The Dating Plan(81)
“I thought Iron Man was poisoned by palladium.”
“Liam. Palladium. Same difference.”
Layla sighed. “Sometimes I wish you could just watch tear-jerking rom-coms when you’re sad instead of forcing me to sit through Avengers movie marathons and stuff myself with candy. If you keep this up, I won’t fit into my wedding dress. What’s wrong with The Notebook? It’s only about two hours long. You watch it. You cry. And then it’s out of your system.”
Daisy ripped open the bag of Kurkure Masala Munch that Mehar Auntie had sourced from a friend who had just returned from India and shoved a handful in her mouth. Take that, Liam.
“I need to see all the movies to really cry at Avengers: Infinity War. It doesn’t have the same emotional impact if I skip any of the films.”
Max snuggled beside her in solidarity with her decision to check out of the world for a few days and lose herself in junk food and movies. He had been more than content to spend hours with her on the couch watching superheroes saving the universe.
“Is Liam really worth all this?” Layla raised her voice over Daisy’s loud crunching. “His crisis of conscience was too little too late and very ill timed. I mean, seriously, he tells you all this when you’re in the hospital? Who does that?”
“I was fine. I was being discharged. They were keeping me overnight as a precaution. And it’s not about when he said it; it was what he said. I thought I was the broken one in our relationship, but now I realize it was him.” She tossed a few gummy bears in her mouth to counteract the spicy taste of what had been Liam’s favorite snack. “Was Sam worth eating a pot of dal and puking all over your mother’s restaurant floor?”
Layla laughed. “Point taken. But after that I pulled myself together. After one more weekend, I expect the same from you.”
Daisy sank back into the cushions. “That’s not enough time for a full MCU movie marathon if I have to eat, sleep, and visit with people. I’ve only been watching for four days. The hospital signed me off for a full week of medical leave.”
“Promise me,” Layla said. “This weekend will be the end of the Avengers and the last pity food you’ll consume over Liam. You have to move on.” She returned a few minutes later with Daisy’s ice cream and two spoons, and settled on the couch beside her. Layla loved movies, and although the Avengers weren’t her favorite, she watched them just to keep Daisy company.
“How can I move on?” Daisy stabbed at the ice cream—mint chip; her dad always knew what she needed. “I miss him. I feel like a part of me is gone. It started out as a game but somewhere along the way it became real and I . . .” She drew in a ragged breath. “How can two people love each other and not be together?”
Layla scooped up some ice cream. “Because one of them is a hot, broken mess. He was already gone when he walked into that room. He’d made his decision. Do you really think three words could have changed his mind? If he really loves you, he’ll come back, and if he doesn’t, it was never meant to be.” She grinned, the teaspoon half in and half out of her mouth. “I read that on a coffee cup once. I’ve waited a long time to use it.”
“Great. I’m getting advice from a coffee cup.” Daisy turned up the volume. “I need some Iron Man catharsis.”
“What happens at the end of this one?” Layla curled up on the couch. “Does he die by poisoning or shrapnel?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.”
* * *
? ? ?
SILENCE greeted Daisy when she walked into the office on Monday morning. Two months ago, she wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but now that she was used to the sounds of people talking, phones ringing, printers humming, chairs creaking, and papers rustling, the silence felt oppressive and wrong.
She carefully placed her coffee cup three inches to the left of the desk separation so Mia didn’t knock it over when she arrived. Her bag went underneath instead of on top because Zoe needed the extra space for her designs. And she pulled her chair close to her desk so Josh wouldn’t bang into her when he leaned back to talk.
Once her headphones were on, and her screen flickered to life, she was ready to work. She stared at the lines of code, trying to remember the bug fix she’d thought of last night. But it was too quiet. Now used to the distractions, she couldn’t focus despite the music in her ears.
Zoe arrived just as she decided to hit the coffee bar and catch up on gossip. Daisy edged over to give her more room, but Zoe didn’t unload her portfolio as usual.
Daisy pulled off her headphones. “Where is everyone?”
“You didn’t hear?” Zoe slumped into her seat. “I thought Liam would have told you. We pitched the rebrand. Brad didn’t like it. He went ahead with his unicorns and rainbows. Tyler sent the revised pitch deck with Brad’s rebrand to the Evolution partners. They rejected it, so Tyler had to make some more cuts. Thirty percent in every department.”
Daisy’s heart leaped into her throat. “Oh no. I can’t believe it.”
“Mia’s gone.” Zoe’s eyes glittered with tears. “Tyler asked for volunteers and she didn’t want me to get cut because I have Lily, so she said she’d go. I feel sick about it. Josh was furious. He said there were lots of incompetent people in our department for Tyler to choose from and there was no reason for Mia to throw herself on her sword. He went to talk to Tyler about reinstating her and wound up handing in his notice.”