Page 68 of Healed
“He just hung up after?” Janie asked.
“Yep.”
“I guess I’m not surprised. I’d hoped that Analise would smooth his hard edges, but it looks kind of hopeless now.”
Daisy laughed. “He’s one of the smartest, most thoughtful, intentionally irritating males I’ve ever met. And he has changed so very much. He just still likes to poke at the rest of us every chance he gets.”
“Analise is the one we should be admiring. She not only mated him, she married him,” Janie said.
Daisy laughed.
“Love is blind,” Janie said as she walked out on the porch to see her daughter off.
Daisy’s steps stumbled to a stop. She turned slowly to look at her mother. “Is it? Is that why I’m trusting Charlie? What if he’s secretly a horrible person? I can’t read him, Mom. I can’t read him like I can read everybody else. Why can’t I read him?”
“Daisy, honey, calm down. It’s okay. Your dad already told you that he’s a good man, remember?”
“Yes, but why can’t I see that? I can see everybody but those I’m interested in. I couldn’t see…” Daisy stopped talking, clamming up when she realized she was about to say too much.
“You couldn’t see who?” Janie asked.
“Doesn’t matter. I just can’t seem to read anyone when it affects me, but I can see everybody else and their mates.”
“I don’t know. But I remember that there was an issue with Bam and Everly. Bam could tell when everyone else met their mates, but when he looked at Everly, he saw nothing, so he thought they weren’t really mates and avoided her because ithurt him so much to be around her and know that he couldn’t have her. Maybe it’s something like that.”
Daisy thought about it. “Yeah, maybe,” she echoed.
“You should ask your Uncle Bam the next time you see him,” Janie suggested. “I know they figured it out eventually. Obviously.”
Daisy nodded. “Yes, you’re right. That’s what I’ll do.”
“Good. Now, go have fun. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon, and evening for that matter.”
“I will, Mom. Thanks,” Daisy said.
“For what?”
“For always knowing exactly what to say.”
“I love you,” Janie said, quickly kissing her daughter’s cheek. “Be careful crossing the road. People speed up and down that thing like it’s a racetrack.”
Daisy waved at her mom as she backed out, and headed off toward Havoc’s house.
As she pulled up the first thing she noticed was Harley and Carson sitting across from each other in the side yard with Gerald. Carson was holding a long green bean while Gerald took bites of it and chewed lazily.
Havoc was standing at the grill checking whatever he was grilling, and Charlie stood the moment she pulled into the driveway, grinning as he watched her put her jeep in park and turn off the engine. Before she even had her door opened fully, he was standing there. “Hey! You have a lot to get? Let me help you carry it.”
“Hi!” she said. “I just have my keys and the picnic basket. I’m leaving my purse in the jeep.”
“Give me the basket,” Charlie said, the excitement he felt at seeing her impossible to hide.
“I got it, it’s not that heavy,” Daisy said, as she got out and tucked her keys in her pocket, her phone in the other, and slipped the handles of the basket over her arm.
“Give me the basket!” Charlie insisted, gently removing it from her arm.
“If you insist,” she said with a laugh, allowing him to lead her toward the patio where they were congregating.
Havoc closed the lid on his car-sized grill and made a show of making his way over to her with exaggerated steps until he finally reached her and gave her a bear hug, planting kisses all over her face.
