I shrugged, hoping she was right. I didn’t like feeling this way. “Thanks, Drea. Are we good here?”
She chuckled like she always did when she knew I was lying. “Kaia, you know you can’t lie to me. Especially when it comes to Daisy. Just get home to your girl.”
“She’s not my girl.” I hated when she joked like that, but I knew she didn’t mean any harm. It was the way I desperately wished it were true that bothered me.
“Yet! Have faith, love. She may surprise you, you know.”
I rolled my eyes. That was never going to happen, but I didn’t want to talk about it anymore, so I only said goodbye and left the store.
When I got home, Duke greeted me, his tail wagging enthusiastically. I giggled. “Hey, buddy. I missed you too. Where’s your momma?” As if he understood me, he ran straight to where Daisy was sitting on the couch.
She looked so adorable with Duke sitting in her lap, a blanket over her legs, laptop on the arm of the couch. She kissed the top of his head and looked up at me.
I smiled nervously, unsure of what to say or do. Daisy, however, didn’t seem to have that problem. She got up from the couch and gave me the warmest hug.
For a moment, I melted into her touch. It always ached a little, anytime she hugged me like that. Like she loved me—not in the way I loved her, but I still reveled in it. I squeezed her tighter, like I hadn’t seen her in weeks and missed her.
“Hi!” she signed after we separated. “How was work?”
“It was work. It was steady and I had a meeting with Drea. Overall, it was a pretty good day, but I’m glad to be home. How was your day? I didn’t see you at the store at all.”
It was still weird to call this place home. Daisy didn’t seem to mind, though.
“My day was busy, I finished up a commission and got an email about another one. Yeah, I know. I’m sorry, I decided to stay home today. I wasn’t feeling that great.” She shrugged, and I hoped she wasn’t getting sick.
“Oh no! Well, you were missed! Blair brought Milo, and he could tell something was wrong. Speaking of…” I paused for a second, unsure how to proceed, but we needed to talk about it.
“Things have been kind of weird the last few days, since my morning yoga. Did I do something to upset you? I can do it in my room from now on, if you?—”
She cut me off with wide eyes and a swift shake of her head. “No! I mean… no, you don’t need to do that. I’m sorry I’ve been a little weird. I think I’m coming down with something. This is your home too, doodle. I want you to feel comfortable. I promise everything is fine.” She smiled, but it didn’t fully meet her eyes.
I wanted to ask her about it, but I had to trust her words. She’d tell me if something was wrong. I hoped.
“Anyway, I need to take Duke out. Care to join us?”
I swallowed down my question and smiled. “Of course.” She was acting as if things were normal, so I needed to, too.
Chapter Seven
DAISY
I had to get things back to normal.Kaia had been asking questions for the last three days and I hated the worried look she kept giving me. I didn’t want her to think something was wrong, so I kept doing my best to act normal. I was getting better at it, I thought.
It was totally normal to say your friend was attractive. It didn’t have to mean anything. As a lesbian, of course I’d find another woman attractive. It didn’t mean anything. Maybe I needed to go out? It had been a while since my last date. I really hated dating, though. I only dated because I wanted to find my person. But I’d been taking some time away from that to focus more on work, and now to be there for Kaia.
She smiled when she saw me coming toward her. “All done.” I closed her laptop and put it on the couch next to her.
She frowned. “What are you doing? I was working.”
I nodded. “I know. Now you’re not. We are getting you off this couch and out there.” I pointed to the window.
“Why? It’s comfy in here and people are out there.”
I rolled my eyes. “Come on, it’ll be good for you. I can see the worry line growing in the middle of your forehead. You need a break, and I need a few things from the farmers market. It’s the last weekend before they close for the season. We can stop for hot chocolate on the way…” I wiggled my eyebrows, knowing that would get her to agree.
She pouted for a few seconds longer before standing up. “Fine. But Duke’s going too. And you’re buying.”
I grinned, completely happy with those terms. “You’ve got yourself a deal. Now go get dressed.”
