Page 127 of Stealing Sunshine

Delaney looks at each of us, confusion sparking in her eyes. “A fake one?”

“Bryce and Daisy were only fake dating at the beginning to get Bryce’s mom to stop setting her up on dates. That’s done now, though. They’re the real deal, and I’m so damn happy for them,” Poppy explains, her voice not loud but carrying across the store regardless.

How did I not notice how quiet it is in here until now?

“How about we don’t talk about this in public, Poppy?” I ask, my heartbeat a bit too fast.

She blanches. “Shit. I’m sorry.”

The group of people pretend not to look in our direction as I usher us all away from them, but there’s no doubt in my mind that they heard every word Poppy spoke. I couldn’t care less about Delaney knowing the truth. I’m not on edge about it or worrying that she’ll tell anyone. It’s those I don’t know that make me anxious. If Poppy had noticed them lingering so close, she wouldn’t have said anything.

I remind myself we’re not in Cherry Peak and try to settle my nerves.

Daisy doesn’t seem as worried as I am about anyone overhearing. She just looks at Delaney and smiles.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. We’d only told a couple of people.”

“We didn’t know each other. You shouldn’t have felt like you needed to tell me something like that,” Delaney replies, staring between me and my girl. “I could never tell that it wasn’t real.”

Poppy’s attention falls on me, and I know what she’s thinking.It wasn’t fake for both of you.

“It didn’t stay that way for very long,” Daisy muses.

She moves to my side, and I curl an arm around her hip, tugging her close. With her bright blue eyes caressing my face, I’m too weak to deny my need to kiss her and do exactly that.

It’s quicker than I’d like, but better than nothing.

My desire for her is the only thing I have no fucking control over. I want her near me all the time, and even when she is, I’m not sated unless her lips are on mine and I can feel her skin beneath my fingers.

It’s been torture keeping my thoughts of straying to the memory of her in the pole studio, but I can’t risk losing my head in the middle of the mall.

I’m addicted to her and proud as fuck of it.

A sniffle snags my attention. It’s Poppy who’s crying while trying to hide her face behind her shirt sleeve. I frown at the sound of her sobs, and Delaney turns to me, alarmed.

Daisy gives me a light push in Poppy’s direction. I swallow and wrap my best friend in my arms for the second time today.

“I thought we said no more tears earlier,” I murmur.

The arm she’s using to hide her face presses painfully against my chest, but I don’t have the heart to tell her to move it.

“We did. But that was before I got to watch the two of you together like this. I’ve missed so much being away! You’re the cutest couple I’ve ever seen, and I’m not there to see you fall in love. You’re so—you’re so happy,” she blubbers.

A hand sweeps up my spine, and I know it’s Daisy’s from theway my body melts at the touch. Poppy shakes in my arms, and I bite my cheek hard enough for it to bleed so I don’t cry alongside her.

“You’re not missing anything. When you’re home next weekend, we’ll still be there. Just like this.”

“Promise?”

Daisy hugs me from behind, her lips finding the back of my ear. It’s confirmation enough.

“I promise, Pops,” I declare.

38

DAISY

An evil,maniacal laugh has been trapped in my chest from the moment the pole class started to now as we watch Delaney wave around her sex shop bag from her front door. It’s dark out, the time on Bryce’s dash reading a few minutes past 9:00 p.m.

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