Noah was glad for the interruption as much as he thought Daisy was. He didn’t mind talking about his business or traveling, but he felt guilty about missing Charlie and Freya’s parties over the years. He’d lied about being out of the country. Sometimes he was with a date and there was no way he would ever introduce any of his past dates to his friends. It was easier to stay in the hotel room and lie about flight changes making him unable to attend. He hated that he lied about it, but he hated the disappointment in Freya’s eyes more. She’d found out a few times when he’d chosen a random woman over one of their parties. Charlie was used to it and didn’t call him out, but Freya was very vocal in her disappointment. That’s why he felt he had no option but to lie instead. It made everyone happier … well everyone apart from him, because he hated lying, especially to his friends.
“Let’s go find our seats.” He held out his arm for Daisy, which she took with a shy glance up at him. This woman was going to kill him.
Some of his old frat buddies raised an eyebrow in what looked like disapproval when they saw him with Daisy. It was one of the worst feelings he’d ever felt. He saw the judgment as if he was going to treat Daisy like the rest of his women. His women? Did he really just think that? Was he that bad that he lumped all his previous dates into one category - his women. Maybe it was time to change and dare he say it, grow up. He’d grown up with everything else, just not his dating life obviously. Maybe he’d test that out with Daisy this weekend and see how it went, then make a decision. No reason to rush into anything drastic.
Daisy found their seats first. He’d been seated opposite Daisy, across the huge round table. Something was telling him that this was deliberate and he didn’t like it. On the pretense of getting another drink, which Daisy refused with a smile, he moved towards the bar, and Charlie.
“Is there some reason why I am sitting directly opposite my date instead of beside her like every other couple at the table?” he demanded, not quite sure why he was getting so angry over it.
“Date? Really?” Charlie replied, looking too amused. “Noah there was no way we were putting you next to Daisy. If Freya had her way she’d keep you away from her the entire weekend but I can see that’s not going to happen. Do not, and I repeat, do not treat her like one of your other women. Daisy isn’t like that and she’s Freya’s best friend, she deserves better,” than you, he’d obviously meant to add on at the end. What was up with that? Charlie was supposed to be his friend. Is that how he really saw him as someone who just used women? It got Noah’s defenses up.
“You know what I mean. We’re the only singles amongst all of you couples. How else am I supposed to describe it? Look I am well aware of my reputation.” He said the word with distaste, “but I wouldn’t do that to Daisy, she’s … different.”
“Yes she is and you’d do well to remember that or Freya will kill you … and me. She’d invited her cousin Paul to be Daisy’s date, hoping to set them up,” he chuckled. “But unfortunately he called in sick at the last minute and won’t make it. Freya’s gutted as she had high hopes for them. She’s been over the guest list for tomorrow night, looking for a replacement date for her.”
“Replacement date?” Noah spat out. No way was that happening. He was her date for the entire weekend. They’d mutually agreed and there was no way he was backing out of an agreement. Certainly not this one. “What’s so wrong about me?” Noah guessed that hadn’t been an option in Freya’s mind.
Charlie looked embarrassed. This was not going to be good so Noah braced himself for his reply.
“Noah,” he began and stopped, obviously trying to find the right words. When had he ever had to find the right words when talking to his friend? Never… until now. “Look Freya adores you. She thinks you are a great guy but you must admit your reputation with women is well founded and she doesn’t want Daisy to get caught up in the crossfire and for things to get awkward between everyone. You know it wouldn’t end well and well Freya has said that she’d always take Daisy’s side if anything did happen between the two of you and things didn’t work out.”
Was that really how everyone saw him? Nobody would trust him with their single friends. He grabbed his glass off the bar and strode back to his seat. Hurt Daisy? That was the last thing he ever wanted to do, maybe staying away was the most chivalrous thing he could do.
Daisy followed his movements as he weaved through the tables back to his seat and greeted him with a huge smile that lit up the room. Thank goodness he wasn’t, nor ever had been, chivalrous.