by Dahlia West
The cork burst, and champagne bubbled out. Surprised, Daisy quickly held the bottle over the bucket. She didn’t want to know what the cleaning bill was for a place like this. Her mama’s carpet was permanently stained and bore more than a few cigarette burns. It was vacuumed regularly (because Daisy was the one who did it), but it had never been cleaned.
In fact, nothing had quite made her acknowledge the dinginess of her life the way this room did. She poured some champagne into a glass and sat on the edge of the bed- the large, unused bed. Jimmy had problems, of that there was no doubt. His insecurities were a large part of the reason they hadn’t moved forward. Daisy hated having to consider the fact that the other reason might be because he thought he was too good for her. Just because he’d let Sarah, Hope, and to some extent Tildy into his life didn’t necessarily mean he was interested in Daisy joining their ranks.
There was a knock at the door, and she jumped up, spilling a bit more champagne.
“Damn,” she whispered, and for a moment she couldn’t decide whether to reach for a towel or the door. The door won out as her heart pounded. She twisted the knob and flung it open.
Instead of Easy, Sarah stood outside the door. Daisy could tell by the look on the other woman’s face that she wasn’t the bearer of good news.
“He left,” Sarah told her, and Daisy nodded like she already knew it. And she had, hadn’t she? She’d been sitting here long enough to have figured that out. “Can I come in?”
Daisy stepped back from the door and gestured with the half-empty glass still in her hand. “Sure,” she replied. “Misery loves company.”
“I’m sorry, Daisy.”
Daisy shrugged and took a seat at the table next to the bucket. “Want some?” she offered.
Sarah nodded and slid into the remaining chair.
“Whatever,” said Daisy, though Sarah hadn’t said anything else. “I had a nice time. Got to wear a dress I could never afford to own and sleep in a bed I couldn’t afford to rent. I came out ahead on the deal.”
“He just needs time.”
“I think he’s had plenty of that.”
“Don’t give up,” Sarah pleaded.
Daisy played with the glass stem of her flute. “Maybe I’m not the one giving up,” she replied quietly. “What happened?”
“It was an IED. It killed-”
“Yeah, I got that. Bomb, half the team died, and then discharge. But what happened?”
Sarah was silent so long Daisy thought she wasn’t going to answer. Then she said, “He wanted to die.”
Daisy took another sip and considered this. “So, he comes home and everything’s fucked up and-”
“No,” Sarah told her. “Right then. He wanted to die right then, right when it happened. He knew his leg was gone, and there’d be nothing anyone could do. So he asked Caleb to kill him.”
“Like shoot him in the head?”
“Chris said they’d do it with morphine.”
“Chris said?”
Sarah nodded. “He didn’t mean it, though. He just wanted Jimmy to believe it, because he was so scared and in so much pain. They didn’t do it. They only gave him enough to make him sleep.”
“Why didn’t he do it himself when he came home?”
Sarah shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “He’s Catholic.”
Daisy nodded to herself. “He’s afraid the real Hell might be worse than the one he’s living in now.”
“It’s not Hell!” Sarah insisted. “He has family, people who love him. People who-”
“It’s not about you,” Daisy interrupted. “It’s about him and how it’s got to be ten times harder for a man like him to accept that this is the way it’s going to be.”
Sarah stopped and looked at her. “What do you mean, a man like him?”
“He’s an engineer. He builds things, gets them working again. From what I hear about Burnout, they’re all pretty damn good at it. It’s got to be a special kind of punishment that the one thing he can’t put back together is himself.”
“So... are you done?” Sarah asked, tears brimming in her eyes. Daisy felt like crying, too, not that it would help anything.
“I like him, but I don’t love him, Sarah. How can I? He won’t even let me try. I know he’s important to you. I know you want him to find peace, but I’m afraid I’m just a piece.”
Chapter 28
Easy sighed as his boots crunched the gravel under his feet on the way into the bar. Apparently Sarah was out with Hope today, so there would be no lunch delivery. Shooter and Tex had opted to eat at Maria’s, which they always did when Sarah didn’t feed them. So, it was either go hungry or possibly face Daisy, and he wasn’t certain he was interested in either one.
