Her eyes trained on me. “Jet, is it?”
I nodded, scared to death of her, even though she had to be three inches shorter than me, even wearing high heels.
She looked at Marcus. “What’s this about?”
Marcus leaned back in his chair. “Her father owes me fifteen large. Poker.”
Some of the tension eased out of Daisy and she glanced at me again.
“You close with your daddy, sugar?” she asked.
As it seemed some of the attitude had seeped out of the room, I dug deep and found my voice. “He left us when I was fourteen, but he comes back every once in a while. Some people wouldn’t call that close but…he’s my dad.”
Daisy nodded as if she understood perfectly.
She turned back to Marcus. “Tell me again why Jet’s here?”
“Her dad’s a hard man to find,” Marcus explained.
The attitude came back.
“You see what she’s wearin’?” Daisy asked.
Marcus sighed. “I see it.”
“No one fucks with a Smithie’s girl. Not even you.Comprende?” Then she turned to me, “I worked at Smithie’s. I danced a pole. Marcus met me there, so it’s kinda our special place. How is Smithie? I haven’t been back inages.”
Her tone had gone from seriously pissed off to sweet girl talk in a flash.
I tried to keep up.
“I drive him kind of nuts,” I told her, taking advantage of what I hoped would be a turn of luck for me.
She laughed. It sounded like pretty, tinkling bells.
“Everyone drives Smithie nuts.” Her voice was nostalgic.
“He says I’m a pain in his ass,” I carried on.
“I used to be a pain in his ass. Then I married Marcus. Now, as you can see, I’m a pain inhisass.” She smiled at me, huge and dazzling. Her teeth were so white they could light up the dark.
I felt it safe to smile back at her. Anyway, she was kind of funny and seemed sweet when she wasn’t being scary.
“If you girls are finished reminiscing, maybe I can ask Jet a few more questions?” Marcus butted in.
Marcus was saved the edge of Daisy’s tongue when a knock came at the door and Louie stuck his head in. “Nightingale’s here.”
Thank you, God.
I did a mental sigh of relief.
Marcus closed his eyes in frustration.
Daisy clapped her hands.
“Lee’s here! I haven’t seen him inages.”
The door opened all the way and Lee walked in.