Grace, Daisy. Grace.
I called her name and headed up the stairs instead.
“Daisy!”
As I came into view, Odie bounded down the steps and launched herself at me. I looked up to see Trevor wince as we hit the wall and the air was knocked out of me.
Odie jumped up and grabbed me from the floor before I could get my bearings straight. She clung to me and hugged me so tightly I could hardly breathe.
“Daisy, I was so worried about you! Where have you been? I couldn’t find you and I was looking everywhere. I kept hearing that you’d gotten kicked out of the dorm and I came to our room and sure ‘nuff it was empty. And folks were saying that they hadn’t seen you in your classes and that you’d dropped out!”
“I’m fine, Odie.” I patted her reassuringly, while I gasped for more breath.
Odie was still near hysterical.
“And then he found me, and offered to bring me to you. But I didn’t know if I could trust—”
“Found you? What do you mean he found you?”
Trevor cleared his throat and I looked up where he stood above us on the stairs. He squeezed his hand on the back of his neck. “I, uh . . . waited outside her class.”
“Why?” I couldn’t help the suspicion in my voice. Why would Trevor help Odie find me? Why would Trevor help me, period?
We weren’t even supposed to be speaking to one another. He was trying to get me expelled from school.
Maybe he’d been waiting for Odie so he could interview her and this was just part of a trap to get us both together so he could kill two birds with one stone.
“Because she’s your friend and she was looking for you.”
That was . . . nice?
“Thank you?” I said, unsure of what to make of his kindness.
Trevor shifted uncomfortably on his feet and then said, “I’ve done my part. I’ll be on my way now.”
He brushed against me as he passed on the stairs and just that brief, soft contact was enough to send my heart rate up a notch. I reminded myself to be cool, and to keep cool. Just because Trevor had done a nice-ish thing didn’t mean a thing.
I stalled in the stairwell because I wanted to give Trevor a head start. I didn’t want to have to see him just ahead, just out of reach, the entire walk to campus.
“Daisy, I’m so, so sorry,” Odie called my attention back to her.
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “You’re sorry? What are you sorry for? I thought you hated me? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for my lie to get that big and I never meant to hurt you. I promise you I didn’t . . . I just wanted the chance to be seen as something other than my family’s name.”
“Oh, I know that.” She pulled me into another hug. “I’m not mad anymore and I never hated you. I just needed time to sort through my feelings before we talked. You didn’t even want to do that second batch of cookies and if we hadn’t have talked you into it, none of this would be happening to you.”
“It’s okay, Odie.”
Odie was still my friend. Thank God.
She slid her arms through mine, and with arms linked we headed out into the cold late November air.
Odie questioned me about my troubles as we walked. I brought her up to speed on the options I faced—how Julian was helping me and how Trevor was . . . not.
“That’s odd. Trevor had the perfect opportunity to ask me questions about what happened today, but he didn’t. Well, he did ask me questions, but not about that.”
Before I could interrogate her further, she pivoted.
“It doesn’t matter, I’m going to confess. It’s not right that you should get in trouble alone.”
We argued. And argued. And she was finally persuaded when I told her, “More people getting in trouble for this won’t make it better for me.”
Odie relented, but her expression was like a raccoon trying to figure its way into someone’s trashcan: determined. I had a feeling she was placating me and that the subject was going to come up again.
I caught her up on what happened with my father and my sister after she left and how I’d been home to try to set things right.
When we arrived to campus, we split up but made plans to meet up later in the week to study. She gave me another hug in parting.
Before she was too far out of range, I called to her. “Odie?”
“Yeah?”
“James?”
She shook her head sadly. “Daisy, sometimes the hurt is just too big.”
I nodded.
James doesn’t forgive me. James doesn’t forgive.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Daisy
I was holed up in my room studying when something weird and wonderful happened.
There was a knock at the door. I opened without checking, figuring Elodie had left her keys. In the short time we’d been roommates I’d already learned she was remarkably bad about remembering her keys.
When Elodie wasn’t around, Gracie had calmly explained to me that Elodie had grown up having doors opened by someone else so keys were hard for her.
The person on the other side of the door was not Elodie.
It was Trevor.
I stood frozen like a deer for a few seconds before I was able to come to my senses. “Gracie and Elodie aren’t home.”
Trevor’s dimple showed as he smiled. “I know. They’re up in my apartment. Can I come in and set this down? It’s a little hot.”
I took stock of him, and realized belatedly that he held a casserole dish in his hands.
I opened the door wide so he could come in and watched as he sat the dish down on the counter, taking extra care to leave the tatty potholder beneath it.
“I made you baked beans.”
That was . . . weird?
Trevor looked unmistakably shy and also a little . . . proud.
He fidgeted. “I’ve never cooked them before, but I did have help with the recipe.”
This was definitely weird.
“Trevor, why are you making me beans?”
“Before we get to that, I have something I want—something I need to say.”
