“Okay, that is pretty cool.”
Daisy could clearly see that he wasn’t himself; his shoulders were slouched, his gaze was stuck to the floor. Jameson Kingston, usually so effortlessly confident, looked… uneasy.
“Jameson, are you okay?”
“I don’t know,” he said again, eyes finally meeting hers.
“If you’re fine, I think you should leave.”
The words shocked her even as they slipped out. She had spent the last two weeks begging the universe for him to say something, anything and now she was sending him away.
“I came to apologize.”
She blinked. “About what?”
“The dance… and Rochelle.”
“Why?” Daisy bit her lip. “We’re not dating. We don’t even like each other that way. You were free to ask her.”
“That’s the thing, Daisy.” His voice dropped. “I didn’t want to ask her. I wanted to ask you.”
Her pulse skipped. His confession both stunned and warmed her, but confusion tangled it up. “Then why didn’t you?”
“It’s complicated, but please believe me.”
Not satisfied with his answer, she crossed her arms over herself. Her eyes were hard, demanding an explanation.
He hesitated and ran a hand through his hair. “Because he said I couldn’t. Okay?”
Her brows shot up. “Who?”
“Your brother.” His tone was bitter, almost ashamed.
Daisy felt an instant tangle of emotions—elation that Jamesonhadwanted to ask her, but fury that Sean had interfered.
“Why would he—”
“He’s protective of you. Too protective.”
“That’s a nice way of putting it,” she huffed, dropping onto the leather couch.
Jameson sat beside her, close enough that her pulse fluttered. “Look, it wasn’t just me. A few other guys wanted to ask you, too. Sean shut it down before it started.”
“Gahh, Sean!” Daisy hurled a pillow across the room.
“Sorry,” he said softly.
“You don’t have to apologize. My brother’s an ass.”
His lips twitched upward.
“What?” she demanded.
“Nothing. I’ve just never heard you curse. It’s… cute.”
Her cheeks burned. “I rarely do. Only when it’s warranted.”
They fell into silence. Comfortable, almost charged. Jameson broke it by glancing at her TV. “Wanna watch a movie?”
