Lily lowers her voice and looks around like random people are hiding in the empty hangar who may overhear what she has to say. “Daddy said they fired you from your job. Are you okay?”

I tear my eyes away from the doors to look at Lily. Is she serious? Did my self-absorbed, verging on narcissistic sister just ask me if I needed help? Was that concern?

She eyes my luggage. “Do you need money?” She roots around in her purse and pulls out a credit card. “If you need help, I can loan you some from my trust.”

I turn away, my face heating with embarrassment. This flush isn’t because Lily thinks I’m broke. It’s because I was stupid enough to believe my sister was genuinely concerned about my mental and emotional state instead of the amount in my bank account.

“I didn’t get fired,” I tell her, keeping my voice even. “I quit teaching to pursue other avenues. There’s still plenty of money in my bank account.”

She sags and pats my arm after tucking her card back into her purse. “I’m glad you didn’t burn through your trust that fast. It would have been very uncharacteristic of you.”

“Don’t fret, Lily.” I turn away from her. My trust is none of her business. “We wouldn’t want you marring that smooth brow with frown lines.”

“You know, if you’re struggling, daddy will help you.”

“I don’t need help,” I snap. I’ve lived my entire adult life, barely touching the trust our father has set up for each of his children. We each received a lump sum after earning a college degree, then another after reaching our twenty-fifth birthday. The rest isn’t available until after we turn thirty. To think that Lily thought I’d burned through all that money makes me want to strangle her. She’s the one who needed a loan from our father to start her clothing line last year.

Lily glances at Erin, who I forgot was standing inches away, listening to our conversation. “But you’re having to buy used luggage, Daisy.”

Irritation bubbles up. “I don’t need help, and I don’t need daddy to pay for everything, Lily. I’m a big girl.”

Lily makes a sound in her throat and backs away. “You don’t have to be so snappy.”

Erin gives me a lip-curled, disgusted look, then hooks her arm with Lily’s. “Come on, Lil. Daisy is obviously stressed because her boyfriend stood her up.”

To keep from taking the bait, I clench my teeth. Erin is just trying to needle me, and every time I react, it lets her know it’s working. With a sigh, I grab my phone from my purse and unlock the screen, checking for missed calls, texts, emails, something, like somehow, magically, Blake will have contacted me to say he was on his way. As much as I knew that having his number would have been a bad idea, I wish I had it right now.

Damn stupid, responsible me. What was I thinking? With my mind instead of between my legs because I was trying to avoid falling into old habits. If I had his number, I’d have wanted to see him. I’d have texted him or called with some excuse just to hear his voice. I’d have made up any reason to see him again and would have obsessed over him every day. If we hadn’t agreed to no contact, I wouldn’t have focused on what was important.

My writing.

If I had any contact with Blake, I’d never have spent the last two months finding a literary agent and querying letters to publishers. I wouldn’t have resigned from my teaching position and pursued my dream of being a published author. If I’d been able to see Blake, there is no way I would have sat down and rewrote various parts of the manuscripts I have completed, trying to perfect them just in case I got accepted. I’d have spent toomuch time obsessing over Blake because that’s what I do. The second a man enters my life, I dedicate my time and energy to them rather than myself.

That’s what I did with Jim. After Jim, I vowed I’d never do that again.

“We’re ready, Daisy!” my father calls. My chest constricts, making my heart feel like it’s being crushed. He said he would be here.

“Daisy!” My mother’s sharp tone pulls me back to the present.

I jerk to face her and force a smile on my face. “Yes, mother.”

“The plane is boarding.” She runs her hand over my upper back, soothing me, but she eyes me intensely. My mother has called me nearly every day, wanting Blake and me to come for dinner or meet for lunch. I’ve avoided it, but I think she’s becoming suspicious, especially since Blake appears to be a no-show.

“I’m sure he’ll be here any minute,” I say. My eyes burn, but I refuse to let them see me get upset that Blake isn’t here. It will just make my mother ask even more questions.

“Are you two having problems?” my mother asks, trying to guide me toward the jet. My father hates delaying flights,especially when he’s trying to write them off as a business expense. “You seemed so happy when you left the lodge.”

“No problems.” I force a smile. How could I possibly have problems with a boyfriend that isn’t really my boyfriend, who I haven’t talked to or seen in almost five months?

She pats my back. What will I do if Blake doesn’t show? The thought of spending so many days with my family in the Keys is excruciating. Lily has been unbearable since her engagement. Every other word out of her mouth is wedding this and wedding that, flashing her ring and posting pictures of her scouting for a dress designer or wedding venue with Erin. Even Amber has caught wedding fever, following Lily and Erin around like a starving puppy. Now, with Blake not showing up, the trip will be a nightmare.

Forest peels away from Amber’s side and jogs over to me. My brother wraps an arm around my shoulder and squeezes me close. “Maybe he got hung up in traffic?”

I remain silent because anything I say will sound like me making excuses for my boyfriend, who didn’t have the courtesy to tell me he was late or not coming. At least, that’s how it must look to my family. I knew the second the word left his mouth, I never should have believed him.

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