“Hey! Thanks for coming.” They hugged tightly.
“Like I’d miss this? First, I love my Amelia girl. Second, I never say no to a costume. And third… I’m hoping to go home with a hot musician by the end of the night.”
Daisy elbowed her. “This is a kid’s birthday party, you know!”
“So? I’m single and not opposed to looking anywhere I can—church, the club, or a nine-year-old’s party.”
“Well, good luck with that. Most of the guys here are taken.”
“What about Lenny?”
Daisy shrugged. “Maybe, but you’ll have to get through Anna first.”
“Get through what?” Anna, of course, appeared out of nowhere.
“You hitting that?” Jessica grinned, nodding toward Lenny.
Anna laughed cynically. “Been there, and I’m good. Let’s just say he peaked too soon. I’d tell you to go for it, but I hate to see a good condom wasted.”
Daisy pressed her hands over her face, laughing. “Okay, can we not? Little ears everywhere.”
Anna mimed zipping her lips and disappeared inside. Daisy showed Jessica where to set her gift, then grabbed a drink and joined a group of parents. She made her rounds, pretending to be interested in small talk, pretending not to feel Jameson’s gaze from somewhere nearby. He was never far. Every time she thought she’d escaped him, she’d sense him again.
It was bewildering.
Daisy was mid-conversation with a few parents from Amelia’s school when Jameson appeared behind her. She didn’t have to turn to feel the ripple he caused because every mom flushed and every dad straightened up.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said smoothly. “Just making my way around. I wanted to formally introduce myself.”
Gina—the self-proclaimed “hot mom”—stepped forward a little too eagerly. “We met at pickup once! I’m Caleb’s mom. He just adores Amelia, and so do I. She’s the sweetest thing.”
“Thank you,” Jameson said. “And thanks for coming. I know it’s a bit of a hike down here.”
“Not at all.” Gina fluttered her fake eyelashes. “Your home is beautiful. We’d go anywhere to celebrate Amelia.”
Daisy caught another mom’s knowing glance. Funny, because Gina’s kid had never come to a single party before. In fact, half of these parents had never RSVP’d to a previous birthday, but throw a rock-star dad into the mix, and suddenly, everyone was quick to say, “Yes.”
Jameson lingered, charming as ever, before excusing himself to talk to the caterer—though a handful of parents trailed after him, hanging on his every word.
Annoying, sure. But at least it kept him busy.
Soon, the buffet opened. Amelia and her friends darted toward the chocolate fountain made to look like a volcano and the sushi spread displayed on miniature pirate ships. Jameson, well, Alice had outdone themselves. It was, Daisy admitted, spectacular.
Anna sidled up beside her, giving her a little squeeze. “Are you doing okay?”
Daisy forced a smile. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
“Because we know you. And this can’t be easy… sharing her, sharing this.” Anna gestured at the scene. “And…”
“And?” Daisy pressed.
Anna hesitated, then leaned in. “And it’s Jameson. Your first love, your first everything. That can’t be easy either, unless you’ve totally shut that down.”
Daisy’s heart skipped. She hadn’t told Anna anything, not about the kiss in LA, and not about last night. Anna was her sister in all but blood, but she was also opinionated as hell, and Daisy needed time to sort through her own chaos before braving Anna’s commentary. Still, she felt the change in her friend’s expression, the dawning realization that Daisy hadn’t “shut it down.”
“Daisy,” Anna whispered. “You didn’t.”
People were everywhere. “Later, okay?”