“Okay.” I looked at him, confused. Trevor was confusing me. One minute he was agreeing we should stay far away from one another and telling me he was going to help usher me into expulsion’s welcome arms and the next he was bringing Odie to me and making me beans.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. If I could go back and undo the hurt, erase the humiliation you experienced because of my poor choices, I would. I would in a heartbeat. I know that you’ll probably never forgive me.”
“I already forgave you. I forgave you weeks ago. I forgave you the minute I found out the truth about the situation.”
His mouth fell open, and seemed so shocked that I took my opportunity to apologize too. “I’m sorry, too. I understand why you wouldn’t want to know me. I did mislead you about who I am, and for that I’m sorry.”
“I want to know you.”
It was my turn to be shocked.
“You do?”
“Of course I do.”
“So I’m forgiven?”
“If there’s anything to forgive, it’s already been forgiven. And Daisy, how could I not want to know you?” His eyes swept over my face in a way that made me feel cherished.
My heartbeat went staccato. I hadn’t ever expected to see that look from him again.
“I have no right to ask anything of you, Daisy. I know that. But I won't lie. I do want things from you. And you don’t have to answer now. In fact, it’s probably better if you don’t, seeing as we both need to hunker down so that we’re not on Dr. Gwinn’s list.”
Trevor’s eyes looked at me, blazing and fierce. “But I want you to know that if you want me, I’m here. Agreeing to go our own separate ways and never speak again was the furthest thing from what I really wanted. I just want to be a part of your world. However I can, whatever you need—a friend, a mentor, whatever you want.”
I wanted Trevor. I did. Bu
t he was right; now wasn’t the time. I was up to my eyeballs in work.
Dr. Gwinn was right; double majoring was a disaster.
I needed time, and Trevor was giving me—giving us—time. It was both the right and the smart decision. Last time we’d rushed headlong into a relationship and made a mess of it.
We needed time. Therefore, I started slowly.
“I think starting as friends would be good.”
“Starting?” he repeated and raised his eyebrows playfully. Trevor was being playful.
Sigh and swoon.
“Starting as friends sounds perfect.”
I couldn’t help my grin.
“Daisy, may I hug you?”
My arms extended instantly. We both took a step and pulled one another into an embrace.
I’d forgotten how strong Trevor’s arms were, how good they felt. How good he smelled, like spice and a scent all his own.
We stood like that for an age, my arms wrapped around his waist and his around my shoulders.
My face pressed against his chest. I listened to the sound of his strong heart and allowed myself to enjoy the moment for a long while before I pulled away.
I leaned back and looked up at his eyes that were now lighter, happier than before.
“So, friend, beans?” I raised my eyebrows.
“Oh! Yes, the beans. Like I said, I had a little help with the recipe but I made them myself.”
“Okay, but Trevor, why on earth did you make me baked beans?”
“Odie said you loved them. Said you were mad for ‘em and ate them all the time.”
I began to laugh. I laughed so hard, I doubled over. And then I laughed some more. “The candy!”
“What?” Trevor’s eyebrows jumped in confusion.
“The candy, Trevor! I love Boston Baked Beans the candy.”
He groaned. “Oh no.”
I chuckled and walked into the kitchen and grabbed two plates.
“Let’s eat some beans!”
“We really don’t have to,” he groaned again.
I ignored his protest, opened up the casserole dish and scooped a healthy portion of beans onto each plate.
I tasted the dish as Trevor looked on nervously, fork poised. Brown sugar, sautéed onions and peppers, and a hint of salt rolled over my taste buds.
It was delicious and it was familiar.
“Trevor, this tastes just like my dad’s baked beans.”
If I’d thought he looked bashful before, he was almost flushed with embarrassment now.
“Is this my dad’s recipe?”
He nodded.
“How did you get my father’s recipe?”
“I, uh, I called him.”
“You called my father?” I looked at Trevor like he’d grown an extra limb.
He pushed the beans around on his plate.
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Odie mentioned that you loved baked beans. I wanted to make sure I made them the way you liked.” He shrugged. “I figured your family would know how you liked them. I tried to call your sister, but your father ended up picking up the phone. We chatted for a minute and then I asked him about the beans.”
“Oh boy! He was delighted, wasn’t he?”
Trevor’s grin appeared. “I’ve never heard anyone talk that long about baked beans.”
My father could grill like a champion. But to my knowledge he knew how to make three dishes: boiled eggs, boiled water, and baked beans. And he had opinions about all of them.
“You did good.”
He responded with an enormous smile.
“You know what would’ve been perfect with these beans?”
“Hmm?” he said around a mouthful.
“A Tennessee barbecue sandwich.”
Trevor rolled his eyes, but his big grin didn’t drop.
We sat for a while longer, eating beans and enjoying the tentative new peace until Elodie and Gracie came downstairs and Trevor departed to study.
The next three weeks passed in a blur.
The second week after I’d returned everyone went into finals mode, and studying became a near-constant thing. I spent most of my time hidden away in my room or at the library. Julian and I found out that my hearing wouldn’t be until early next semester and we’d agreed to suspend any discussions around it until after finals were over.
