He shook his head.
“I’m done,” he said. “It was stupid. It’s not worth it—especially with the way you’re looking at me.”
“How am I looking at you?”
“Like your hero just let you down.”
She gripped the comforter. “That’s because he did.”
He swallowed. “Do you still love him? Can you forgive him for being so reckless?”
She waited, then placed her hand over his. “Yes… and yes. As long as you promise, Jameson—”
“I promise,” he said, fast and urgent, meaning it with everything he had.
Chapter Twelve
Daisy, Age 18
HAS ANYONE EVER LIVED Anear-perfect life? Excluding Jesus of course, just a regular person, not born from God himself. How did they keep making the right decisions? How did they know everything would be all right?
Daisy would’ve loved to meet such a person or so she thought, as she paced her bedroom. Today would either be a great day or one she’d hope to forget. She planned to tell her parents her college decision and—harder still—her plans for the summer, which included crossing the country with her boyfriend and his band.
She could already picture their reaction.
Likely not well, considering she still had a curfew.
Jameson had offered to stick around, but Daisy didn’t want him witnessing the possible train wreck. Twice she’d made it to the first landing, then chickened out and bolted back to her room. She wasn’t frightened of their answer so much as theblowup itself. She’d waited until after her eighteenth birthday to do this, specifically so she could pull the “I’m an adult” card if she had to.
The third time was the charm. She reached the kitchen. In unison, they greeted her, “Good morning, honey.” Daisy slid onto a stool at the bar.
“Morning,” she said and went quiet while her mother handed her a plate of eggs. She opened her mouth to speak… and nothing. Again… still nothing.
“Have you thought more about school?” her father asked. “You need to decide soon, Daisy.”
Of course he’d bring it up. She exhaled, bracing for the conversation she’d dreaded since New York.
A few days after she’d returned, she and Jameson had a heart-to-heart beneath “their” oak tree. Daisy had confessed how much she loved Parsons, which was her top choice, if a few crucial details lined up.
Jameson tightened the blanket around them. “What kind of details?”
“You,” she said.
“Me?”
“Yes. I want New York, but I don’t know where you’ll be. San Francisco? LA? Do you even know? I want to be close to you, but I happen to love a school that’s probably the farthest from you.”
Daisy was on the verge of tears when Jameson started to chuckle. It honestly made her a little angry. There she was, spilling her guts out, and he was… laughing?
“This isn’t funny,” she said, swatting his shoulder. “I can’t believe you’re being so cavalier.”
“And I can’t believe you’re being so thickheaded.”
She pouted.
“I don’t have a ‘home base’ because I’m waiting for you to decide on yours,” he said. “My home will be wherever you are.Go to New York. Live your dream. When I’m done with the tour, I’ll buy a place there. You’ll move in and I’ll build you a big studio. We can even get a pet if you want. But, Daisy, just know my home is here.” He pressed his palm to her racing heart. “I’ll follow it anywhere.”
It was settled. After the tour, he’d move to New York; she’d move in once he found a place. It was her idea of perfect. Now she just had to convince her parents of that.
