Page 130 of Fake it ’Til Fall

Several.

All of them have Daisy Thorn in a childhood bedroom and me trying to remember every rule while rain traps us in a vineyard that smells like cider, wet leaves, and bad decisions.

Daisy opens her mouth.

Closes it.

“No,” Daisy says. “No problem.”

Helena coughs into her fist.

It sounds suspiciously like a laugh.

Daisy points at her without looking. “Don’t.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You breathed with intent.”

Helena lifts both hands. “My lungs apologize.”

I look at the rain.

Then at Daisy.

There were plenty of things I prepared to fake this weekend.

Sleeping in Daisy Thorn’s childhood bedroom was not one of them.

Chapter Seventeen

Forrest

We spend the rest of the day working the vineyard.

Daisy gathers a list of clients who might want to do more than buy wine. Donate to the high school athletic program, maybe. Sponsor equipment. Support the community dinner. Get their names on something tasteful enough to impress the town and expensive enough to make a difference.

It’s smart.

Annoyingly smart.

The sort of idea I should’ve had if I weren’t busy carrying crates and pretending I don’t notice every time Daisy pushes damp hair away from her cheek with the back of her wrist.

I start thinking about former teammates. A few friends. Guys with foundations. Guys with money. Guys who owe me favors and could pay by donating.

It could work. A few calls, a few emails, a couple donations big enough to make Principal Whitcomb stop looking at me like I’m a lawsuit with shoulders.

That’s probably a great idea.

There are also bad ideas.

Like following Daisy Thorn up the stairs to her childhood bedroom while her mother makes tea downstairs like this is a normal night.

This is not normal.

This is a trap with a pink and purple quilt.

Puck thinks the entire thing is another adventure because Daisy is involved. He trots ahead of us, tail high, paws thumping against the old wooden stairs like he’s been invited to inspect a property he intends to buy with stolen cider donuts and charm.