“We can talk about it over the break,” he said pragmatically. “But if I don’t start hitting these books I’m going to be on academic probation. Dean Gwinn’s class is kicking my ass and finals are seventy percent of your grade.”
I was very sure we would chat over the break. I’d jokingly recounted my father’s request to speak to Julian and, much to my horror, Julian had been thrilled at the idea. He’d badgered and badgered me until I relented and gave him the number to my father’s office.
The idea to invite Odie to come home with me over the break came to me during one of our late-night study sessions as she laughed at a story about my sister and declared that she’d love to meet Dolly.
Odie looked surprised, then got a gleam in her eye and replied, “You know—I think that would be a swell idea. I can’t wait.”
A week later, finals were done, I was exhausted, and I was ready to get my break started. I felt pretty good about all my finals, even stupid statistics.
My dream roommates, Gracie and Elodie—tidy and mostly quiet—had already left to spend the break at Gracie’s parent’s house in New York for the holidays.
I was zipping the last of my things into my bag when the phone rang. Hoping it was Dolly calling from a payphone to tell me she was a few minutes away, I raced to the phone and picked up.
It was Dolly. “Daisy!” BANG! “Listen, I can’t talk long. There’s an issue at work and I can’t get—” BANG! “away. One of the kilns—” BANG! BANG! “—trouble!”
“Okay, is Daddy coming to get me?”
“No. He was going to—” BANG! BANG! BANG! “—and he said he would bring you.”
“What, Dolly? I can’t hear you?” Every other word was drowned out.
“I said Julian will bring you home. He’s headed to Green Valley today.”
I sat on my bed, leg bouncing, as Dolly disconnected. There was only one reason that Julian could be going to Green Valley: Trevor was going home.
That meant I’d be in the car with Trevor for three hours.
I was plagued with doubt. Trevor and I’d had a nice moment but that didn’t mean that it would last. Three hours was too long to be in a car with him. What if he’d changed his mind and no longer wanted to be friends?
I began formulating a plan to catch the Greyhound home, and had gotten as far as plotting how I’d get to the bus station when there was a knock at my door.
I opened it and unsurprisingly saw Julian.
“You ready to go?”
I stalled, looking for an excuse. “I can’t ride with you.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorway as if bored. “And why not? I’m an impeccable driver.”
Odie! Sweet, blessed Odie had come to save me from my impending misery.
“Odie! She was supposed to ride home with me. Sorry! I can’t abandon her. I’ll just take the bus with her tomorrow.”
He scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Yeah, your father might’ve mentioned something about that, and that’s why I went to her dorm to pick her up first. She’s already downstairs in the car.”
“I—”
“You are terrified because you’re smart and you’ve already deduced that my best friend is also downstairs in the car. Daisy, I am tired. Finals kicked my rear end this year, probably because I was distracted a large part of this semester.” He threw a pointed look at me.
“Hey! I had nothing—”
“I have a month’s vacation that starts right now. I have been promised breathtaking mountain views and home-cooked meals.” He placed his hands over his tummy and his heart.
“Yo
u should’ve told me you were hungry. I would’ve cooked for you.”
He raised one eyebrow. “Considering that you making me a mere sandwich caused so much unrest in my house, I shudder to think what preparing a full meal would have caused.”
He spotted my bag, walked in and grabbed it, and threw it over his shoulder. “Come on, little chicken, be brave! Face the big bad wolf. I assure you his growl is worse than his bite.”
I didn’t know about that. I’d felt his bark and his bite and they’d both hurt. But I was out of options. Julian was already exiting my apartment, therefore I flipped off the light, locked the door, and turned and followed.
Trevor
When Julian told me he needed to pick something up before we left town, I thought he meant he needed to get a bottle of wine or maybe some flowers for my mother, some trifle of hospitality to give to my parents as a token of appreciation.
I should have known better.
I’d been totally confused when we’d pulled into the driveway of Jubilee Hall. Confusion quickly morphed into annoyance the moment I saw Daisy’s friends emerge from the building. I shot Jules a glare and he gave me back a smile and said, “It would seem I’m the Green Valley taxi this year.”
“I see.” I didn’t care if Daisy’s friends, or Daisy for that matter, rode with us. In fact, I was looking forward to it. However, my annoyance stemmed with Jules being sneaky since he deliberately withheld the information from me.
He hastily loaded the girls’ bags into the car. Then Odie and a very confused James had climbed in.
“Julian is giving us a ride to the bus station?” James asked.
I put down the book I’d been holding on my lap. This ought to be good.
Odie was quiet for a moment. “Well, in a way. Just wait, Jamesy. It’ll all be good.” James frowned but then noticed me watching and eerily cleared her face of all expression.
“One more stop before we get rolling,” Julian said, more to the girls than to me. I already knew how this was going to play out. My saving grace was that it seemed I was not alone in being blindsided by this mess.
Upsy Daisy: A First Love College Romance Page 33
