Daisy “I’m not drunk,” I laughed. “That place is dangerous!” His voice was tight and careful. “One slip and you could fall, you could get really hurt—” “Since when do you care about me?” The words came out easy, almost amused. I kept my eyes on the city. “You never cared. From the start, remember?” Silence behind me. Then— “I heard what happened in there.” His voice had changed. Quieter now, stripped of the earlier sharpness. “And I am truly sorry for not hearing you out first.” I said nothing. “Daisy?” “Don’t call my name,” I said, suddenly feeling the weight of the entire day settling onto my shoulders all at once. The gala, the man, the slap, the wine, and Norman’s face when he told me I never changed. All of it sitting heavy and exhausting on my chest. “Can you just leave? I do

