Page 36 of Fake Coral and Keys

“Yeah.” She nods like she can’t believe it either. “Jim said he’d met a woman a few days after our argument in the parking lot, then told me about Justine and how much more capable she was. That she didn’t get under his skin like I did because she wasn’t weak.”

The sound I make is more animal than human.

“I’m not sure if I’m more upset about him cheating on me with her or that something about me made him abusive because he never hit her.” Daisy shakes her head like she still can’t believe it all. “When the restraining order was issued, she dumped him.”

I lean over her for the unopened mini bottle. The burn as the rum goes down covers the fiery rage boiling my blood. Hearing that this guy, a boyfriend who was supposed to protectand love her, injured her makes me feel murderous. Justine knew exactly what he was and began an affair. I can’t wrap my head around her motivation to start a sexual relationship with someone she knew was abusive while pretending to befriend his victim. After I twist the cap back on and breathe out the rum fumes, I look back at Daisy. “That is a lot to unpack.”

A light laugh escapes her. “I’m not telling you this for sympathy. I’m telling you because she’s toxic.”

“She is,” I agree. “In the end, Jim’s abuse was never about you. You ended up in a relationship with an abuser because he manipulated and lied to fool you into believing he was a nice man.”

Daisy looks away but nods.

“Then he continued the abuse after you escaped by belittling you.”

“Logically, I know that,” Daisy says. “But it still stings.”

“Why didn’t you tell Lily what she did?” I ask. “If you told her, you’d never have to see Justine again.”

Daisy shrugs. “I was embarrassed. I had a restraining order against a man I had in my bed.” She looks down at her hands again. “And I didn’t think she’d be around so much. I thought she’d never show her face at a Gatheringagain.

I lean back on the bed and cross my arms behind my head.

She gets up and walks around. “Can we not talk about this anymore? It was so many years ago. Justine is awful, but she’s rarely in my life.

“She’s still trying to….” I let my voice trail off. What exactly is Justine trying to accomplish?

“Don’t even try to analyze her,” Daisy says. “I spent a couple years in therapy trying to unravel it all.”

“And what was the conclusion?”

Daisy lets out a dry laugh. “That there are worse people out there than you could ever imagine.”

“Does it make you feel any better if I tell you I’m not one of them?”

She grabs her little bottle of rum and can of coke. After a swig, she raises them both. “Here’s to hoping the man who stalked me for two months isn’t actually psycho.”

CHAPTER NINE

BLAKE

Now

The sun floods througha slit in the curtains across from the bed. Next to me, I feel the heat of Daisy snuggled up against my arm, her leg thrown over my hips, the little bandage covering the sting, still in place. The white robe fell open in her sleep and reveals the creamy skin of her thigh. I remain still for a while, watching her sleep. Her even breathing. The small flutters of her lashes. The way the sun washes over her face, highlighting the lovely curve of her jaw, the straight line ofher nose. The tiny freckles smattered over her skin like flecks of dust in the light. She is perfection.

And for right now, she’s mine.

Note to self: Do not leave this bed for the next twenty-four hours. Spend every single moment wrapped up with Daisy in this bed, savoring her sweet taste and the softness of her body.

My dick hardens almost painfully at the thought. My hand lowers to my cock, and I squeeze myself through my pants. We fell asleep, still dressed, after spending the evening drinking mini bottles, eating snacks from the minibar, and watching old TV shows from the 50s. We missed the entire party, thanks to my stupid ass, but in reality, I wouldn’t have changed the night for anything. Daisy was mine for hours.

A soft sigh releases from her as her eyes flutter open. She smiles when her eyes focus, and her leg shifts up, hitting my hand still lingering on my cock. Daisy looks down to where I’m squeezing my dick and then back up, giving me a devilish smile.

“You having to take matters into your own hand must mean I’m failing miserably at my fake girlfriend duties.” She slides her hand resting on my chest, down my stomach, and under the waistband of my pants. I lift my hand away as she gripsme tightly. The heated look in her eyes sends a shiver down my spine. “You should have woken me up.”

I hiss as she squeezes the head of my dick, running a finger over the slit. “You were sleeping so peacefully.” My breath hitches as she slides her finger over my shaft. “I didn’t want to wake you.

She gives me a fake pout and kisses my chest.

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