“Don’t be. It was good once. But in the end, the lifestyle meant more to him than Mum and me.” He shrugged, but his eyes betrayed the sting. “His loss.”
Daisy let the silence linger, afraid to break the fragile truth hanging between them. Then, with a small smile, she nudged the remote. “Another movie?”
Jameson grinned faintly. “Another movie.”
Daisy wasn’t sure how she’d ended up asleep pressed against Jameson’s chest, but there she was, his arm slung across her waist like it belonged there. She didn’t mind his warmth, but the hard pressure against her lower back made her breath hitch.
Breathe. Just breathe.
They must have dozed off during the second movie, shifting into the spooning position they were in now. Daisy had barely cuddled with a boy, let alone… this. She had no idea what theprotocolwas.
Trying to ease herself free, she inched upward, carefully lifting his heavy arm. But Jameson stirred, pulling her closer instead, a soft sound escaping his throat.
Her pulse hammered. Was he awake? Was heenjoying this? Part of her—one she hardly recognized—rejoiced at the closeness. The other part was mortified.
Should she lie still and let him sleep, or wake him before things became even more awkward?
Daisy chose the latter. She gave his hand a squeeze and whispered, “Hey… Jameson.”
No response.
She tried again, a little louder. “Jameson?” Still nothing.
With a dramatic sigh, she muttered, “Jameson Kingston, future rock star, please wake up.”
His voice came instantly, low and amused. “You said the magic words.”
Daisy shot upright, spinning to face him. “You were awake this whole time?”
A guilty grin tugged at his lips. “Maybe.”
Mortified, she buried her face in her hands.
“I woke up right before the first ‘Hey, Jameson,’” he confessed, laughter rumbling from his chest.
She nudged his side with her elbow and stuck out her tongue. “Jerk.”
Jameson only laughed harder. “Sorry about my… unexpected friend here.”
Her cheeks flamed so hot she was sure they matched the crimson bow tie he’d worn to the dance.
Speaking of… and moving away fromthattopic.
“You spent the night,” she said, more a statement than a question.
“It appears so.” He stretched, unfazed.
“Isn’t your mom going to freak out?”
He shook his head. “Nah. She thinks I’m at Rochelle’s lock-in. Lenny’s covering for me; he’ll pick me up soon.”
Daisy’s chest tightened. She didn’t want this to end, but she knew it had to. If her parents found out Jameson had stayed, there would be hell to pay.
Before he could leave, she blurted, “What are we, Jameson?”
He rubbed his eyes, considering. Finally, he said, “We’re friends, Daisy.”
Her heart dipped.
