Page 48 of The Rebel
“I still don’t understand why I’m here.”
“Because we don’t think we should give Daisy freesia,” Isabeau said.
“She’s more of a lilac candidate,” Celine added quietly.
I straightened up. “What did you do?”
“Nothing! For once we did nothing. That’s why we called you. We wanted to chat about this,” Isabeau told me.
“Right.”
“What’s your opinion of all this?” Celine inquired.
I looked down at the floor, carefully considering my words, but there was no way around it. I looked back up. “That it’s all a bunch of horseshit.”
Celine gaped. Isabeau just shook her head.
“Oh, when will you boys learn? Well, then, if you’re so convinced that this doesn’t matter either way, then you won’t mind taking this to Daisy, will you?” Celine came to my end of the counter, handing me a dark green bottle with a gold cap.
I raised a brow. “What’s inside?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Isabeau replied sarcastically.
“Yes, I do. That’s why I’m asking.”
“But see,” Celine said, “since you think it’s neither here nor there, or horseshit—isn’t that what you said?—then it doesn’t make sense for you to know.”
“I pissed you off. I’m sorry.”
“Nice try,” Isabeau said, smiling sardonically. “Still not telling you what’s inside.”
“Who says I’m going to take it with me, then?” Two could play this game.
“Because we promised her that we’d give it to you to give to her as soon as it’s ready.”
Clearly Isabeau was much better at this game.
“You two will be the death of me,” I said.
Isabeau laughed. “Oh, far be it from us to want that.”
Celine came over to me too. “We just try to look out for you boys. You all fight love so adamantly. It’s such a shame, considering your parents and even us old toads have such happy marriages. We figured we’re setting a great example.”
“Yes, it does make me wonder where we went wrong,” Isabeau said.
The corners of my mouth twitched. The truth was, they were right. They were solid role models. I had no idea why most of us—all of us, initially—were hell-bent on being bachelors for life.
“I’d like to continue chatting, but I don’t have that much time.” I took the bottle of fragrance, hoping I wasn’t making a mistake, and said, “I’ll give this to Daisy with your compliments.”
Celine nodded. “Yes, please do.”
“I still want to know why you changed your mind with the whole lilac versus…”
“Freesia,” Isabeau finished.
“We’d tell you,” Celine said sweetly, “but you’re not ready to hear it.”
This was exactly what I’d meant about Celine. She might be quieter than Isabeau, but she paid a lot of attention.
