Page 37 of Pretend and Propose

“Work is the only priority I really care about. Sadie and you seem to think I need to find some sort of fun or hobby or balance to be happy, but work is the only thing that really makes me happy.” She turns to me, her eyes widening slightly, like maybe she didn’t mean to be so blunt. “I mean, other than you and family, of course.”

I don’t know what to say to that. Daisy is a hard worker and I respect and understand that, but as a child of two parents who allowed their careers to dictate and rule their lives, I know whatit is to feel second or third place to an intangible, ever-moving goal of success.

Reason number five I can never date Daisy long term, no matter how strongly I feel about her. I’d resent being second to her career and that wouldn’t be fair to her.

But that doesn’t mean she has a problem or that her attachment to her career is unhealthy.

“Of course,” I say finally. “Is Sadie still worried, even though we’re fake dating? Why not just make up a fake hobby for her, too?” The words come out harsher than I mean them to, laced with the hurt I shouldn’t feel. I knew what I was getting into and I don’t blame Daisy for loving her career.

She drops her head into her hands. “I hate lying.”

I reach for her, but she stands and starts cleaning up from dinner. Her back is ramrod straight, the tension radiating from her, and I hate that she won’t let me comfort her.

Is it because I don’t have what she needs or because she’s unwilling to accept help from anyone?

I fist my hands by my side to resist touching her and move to the table to help.

She doesn’t look at me, but stacks the plates on one another with a clatter. Her lips are pressed tight, her eyes dim.

I hate to see her like this and I have no idea how to fix it.

When she starts toward the kitchen, I take the plates from her hands and set them on the table. “I want to hug you, Daisy. Will you let me?”

Her eyes shimmer and she shakes her head, her lips going white with how hard she’s pressing them together.

“I won’t judge you if you want to cry on my shoulder. I just want to help you feel better.”

She lowers her head and her shoulders drop. She steps into me and sighs when I wrap my arms around her.

Her warm body sags against mine. “I’m just so tired,” she says in a low voice. “I work so hard and it’s never enough.”

“It’s enough for me.” I rub her back gently. “Want me to make you a dart board with Fernwood’s face on it?”

Her lips twitch and she peeks up at me from under her lashes, but she doesn’t smile. “That definitely won’t get me my job back.”

“But it could be a whole lot of fun. And your sisters would love it. It could be a new family competition, coming up with the best way to use your ex-boss’ face as a proverbial punching bag. Some might even call it a hobby.” I cup her cheek and lean in, trying to get through to her.

She pulls away, grabs the pile of plates, and walks into the kitchen. “Except then my cousins would get in on it and everyone would know how hard I failed.”

I grab a serving dish from the table and follow, putting it on the counter and facing her. “You didn’t fail. You did everything right. It was forces beyond your control that failed you.”

She sighs. “That doesn’t make me feel any better.”

I take her dishes and put them in the sink. “How about we forget about this mess and have a movie marathon? Something where good wins and the villains are brutally dispatched?”

She wavers, but the darkness in her eyes recedes. “I don’t know. I have a lot of work to do.”

“I’ll make popcorn. With extra butter and that spice mix you love.”

Finally, she smiles and I can breathe again.

Chapter Ten

Noah

Iclose my office door, sit at my desk, and stare at the blank wall on the other side of the room. I can’t stop worrying about Daisy. As happy as I am that she’s staying, it’s become clearer to me that something’s off with her.

I asked her out to breakfast this morning, but she claimed she had to be at work early. Which would have been no problem, except I went for a run instead and came home an hour later to find her just leaving for work.

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