She was always pushing him, sometimes too far. He found himself wishing she was more like Sarah, or the guys, and would just leave him be. Why couldn’t she ever back off? He had fully expected to fuck her that day after he’d finished mowing the lawn, had showered, and was presentable. He just hadn’t expected her to barge into his place uninvited. She was too much in his face all the time, expecting too much.
As he followed Tex inside, he felt an odd mix of comfort and disappointment that she was working today. With Daisy, he never knew if they were going to fuck, or fight, or both. Today, though, she didn’t seem interested in any of the above. She gave them all a cursory glance as they chose a table on their own. Her eyes passed over him with the same general regard she had for the others.
The heated gaze she used to pin him with was gone, and he was surprised at how deeply its absence affected him. Daisy, it seemed, could actually get enough. And she reached her limit with him. She didn’t bother to walk over. Instead, she filled her tray with ice water for Shooter, the sweet tea Sarah had taught Maria to make for Tex, and she popped the top on a can of Coke for him. She didn’t spit in it, though, and he supposed that was something, at least.
She dropped the drinks off at their table. “You want the usual?” she asked. “Wings?” she said to Tex, who nodded. “Two cheeseburgers and a basket?” she asked Shooter, combining Easy’s order with his. After Shooter confirmed it, she left to put in the order with Thomas in the kitchen.
“Chilly in here,” said Tex, and he didn’t mean the air conditioning.
Daisy brought their food and set down a bottle of steak sauce in front of Easy without saying a word. He figured she was just doing her job rather than really caring that he preferred it on his burger. Before he could thank her, Milo came through the door and drew her attention away.
The older man flopped dramatically into a chair at the table next to them. “Daisy,” he called out. “I need a beer. And some chili cheese fries.” After thinking better of it, he said, “Two chili cheese fries.”
“Old man, what do you need two orders of cheese fries for?” Daisy asked.
Milo looked up at her plaintively. “Well, who am I looking good for?” he whined.
“Oh, here we go,” Daisy muttered. “What happened now?”
Milo shrugged. “Nothing really. Made up with Cora and Jan, sort of. Though mostly because Jan got lonely and Cora dropped a fork in her garbage disposal. They want me to choose, though.”
“Seems reasonable,” Daisy replied, offering him no sympathy. “Pick one.”
Milo frowned. “I don’t want to,” he groused. “Don’t know how I could, anyway. They’re too different.” Milo considered this for a moment. “Maybe I could flip for them.”
“What?” Daisy asked.
“Flip a coin. Heads Cora, tails Jan.”
“You can’t be serious,” Daisy argued.
Milo fished a quarter out of his pocket and held it in his hand. He shrugged at her. “Makes sense.”
Daisy was quiet a moment then said, “Okay. Fine. Flip a coin.”
Milo flicked his thumb and watched the silver piece spin through the air. That was how he missed Daisy’s open palm streaking toward his face. She connected with a sharp smack.
&n
bsp; “Ow!” Milo cried.
From across the bar, Maria laughed hysterically.
“Are you crazy?!” Daisy yelled as the old man rubbed his face. “You can’t flip a coin, Milo. They’re people! You just pick one!”
“How do I do that?!” he shot back.
“You pick the one you like the most!”
“Well, Cora’s not so bad in the sack,” he told Daisy. “But she ain’t much of a looker. Plus, I think she’s a little sweeter on Ben Carver than me.”
Tex grunted appreciatively. “Who knew the elderly got around so much?” he mused out loud.
Shooter lifted his burger and prepared to take a bite. “I can believe it. I’ll still chase Slick around the retirement home.”
“And Jan’s a good cook,” Milo said, “but she’s still in love with her husband. Talks to the urn on her fireplace and everything. It’s a little weird.”
Daisy crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared down at him. “And there’s not a woman in Rapid City who’s the total package?”
