Always (Next Generation The Skulls #1) - Sam Crescent Page 0,67
I missed you, but not enough to want to hear about all the nasty stuff you’ve got going on.”
“Of course you want to hear about all my nasty stuff.” She nudged Daisy’s shoulder. “Let’s stop talking about me and my love life. We’ve got to get you ready for your date tomorrow night.”
Daisy groaned. “No, we don’t.”
“Yes, we do. You’ve got to look sexy and cute, and I can’t wait to dress you up.”
“No dresses.”
“I wore a dress.”
Daisy wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think I should have asked Anthony out on a date.”
“Why not?”
“Because, I mean, we’re best friends. Isn’t that going to be odd for the group?”
“You’re asking me. The girl who is dating one of our own.”
“But he’s not one of our own, is he?”
Tabitha stopped.
“I’m sorry,” Daisy said.
“No, you’re right. Maybe I have been going about this all the wrong way. I didn’t mean to, but think about it. I’ve been treating him as if he is a Skull. He’s not. We’re completely different.”
“And that’s a good thing,” Daisy said.
“Is it? I mean, really?” Tabitha ran her fingers through her hair. They were outside Daisy’s house.
Her best friend grabbed her hands. “Stop.”
“But—”
Daisy covered her mouth with her hand. “No, stop. You are going to listen to me. Yes, you’re going to have to make a decision. The club or Simon. I get it. It’s going to be tough. You don’t have to make that choice today, or tomorrow, or next week. Not even next year. If Simon loves you like you say he does, then he’ll be happy to wait until you make that decision for yourself. Not a moment before. Got it?” Daisy asked. Her hand was still over Tabitha’s mouth. “Got it?” she repeated more firmly.
She nodded her head. “When did you get all bossy?” she asked when her hand was gone.
“Since you were gone and I realized if I didn’t, Miles was going to treat me like crap.”
“My brother?”
“Yep. He seemed to think with you gone, it instantly put me and him on bestie terms. It didn’t. I put him in his place. You would have been so proud of me.”
“I am proud of you.” Tabitha hugged her friend close. “Come on, let’s go inside. We’ve got to prepare for your date and I’m going to have to give you some pointers in case he kisses you.”
****
The following night
“I’m nervous. Is this normal?”
“Totally normal.” Tabitha ran the brush down Daisy’s hair as Lacey came in with some mascara.
Daisy wrinkled her nose. “No, Mom.”
“They’ll make your eyes pop.”
“I think I’ll be happy with them staying firmly in my head.”
They all paused as the doorbell rang. “Holy crap, that’s him. What do I do?”
“Don’t worry, your dad will open the door,” Lacey said.
“No, he’ll give him the talk, won’t he? The one he used when Sally started dating.”
“And she’s now happily married and has a couple of kids.” Lacey cupped her cheek, smiling. “Your father’s a matchmaker. You should be so happy.”
“Why?”
“You and Anthony could be walking down the aisle in next to no time.” Lacey kissed her cheek and left the room while Daisy turned wide eyes toward her.
“How the hell does one date become married? I don’t know if I want to marry him.”
“Don’t worry about it. You think Lacey doesn’t have a job to do? Her daughter is going out on a date and she’s nervous.”
“We’re not going to do anything.”
“I know that.” She didn’t. She knew a lot about Anthony but not necessarily all the good parts.
“Daisy, your date is here,” Whizz said.
“I can’t do this.”
“You can.”
“Why did I ask him out on a date?”
“I don’t know. You wanted to?”
Daisy pressed her lips together and shook her head. “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”
“Breathe. It’s a date. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
“You’re going to be here when I get back?”
“Count on it.”
“Good. Okay. Good.” Daisy looked toward the door and whimpered. “I guess we better get this show on the road.”
Tabitha giggled and followed her friend downstairs to where Anthony stood by the door, waiting. Whizz was there, arms folded, all of his ink on display. She tried to contain her amusement.
“Before midnight, clear?” Whizz said.
“Clear.”
“Good. No funny business.”
“Dad, you know him. Stop.”
“And if you so much as touch her, I will break every single bone in your body.”
“Dad, please stop.”
“Have fun,” Tabitha said.
Anthony actually smiled at Daisy. A real, lips lifted, showing teeth and not in a crazy serial killer way, smile.