Page 99 of Fair Trade

“Where are you going?” Mateo asks.

“Quick walk.”

“But you left your coat on your chair,” Isa yells after him.

“Don’t need it,” he says as he steps into the frigid December air.

“What was that about?” Daisy asks.

“Oh boy,” Isabella mumbles under her breath.

Now isn’t the time to discuss what I suspect about Coach. Instead, I focus on my sister. Now that I truly know what it is to love someone and wanting to spend the rest of my life with that person, I can’t imagine that she feels the same for Damien.

“Daisy, I’m your brother and I love you, but level with me, please. Is Dad pressuring you in any way to get married to Damien?”

“No,” she says before I’m done asking the question. The look on my face must tell her not to bullshit me, and she raises her arms slightly. “He’s, kind of… Well, you know Dad. He’s been stressed the last couple of years with his business. And having contracts stateside, with the government, would help immensely. The fact that Damien and I were already dating seemed to please him. And he seemed so damn thrilled when Damien proposed, even if it was a bit sooner than I expected, and—”

“Daisy, do you hear yourself? Our sorry excuse for a father is absolutely manipulating you.”

Luisa squeezes my thigh under the table, stopping me from saying something I would likely regret. I know my sister is a sensitive soul, and I’m not exactly delicate when it comes totrying to get my point across, but I can’t stand for my sister to be a pawn in my father’s mess.

“Daisy—”

“No, stop. I know what you think of me. What you all must think of me. That I’m some kind of idiot. Some weakling who can’t make choices for herself. But you’re wrong.” Her eyes latch on to mine with a force I’ve never seen before. “And I’m sorry, brother, but you can’t possibly understand where I’m coming from. You had a decade with our mother. Our sweet, caring, and beautiful mami. I never got that. I got a nameless rotation of nannies and a father I would see twice a year at most. I only have one parent left, and while I know he will never win any best dad awards, he’s all I got.”

My heart threatens to crack down the middle.

“Oh, Daisy,” Luisa says softly, but Daisy shakes her head.

“Please don’t. The last thing I need is your pity. I’m a poor little rich girl who has daddy issues. There is nothing original or extraordinary about me. My job was a handout from my brother. I live in my fiancé’s apartment, which doubles as a storage unit for his accolades and is the place where he rests his head a handful of nights each month. My education, the one I’m not even using, was paid for by my absentee father.

“All I have that is truly mine are my choices. And dumb as they may seem to all of you, they are still mine. And if I’m making a huge mistake, well, I guess that’s my mistake to own as well.”

“Daisy—”

“We don’t—”

“You shouldn’t—”

The chill at my back signals that Luke has returned and heard every word she said.

“You don’t love him, Daisy.” Luke’s harsh words silence us all.

Daisy crosses her arms in defiance, but the harsh tone of her voice has all but disappeared. “How would you know, Luke? You won’t even RSVP for my wedding.”

Luke walks back to our table, hands resting on the top of his vacant chair. “You really want me there, D?”

She juts her chin out and nods after a few beats.

The chair creaks under his hands. “Then I’ll be there.” He grabs his coat and tears out of the restaurant.

Daisy stares at her lap as we all share various looks of concern.

Looks like we won’t be playing any board games tonight.

fifty-two

Damien stood Daisy upfor Christmas.