Daisy’s eyes rounded and she burst out laughing. “That is so wrong.”
Emmalyn chuckled. “I’m allowed. He’s my cousin.”
“Yeah, but he’s my brother. I’m supposed to defend him.”
“You did. Kind of. Besides, he’s not all boring, he’s just so business only, no joking around. He’s always kind of been like that.”
“True, but he’s got a lot on his shoulders. He’s alpha now.”
“Always kind of was. Kept us in line even when he was young.”
“True. I always kind of saw Barron as his comedic half. As serious as Brandt is, Barron was always around to lend a less serious side to the conversation.”
Emmalyn sighed audibly, her shoulders slouching as she stared straight ahead and seemed to deflate.
“Have you talked to Barron lately?” Daisy asked.
“Yep.”
“And?” Daisy prodded.
Emmalyn sighed again. “He told me that if I brought a date to Analise and Havoc’s wedding, or anywhere else for that matter, they wouldn’t leave with a heartbeat.”
Daisy couldn’t help herself, she was suddenly laughing uncontrollably, leading to a coughing fit as she tried to blink away the tears her laughter caused.
“It’s not funny,” Emmalyn said dispassionately.
“It kind of is,” Daisy said, still laughing.
“Why does he have to be so extreme. He’s so extra,” Emmalyn grumbled.
“He’s extra?!” Daisy asked, half shouting.
“He is!”
“No, he’s not. He’s the most laid back of us all. Unless he’s dealing with you.”
“Why would you say that?” Emmalyn demanded, half turning in her seat to look at Daisy.
“Because it’s true. I’m not saying you bring out the worst in him, you don’t. Quite the contrary, you make him explore parts of himself that he might not have ever known existed, if not for you. But you’re extra — in every way. And in order to meet you and hopefully one day beat you at your games, he’s gotta go extra on you. Seems to me, he’s perfected it.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’m not extra!”
“Emmalyn, come on. Who are you trying to convince?”
Emmalyn scowled at Daisy as she turned to look out of the windshield again. “I am not extra. I’m passionate. Entertaining. Emotional. Committed.”
Daisy glanced over to her with her brows raised in question.
“Okay, fine, maybe sometimes it comes out as being extra, but I can’t help who I am.”
“Who you are is a good thing. And Barron loves who you are.”
Emmalyn’s whole expression changed as she fully turned in her seat toward Daisy, her feet brought up and tucked under her legs as she leaned closer to Daisy. “He does?”
Daisy quickly glanced her way a time or two, before focusing on the road again. “How could you not know?”
“Because he ignores me! All the damn time, unless I mention someone else.”
