No, it was the moment he called me tesoro.
“What are you daydreaming about, all googly eyed over there?” Daisy hiccups as she puts down her drink. “Sorry, I’m a lightweight.” She shrugs innocently as her flushed cheeks confirm her statement.
“Two drinks are all it takes? We’ve got to get more food in you, then. These tiny finger foods are not going to cut it,” Amelia whisper shouts across the table.
“Yeah, Daisy. We’ve got to take you out for some real Dominican food next time we have a girls’ night. It’ll soak all that alcohol right up,” I add.
Daisy nods as she stares into her half-finished drink. “Yeah, that would be nice. Especially since my mother was Dominican and died when I was a baby, so I don’t have any memories of her.”
The table goes quiet, and I feel like we all collectively hold our breaths.
Nicholas Stonehaven is infamously private. And although he and Daisy grew up in the society pages, not a single speck of information has ever hit the tabloids in regard to their birth mother. Something that many have speculated over is that she must have been a woman of color, since both Daisy and Nick have warm, golden skin, and their father is white.
And now, at a crowded lounge full of New York’s who’s who, Daisy just dropped the equivalent of front-page news on us.
After a moment, Daisy’s sluggish brain must catch up to her words, because her head pops up, and she’s wearing a terrified look.
“Guys, I didn’t—you can’t—”
“Sorry, didn’t hear a word you said, Daisy,” Luisa says as she scans the room, probably looking for anyone who might have been close enough to overhear.
“You sure you said something, Daisy? You did say you were a lightweight, after all,” Nikki adds.
“The music is a little loud, and the drinks are a little strong. Did I miss something?” Amelia asks as she takes another sip of her martini.
“No, maybe she said something about wanting another drink,” Denise says convincingly.
Poor Daisy looks like she’s two seconds away from having a full-blown meltdown, even though all the women are trying their best to put her worries at ease.
I decide now is the best time to take advantage of all these new friendships and divert the attention away from poor Daisy. “So I think I’m falling in love with my boss. As in Mateo. You know, the famous baseball player whose daughter I currently nanny for? And I’m pretty sure he feels something for me too. Anyhow, he wants to talk to me tonight when I get home, and I’m pretty sure it’s about us.” I pick up the small light-up menu on the table and give it a quick peruse. “Hey, anyone want to order the egg rolls with me?” I raise my hand to get the waiter’s attention. Daisy immediately swats it down, her face completely void of her prior concerns.
“Forget about egg rolls. This calls for tequila.”
Tequila was a bad idea.
For Daisy, at least, because the woman has probably never had more than a glass of champagne in her life.
I, on the other hand, am nervous about seeing Mateo after reading his thoughtful card, so I’ve been chugging a whole glass of water between each drink.
Besides, there hasn’t been much time to drink when the girls are asking me questions left and right.
The diversion was the right call for Daisy’s sake, but I’m afraid I put my ass in the hot seat.
“So you mean to tell me that you guys still haven’t had sex yet? Even after all that pent-up tension you guys showed on the field?” Luisa asks, dumbfounded.
“Quit it, Luisa. It’s not the about sex. They clearly have a connection. And love and respect for one another. Almost like they’re on a team together. And isn’t that a nice thought? To find someone to be with that feels like your perfect match,” Daisy rambles on as she sighs wistfully.
I give a quick look at her engagement ring, confirming that it’s still there and mentally noting to keep Daisy sober next time, because the rate at which she is letting things slip is concerning.
Denise keeps looking at the time on her phone with a worried look on her face. Probably thinking about her kids. “Hey, you okay over there, mama?” I lightly nudged her leg under the table.
She looks up, a guilty look on her face. “Okay, so I kind of fucked up. Please don’t be mad.”
thirty
I know I won’tmake it home in time to see Isabella before she’s off for the night.
Doesn’t mean I don’t haul ass trying.
