Page 79 of Grizz

I don’t know when she became the place I go when everything starts to slip, but I know one thing with uncomfortable certainty—

Whatever this is between us, it’s already changing me, whether I’m ready to admit it or not.

When Daisy arrives, she doesn’t knock.She enters because she knows I leave the door open for her, always waiting for her to come and brighten up my days.

She steps inside with that familiar mix of confidence and calmness, coat half slipped from her shoulders, eyes already scanning my face.I take the coat from her without thinking, hang it up, and for a moment we just stand there, both of us aware of how much space has been collapsing between us lately.

I lead her to the couch instead of going to the bedroom, which feels natural even if neither of us says it out loud.She tucks one leg beneath her, curls toward me, hands folded loosely in her lap.I lean back, forearms resting on my thighs, trying to ignore how right it feels to have her here, like this, in the quiet.

“So,” she says, not pushing, never pushing.“Have you talked to Eliza today?”

I’ve been keeping up to speed on my dad through frequent updates from my sister, and in turn, I’ve been updating Daisy.

I take a breath before answering.“Yeah… this morning.She said things are finally settling down and Dad seems to have acclimated.”

She nods, waiting.

“The trip helped,” I continue, choosing my words carefully.“It helped my sister more than I think she even realized.”I glance at Daisy, then away again.“El sounded lighter… less like she was carrying the whole thing by herself.”

Daisy’s mouth curves into a small smile.“I’m glad.”

“She told me…,” I add, “that she was glad I brought you.It made her really happy.”

Her brows lift slightly.“She did?”

“Yeah.”I huff a breath.“Actually… she keeps saying how much she likes you.”

That gets a laugh out of Daisy, soft and surprised.“Really?”

“Really,” I confirm.“She doesn’t like everyone.Can’t stand me a lot of the time.”

“Neither do you,” she counters.

I shake my head.“I like people.”

She shoots me a look.“You tolerate people.”

“Fair.”

Daisy studies me for a beat, then says, “You seem… more at ease.”

I blink.“Do I?”

“Yeah,” she says.“Just… more grounded.”

I roll my shoulders, considering it.“Maybe.”

“What do you think it is?”

I know the answer.I just don’t know how to say it without fully cracking.

“I think,” I say slowly, “being there reminded me I don’t have to outrun everything all the time.”

Her gaze softens, like she hears the part of the sentence I didn’t say out loud.“That’s good,” she says.

“It is,” I agree.Then, because honesty has been creeping up on me lately whether I like it or not, I add, “It’s also… unsettling.”

She doesn’t pretend not to understand.“Because it’s unfamiliar?”