Page 79 of Brides and Brothers
“He didn’tholdhold my hand. He just held it for long enough to put his gloves on my hands.”
Camille cooed, “Daisha, that is so sweet!”
“I know! It totally made up for the whole Oreo thing.”
Amy knocked on the door and stuck her head inside. “Did you call him?”
Daisha nodded.
“Perfect, because the smoothies are ready. I tried something new, and this recipe is going to blow your mind.”
Daisha and Camille shared a look. Amy hadn’t inherited a single culinary skill, so even a new smoothie recipe made them apprehensive. After Amy skipped back into the kitchen, Camille said, “You know you have to drink it for the same reasons you had to call Benson.”
“And why is that?” Daisha said, her nose wrinkling.
“Because you aren’t scared of anything.”
On the Friday night before Thanksgiving, Camille went over again to help pick out an outfit for Daisha to wear on her date with Benson and to keep an eye on Raina and Macey’s crazy revenge scheme.
Daisha stood in front of the long mirror attached to the back of her bedroom door, scrutinizing her emerald-green sweater and leggings. “This isn’t a rebound date, is it?”
Amy stepped forward, holding up a pair of her chunky earrings. “Not at all. It’s barely even a date since you’re ruining it with homework.”
“No earrings,” Daisha said. She wasn’t one to do the makeup thing, either, but Camille thought it a promising sign when she applied a touch of lipstick and combed at her black curls with her fingers. She’d never put lipstick on for Derek. “I think I’m ready.”
“You look gorgeous,” Camille assured her. “Are you sure you want me to be here? Amy has her study group, and I really don’t want to be a third wheel.”
“You have to stay here,” Amy said. “Emma told us you’re having a hard time being alone in the evenings. Daisha, don’t let her leave.”
Camille groaned. “Fine, but I’m putting in my earbuds and reading a book.”
“At least stay on the couch in the main room where you’re around people,” Daisha said. “Then, if you feel like being social, you can join in.”
The doorbell rang, silencing the complaints on the tip of Camille’s tongue.
Raina practically leapt through her bedroom door at the sound. “They’re early! I’m not ready!”
“Relax,” Daisha called to her. “It’s Benson.”
“Benson?” Raina said, walking back to her room. “I didn’t know he was coming over. He isn’t going to ruin our plans, is he?”
“He has no idea anything else is going on tonight. When do your dates arrive?”
Raina pointed to the clock. “Half hour. And I’m ridiculously nervous. Macey isn’t back from the library yet.”
Daisha walked past her toward the front room and called back over her shoulder, “It’s a little harmless prank, and Macey wouldn’t abandon you for the world. She’s planned every detail.”
Daisha pulled open the door, and Camille and Amy leaned out of the bedroom to watch.
Benson’s full lips pulled into a wide grin. “Who planned every detail?”
Daisha had been yelling to Raina, so it was no surprise Benson had overhead her last line. He stepped inside carrying a bag of potatoes in one arm and a lidded pot with the other.
“Youplanned every detail,” Daisha said. “Come in. It’s freezing outside.”
She shut the door against the frigid air blasting its way all the way down the hall to Camille and Amy.
“Time for me to go,” Amy said. She made a little whiney noise. “I’m so sad I’m missing this. Tell me every detail when I get back.”
