Page 40 of The Chemistry Coach
Daisy clutched at her chest, startled.“Jesus Christ, are you allowed to be in here?”She glanced around the bar, scanning the crowd like someone might come kick them out.
Hazy elbowed Lover.“I was born in 2003, and I know it.You’ve sung it during practice before.It’s the one with this dance move.”He stuck his arm out straight in front of him, swinging it while he opened and closed his hand in the iconic dance move.
“Oooh!Yeah, I know that one.I don’t know the whole dance, though.”
Daisy clapped.“I don’t care about the dance.Have fun.”
They each took different approaches to the song.Lover stood behind Hazy and Connor on the stage.Hazy decided it would be appropriate to go shirtless because ‘it would distract from the horrible singing.’But Connor went all in.He did know the dance, and already humiliating himself, he decided to jump in with both feet.This would be the one occasion in his life where this particular skill would come in handy.
He sang a bit, but mostly he danced, giving himself over to the music while he relied on Hazy and Lover to carry the tune.
The audience gave them as much love as they had to Daisy, which didn’t seem fair considering her talent.They got back to their table, and Daisy gave them a standing ovation and hugged each of them.Connor waited until last and held on a little longer than appropriate.
He buried his face in her hair and asked, “Can we please go home now?”
Daisy pulled away from him and laughed, handing over his prize.“Yes, we can go home now.”
“Thank fuck.”
As they stood outside in the cool air, Connor flipped through the stack of phone numbers searching for one in particular.During his count he realized one was missing.
“Hey,” he said, with accusation in his tone.“We’re missing one.”
“I gave Amber’s to Hazy,” Daisy replied.“She asked me to pass it along.”
Connor nodded, but then Lover piped in, “You put it in your phone though!”
Daisy shrugged.“Yeah, I’m keeping that one.I can always use more friends.”
Connor didn’t push his luck.He plucked out his own phone number, slipped it into Daisy’s hand, and tossed the rest of the stack into the nearby garbage.“Here, you can keep this one too.”
Chapter 15
Daisy
Daisywokewithascreaming headache, undoubtedly because she had zero water while drinking.She mentally tossed her planned hike out the window.
She brushed her teeth, pulled her hair into a messy bun, and got dressed.The Pacific Northwest girl in her came to represent.Sweats, flannel, messy bun, Birkenstocks, and she had plans to complete the look with a steaming mug of coffee.
Downstairs, she found the boys eating leftover pizza and playing a video game.When she had her coffee, she sat in the recliner and asked, “Are you guys good with doing nothing today?I had a hike planned, but I’m dying.”She grabbed a slice of cold pizza off the tray on the coffee table and took a massive bite, hoping food would help.
“We feel like shit too,” Hazy said.“A chill day would be great.”
They spent the day playing cards and video games.They cooked a meal.They spent time together doing activities that brought them joy.With the evening upon them and dinner done, they did shots again.
Daisy poured and passed them out.“You’re going to want these for what we’re about to do.”
She led them out onto the patio, where a fire she’d started warmed the area.Graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars lay on the patio table alongside roasting sticks.
“I apologize, but I do have to do my job.And that sometimes means being cliché.”
Groans sounded from everyone.She handed them each a stick and a marshmallow, and they sat in front of the fire.As they roasted their marshmallows, she said, “You have options.Two truths and a lie, or never have I ever.”
Connor asked, “Are you playing?”and she shook her head.
Lover didn’t like that answer.“You expect us to spill our secrets but you won’t?No way!”
Hazy steepled his fingers in front of him.“Counteroffer!”