Milo shifted in his chair. “Well, Alma,” he replied quietly. “Probably.”
Daisy lifted an eyebrow. “Now, we’re getting somewhere. What’s wrong with Alma?”
“Nothing that I know of. She’s the prettiest woman in town, and I know she’s a great cook ‘cause she fed me once. Best chicken Kiev I ever had,” he said wistfully.
“So, what’s the problem?” Daisy demanded.
“Me and Alma, it just ain’t in the cards,” Milo told her.
“Did you try stacking the deck?”
“I knew she was cheating!” Tex whispered loudly. Daisy rolled her eyes and shook her head but otherwise ignored him.
“She’s too good for me.”
“Did she tell you that?”
Milo frowned at her. “No, but it’s obvious. She’s a classy lady, and I’m just the guy who mows her lawn.”
“Is that what we’re calling it?” Tex asked.
Without looking at him, Daisy snapped her fingers to shut him up. To Easy’s amazement, the most dominant man he’d ever met sat quietly with only a tiny gleam in his eye. If that had been Abby, she’d probably be bent over the table by now getting a spanking. Shooter laughed softly after seeing the tiny blonde put him in his place.
“Well, the next time you’re out with her,” Daisy declared, “you just sit her down and tell her how you feel. If she-”
“Out?” Milo asked, shaking his head. “We don’t go out.”
“What do you mean you don’t go out?”
Milo shrugged. “I just mow her lawn. One time I fixed her fence. And once a shingle came off her roof, and she needed me to fix it before the next storm.” A twinkle lit up his eyes as he spoke. “She called me at night for that one. Saw her in her nightgown.”
Daisy stared at him and then blew out a harsh breath. “Are you telling me you play Mr. Fix It for this woman, and you’ve never even had a date?”
“Didn’t think she’d agree,” Milo admitted. “I’m hoping maybe someday she will. I can just keep mowing her lawn, and maybe someday-”
Daisy threw up her hands in exasperation. “Jesus, Milo! You’ve got to stop that.”
Milo’s face darkened. “But she needs me.”
“Does she? Or does she keep calling because you keep picking up the phone? You know, it’s okay to sacrifice for other people if they’re worth it. But if you keep doing it without getting anything back, then eventually they have everything, and you ain’t got jack shit.”
Chapter 29
As Daisy fixed her hair in the bathroom mirror of her room at the Rainbow, her phone rang again. She sighed. As soon as she found herself a place, she was going to get herself a new number. She glanced down, though, and saw that it wasn’t Matt -again- but Sarah calling.
“Hey,” came Sarah’s voice over the phone. “I just wanted to make sure you’re coming tonight.”
“Yeah,” she replied. “I just need a ride.”
“Abby will come get you. If you start early and have a good night, you’ll be able to afford your own car soon.”
Daisy laughed. “I don’t know if they’ll let me play. Tex thinks I’m cheating.”
“He just wishes he could. He’s a man of questionable morals.”
“Don’t we all want one of those?”
There was a bit of a silence after that. Sarah was still disappointed things hadn’t worked out with Easy, but probably not as much as Daisy. There was no point in re-hashing it.
Changing the subject for both their benefits, Daisy said, “I have enough saved up for first and last on a new place.”
“Awesome! I’ll help you look this weekend, if you want. We’ll take my car.”
“Preferably something close to Tildy’s place,” Daisy told her. “I like hanging out with her.”
“Absolutely,” Sarah replied. It was hard to tell whether she was enthusiastic about the idea in general or the fact that being close to Tildy meant being close to Jimmy. It was hard to believe the woman would give up so easily. She cared about the stubborn ass too much.
They hung up, and Daisy headed outside to wait for Abby. She made it to the sidewalk before her phone rang again. She pressed the button and held it to her ear.
“Forget something?” she asked.
“Daisy?”
Daisy frowned and silently cursed. What was the point of Caller ID if you were too dumb to remember to check it?
“Matt, I’m busy.”
