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“That’s a jellyfish, Daisy, that’s dangerous!” Daphne grabs her around the waist and hoists her out of the ankle-deep water and back onto the sand as I rush over.
“Yes, sweetheart, Miss Flowers is right. Those are extremely dangerous. If you see one, let us know but run away.”
“Okay. I’m hungry,” she says, crawling up onto the beach bed as my mother approaches us from the resort.
“Are you guys having fun?”
“Yes, but Daisy is hungry so I think we will head back so she can get ready for dinner.”
“Your father and I are eating here with the Tallmans again. Why don’t we take her with us?”
I look over at Daisy who agrees.
“Oh, I packed her an extra set of clothes in her bag so she’s set,” Daphne adds.
“Come on, Daisy Mae,” my mother says, holding out her hand. Daisy grabs her tote that’s almost as big as she is and waddles up to my mom, leaving Daphne and me alone on the beach.
I lean back in the bed as she stands there awkwardly, wriggling her toes in the sand. “So, a little early for dinner for us, I suppose?”
“You’re welcome to join them if you want.”
“No, I’m not hungry yet. Are you?” She crosses her arms, then uncrosses them again. Definitely nervous.
“Not for food,” I say matter-of-factly as I let my eyes take her in. “Why don’t you join me?” I pat the spot next to me on the bed. “You deserve to relax.”
She hesitates, then sits on the bed, placing her feet on it and hugging her knees to her chest.
“Did you have a nice day?” I ask as I reach out and brush the sand from the bottom of her legs and tops of her feet.
“I did, did you?”
“Yes.” I sit up, turning to face her as I tug softly at her arms, releasing her legs from them.
“What are you doing?” She looks confused as I stretch out one of her legs, placing her foot in my lap and begin to massage it.
“I told you, you deserve to relax, Miss Flowers.” I run my thumb firmly up her insole, making her foot reflexively stretch.
“It does feel nice.” She relaxes back against the pillows behind her.
“So, I thought I’d take the opportunity to ask you a few of those questions I mentioned that night at the bake sale.” She cocks her head. “The ones I told you I wanted to keep to myself.”
“Oh.” She looks intrigued. “Okay.”
“Are you seeing Mr. Fudge Sundae?” She looks at me, confused for a second. “Preston.”
“Seriously?” She laughs.
“Is that funny to you, Miss Flowers?”
“What? No, not funny. I mean, I guess it’s kind of funny that you still think that he is the sundae I was talking about.”
“Meaning?”
“It’s you. I was talking about you when I said that to Xana.” She blushes, looking away for a moment. “She knew that I had a crush on you or thought you were attractive. I was describing you because you were—forbidden.”
I smile. “You had a crush on me? That’s cute.”
“Well, I was attracted to you at least. I guess crush implies I liked you.”
