Page 75 of Fake it With Me

Darek put his hand on my shoulder. “You okay?”

“I think I just made things worse.”

“You didn’t. Sasha was looking for a fight. If it wasn’t you, she would have found another target. It would have been me, and honestly, that probably would have been much uglier.”

“But the hearing.”

“We’re going to be fine.” He squeezed my shoulder. “She doesn’t have a case. The evaluation went well, the photo is bullshit, and our lawyers are good. This is just her trying to get under our skin.”

“Well, it’s working.”

“I know. But we can’t let her see that.” He looked down at Daisie, who was still watching us with worried eyes. “Hey, kiddo. The judges are starting their rounds. You ready to blow them away with your awesome science?”

Daisie nodded, some of the worry fading from her face. “Will you both stay with me?”

“Of course,” I said.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Darek added.

I noticed Sasha left. She didn’t even stick around to see how Daisie did.

Bitch.

26

DAREK

Friday afternoon, and the weather had decided to cooperate. Truthfully, I couldn’t have asked for a better day. The sun was bright, the water calm, and the entire yacht club had turned out for the launch of the Seraphina. It was the first vessel from my new custom line and easily one of the most beautiful boats I had ever built. I was proud of it. I had spent months planning every little detail. It was stunning.

The atmosphere was pure celebration. White tents had been set up on the lawn overlooking the dock. There were tables loaded with appetizers and champagne. Members of the club mingled with the new owners. They were a couple from Boston who had commissioned the yacht as an anniversary gift to themselves. Music played from speakers somewhere, just loud enough to create ambiance without overwhelming the conversations happening.

It was perfect. Everything I had worked toward for the past two years was coming to fruition. I was so glad I got to share the moment with the two most important women in my life.

I smiled when I spotted them near the champagne fountain. Liza was wearing a pale yellow dress that somehow made her look like sunshine personified. And Daisie was wearing a similar dress in a slightly darker shade of yellow. They looked like they belonged together, like they had coordinated on purpose. Almost like mother and daughter.

I knew they had. Liza had mentioned taking Daisie shopping for a dress earlier in the week, something about “making it special” for her. I hadn’t realized they would match.

They were holding hands. Liza leaned down to say something that made Daisie giggle. My daughter pointed at something on one of the appetizer tables, and Liza nodded, leading her over to investigate. I watched as Liza helped Daisie select a few items, making sure she used a napkin, reminding her not to take too much at once.

It was such a small thing. Such a normal, everyday interaction between a mother and daughter.

Except Liza wasn’t Daisie’s mother.

But God, she looked like she could be. She acted like she already was.

A strange, foreign feeling washed over me. It wasn’t panic exactly, but something close to it. A feeling of being overwhelmed by how right they looked together. How natural. How easy.

I was so fucking lucky.

But I was already in too deep.

We all were.

And maybe that was okay.

Liza looked up. Her eyes found mine across the lawn. She smiled and it felt like someone was actually squeezing my heart. She said something to Daisie and pointed in my direction. Daisie’s whole face lit up when she spotted me, and they both started making their way over.

“Daddy!” Daisie called out, weaving between guests.