“Well isn’tthiscozy.” Violeta’s tone is all sugared venom and razor edges.
“Violeta,” I say, walking back toward Daisy to sit. Maybe my presence will keep Violeta from saying something hurtful. She looks exactly the same as the last time I saw her, and somehow, not at the same time. Her hair is longer than I remember, her sunglasses oversized, her smileas calculated as always. Her cheeks are plumper, and she has a different shine to her. She’s happy. I’m glad she finally found what she was looking for.
Beside her, Jaime looks like he’s trying to play peacemaker, but the smug tilt of his lips says he’s enjoying this too much.
“Hi, Violeta,” Daisy says evenly, forcing my jaw to unclench. Violeta is not Daisy’s favorite person; she always had issues with Daisy for some reason. It got so overwhelmingly bad, I refused to let her talk about Daisy at all. It’s one of the reasons why I knew it wouldn’t work between us, even if I didn’t have my own motives hiding in plain sight.
Her gaze flicks from me to Daisy, pausing deliberately on where my arm rests along the back of her chair. She takes in the towels, the easy way Daisy’s bare knee still brushes my leg, and she smiles wider, like she’s just found the punchline to a joke no one else is in on.
“So I was right,” she says, voice honeyed, like the words are a compliment instead of a grenade.
Daisy straightens slightly, but her expression stays calm. “About what?” she asks, offering a polite smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.
“You and Mateo ending up together,” Violeta continues, eyes sliding back to me. “I could tell there was more going on…” She lets the sentence trail off.
I’m already opening my mouth to shut her down when Daisy speaks first.
“Well,” Daisy says lightly, “I don’t know what you think you knew, but Mateo and I didn’t start dating until recently. Not that it’s any of your business, though, considering you two are not a thing and haven’t been for a while. You’re getting married the day after tomorrow, right? So why does it bother you?”
It’s not subtle at all, but just by listening to Daisy, with her sure tone and her eyes holding Violeta’s, you could miss how she truly feels. There’s steel under her voice. She’s lightly pinching my thigh. She hates this—she just won’t let her say some bullshit.
Violeta’s eyes narrow just a fraction, but she recovers quickly. “Of course,” she says. “We’re happy you’re here.”
I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees, making sure Violeta sees exactly how close I am to Daisy. “We’re happy to be here too. Congratulations to both of you.”
Jaime coughs into his drink, badly hiding a laugh. Livie, who’s been half-watching from her spot, suddenly bounces to her feet.
“Okay,” she says brightly, clapping her hands once. “I think Daisy and I are overdue for some sister-in-law bonding time.”
Daisy blinks. “Sister-in-law?”
Livie grins, grabbing Daisy’s hand and tugging her up before she can protest. “Future sister-in-law, same thing. Come on. I’m stealing you.”
“Have fun,” I call after them, ignoring the way Violeta’s smirk sharpens. I sit back in my chair and ignore the rest of them for the time being.
4
Are You In Love With My Brother?
FIRST LOVE BY SABRINA CARPENTER
Daisy
“What the hell is going on?” Livie asks as soon as we’re out of ears’ reach.
I cross my arms over my chest and look down at her. For someone who has a tall brother, she sure as hell is a short little thing. Livie takes after their mother while Mateo is the spitting image of their dad, just younger and hot, obviously. Damn it, why am I thinking about this?
“Nothing is going on.”
“Don’t give me any of that bullshit. Tell me right now. You’re uncomfortable, that’s clear. You and Mateo are weird around each other, almost like all the chemistry you two have is out the window. I’ve never seen you so tense…like ever.”
I look around—there’s nobody around, just the palm trees framing the small stone path and the faint sound of people. “We were gonna tell you either way?—”
“Are you pregnant?” Livie’s face lights up with enthusiasm.
“What? No!” I shake my head and take a deep breath. “No, it’s not that. We’re just not a thing.”
“Who’s not a thing?” she asks.