“No, you’re not.”
“I am actually. I have plans.”
“It’s Thursday night.”
Daisy shielded her eyes from the setting sun and searched the street for Abby’s car. “It’s poker night,” she told him.
He laughed. “Remember when we used to play at Ricky’s?”
Daisy rolled her eyes. “I’m trying to forget.”
“Best tits I ever saw,” he drawled.
She made a face. Matt hadn’t been so bad himself, not as hot as anyone she’d seen in Rapid City so far, but a well-hung bad boy on a bike had always gotten her motor revving. Too bad they were never good for the long haul.
Matt’s tone turned sharp, and Daisy had already gotten over the call. “You ain’t stripping for your new friends, are you?” he asked.
Daisy groaned. “No, Matt. I’ve grown up a little since then. You should try it.”
“I am!” he shot back. “I told you! I got a job and-”
Daisy spotted Abby’s car, and she sighed in relief. “I gotta go. My ride’s here.”
She disconnected the call and pocketed the phone. The next thing on the list was definitely a new number.
When Daisy entered the Sullivan house, she saw Sarah with the phone pressed to her ear. She waved Abby and Daisy over. “Tildy,” she told them.
“Happy honeymoon, Tildy!” Abby called into the receiver as Sarah held it out.
“Hey!” said Daisy. “So, Hawk gave you a break long enough to call us?”
“Daisy!” Tildy chided over the speaker phone.
Abby laughed. “It’s amazing,” she said. “You can almost hear her blushing over the phone.”
“How’s New Mexico?” Daisy asked.
“It’s beautiful!”
“Did you go to that cafe I told you about?” Sarah asked.
“Yeah,” said Tildy. “I think I ate enough for three.”
“Well, enjoy it until the morning sickness kicks in,” Sarah replied.
“Ugh. I’m not looking forward to that.”
Sarah smiled at Hope as Shooter held her across the room. “It’s totally worth it,” she told Tildy.
“Enjoy the rest of your trip!” Daisy told her and headed to the kitchen to get herself something to drink. She pulled a bottle out of the fridge and pried off the cap. She turned and stepped right into Easy, who had come up behind her. She jerked back and sloshed beer all over herself. “Damn it,” she said and reached for a paper towel.
“Sorry,” he replied
and picked up the mostly empty bottle.
“It’s not your fault. I didn’t hear you.” She sopped up the mess, dabbing at her shirt and avoiding looking at him.
“Daisy-”
She sighed. “Do you have anything to say that I actually want to hear?”
Before he could respond, her phone rang again. She threw down the sodden paper towel and yanked her phone out of her pocket. “The assholes are coming out of the woodwork tonight,” she muttered and stabbed the answer button.
She brushed past Easy and headed toward the back door. “What?” she snapped into the phone. She didn’t really want to talk to Matt, but she definitely didn’t want to talk to Jimmy, either. The devil you know, she thought as she opened the screen door and stepped outside.
“Stop hanging up on me!” Matt demanded.
“I was kind of hoping you’d take the hint,” she replied. “What do you want, Matt?”
“I miss you.”
Daisy rolled her eyes and plucked a leaf off a nearby tree, twirling the stem in her fingers.
“Come home.”
“I told you. I am home.”
“You don’t sound like it,” he pointed out. “In fact, you sound damn miserable.”
“No one’s smacking me around,” Daisy replied, “so there’s that.”
He sighed. “I said I was sorry for that. It won’t happen again.”
“Matt-”
“It never happened before.”
That part was true. Matt had done his share of yelling and pushing, but he’d never hit her before that day.
“So, just come home. I miss you,” he repeated. “I miss how we used to be.”
Daisy pressed her lips together. She didn’t miss Nebraska or Matt for that matter, but she had to admit it was nice to be wanted. It just sucked that it was the wrong guy saying it.
“I got a place of my own,” he told her. “And I can put in a good word for you at the plant.”
“They’re never going to hire me,” Daisy told him, because it seemed easier to say than arguing about being over him.