Page 28 of Healed
“We meant it now, Charlie. Y’all come back and visit,” Bane said.
“We will, sir. Thank you for everything.”
Bane went back up the steps and stood there with Janie and Daisy, waving as Charlie backed out and drove away.
Daisy was the first to go inside.
Moments later her parents followed her in.
“He’s such a nice young man,” Janie said.
“Carson is a sweet little boy,” Daisy said as she picked up the last few dessert dishes and carried them toward the kitchen.
“I meant Charlie,” Janie said.
“Yep. I like him,” Bane said.
“What? You don’t even know him!” Daisy exclaimed.
“Don’t matter. I like him.”
“You should go out with him,” Janie said.
“Mom!”
“What? You should. He’s nice, and we like Carson, too.”
“Your mother’s right. He’s good for you. You should go out with him.”
“You don’t know him and you’re trying to set me up with him!” Daisy exclaimed.
“He’s a good guy,” Bane said.
“He is,” Janie agreed.
“Why? What makes you think that?” Daisy demanded.
“He brought you a strawberry shake,” Janie said, like he’d brought her a million dollars.
“A strawberry shake?” Daisy asked.
“Mmhmm,” Janie said, gesturing toward the now empty cup the shake had come in.
“Dad! You can’t seriously believe that because he brought me a strawberry shake I should mate him for life,” Daisy said.
“No. But I talked to him. There’s no lie. He really cares, Daisy. There’s no bullshit with him.”
“And I should mate him for that?”
“No. You should date him. Give the boy a chance. He’s good. And he’s kind, and he cares about you. Don’t let whatever it is you’ve been shoving down deep inside you steal the rest of your life from you. And I really like Carson.”
Daisy opened her mouth to respond, but closed it when she realized if she continued this conversation, questions that shedidn’t want to have to address would come up. “I’ll think about it.”
“You do that. Besides, he’s promised me a chocolate shake, and I want my chocolate shake,” Bane said, winking at her as he walked past her.
Daisy headed into the kitchen to finish cleaning up from dinner, but her mind was on Charlie. Her dad was right. He was kind. And he was gentle, and he was so handsome. At least to her he was. But that was part of the problem. She didn’t trust her own judgment anymore. The very fact that she found him attractive was enough to send caution signals to her brain.
For the first time in a long time her Bear sat up alert in her mind.Mate,she whispered.
