IT IS A GOOD THING YOU GOT A LOT OF SLEEP LAST NIGHT, DAISY LASSO.

[ season 1 — episode 07 ]

IT HAD BEEN A LONG TIME since Roy woke up with someone in his arms. But it felt nice as he slowly came around, tightening his hold around a waist to pull her closer. And she just let out a sleepy but happy hum, burrowing her head further into his chest. Cold feet were tangled up with his legs underneath the covers.

Finally, Roy woke up enough to realize he wasn't meant to be holding anyone in his arms since he hadn't had a girlfriend in ages. He peeled his eyes open and saw Daisy's dark hair emerging from the comforter, her face hidden in his chest.

He selfishly let himself hold her for a few more minutes, hating the way that she kept chipping away at his heart. But fuck, her skin was so soft, and her smile was so delicate. How could he not want more?

"Fuck," Roy whispered, annoyed with himself as he gently rubbed his thumb back and forth along her back — his shirt had ridden up around her hips, and his hand had slid underneath at some point while they were sleeping. The older man would've preferred to keep laying down with Daisy in his arms than play a football match, but that wasn't an option. Besides, Daisy needed to return to her own room before people went looking for her.

"Daisy," he muttered while gently cupping her cheek, fingertips grazing her neck as he pulled her back a bit. "Gotta wake up, kid."

Daisy whined and pushed her head back into Roy's chest, not really caring all that much about the position they woke up in yet because she was so tired. "Five minutes," she mumbled.

"No fucking way, 'cause I'll fall right back asleep," he said, smirking a bit. "I know you can do it. C'mon." With an annoyed huff, Daisy rolled away and stretched her arms over her head, letting out a long yawn. "There you go. Good girl."

Daisy looked at Roy over her shoulder after sitting up. "Did I kick?"

"No, thank fuck for that," he said with a chuckle. "Didn't steal the blanket either."

Her face flushed, knowing she sought out Roy rather than the covers for warmth in her sleep. But she wasn't so embarrassed that she'd apologize, as it'd been some of the best sleep ever.

"Thanks for lettin' me stay here," Daisy said, putting her feet on the ground. "I'll be sure to tell them to take their activities to Keeley's room if they're planning on continuing tonight."

Roy sort of wished she wouldn't but didn't say that. Whatever he wanted with Daisy — which he assumed she didn't want — he wanted it to happen the right way. And he wasn't so sure he'd survive another night of fighting off the urge to kiss her stupid and fall asleep with her in his arms rather than just wake up in them.

"And hey," she was saying while grabbing her clothes. She stopped and came around to his side of the bed, her knees bumping into the mattress as she looked down at him — Daisy was still so much shorter than him that they were nearly the same height with him still on the bed. "You're gonna win today. I can feel it in my bones, and my bones are never wrong."

"Yeah, 'cause your bones are the mystical powers that decide who wins each match."

"They are. I drank a lot of milk growin' up."

✵︎

"Apologize to him right now," Daisy muttered as she and her father walked to the visiting team's locker room where the Richmond players and Nate were waiting.

"I am obviously going to," Ted huffed. He felt absolutely horrible when he woke up sober and realized how rude he was to Nate, who just wanted to help the team he cared about so much. "God, I ain't never been so ashamed."

"He'll forgive you," she said, both knowing it was true. Of course, Nate would forgive Ted because he barely had a spine, not because he really considered why Ted wanted his forgiveness, though.

Daisy hung back behind her father as he opened the door just a smidge and got Nate's attention. "Nate, can I speak with you, please?"

"Yeah," he agreed, nervously following Ted into the hallway. He looked between Ted and Daisy, who smiled comfortingly at him. "You all right?"

"I wanted to apologize for last night," he started out. "I bit your head off for no good reason, and I'm really sorry about that and I hope you can forgive me."

"Yeah, of cour — yes, of course."

"Thank you," Ted said, relieved. Then he pulled out the papers Nate was delivering the night before. "Also, I read through your thoughts."

Nate was anxious to hear his thoughts on the honest but harsh words he wrote. "Yeah."

"They're great, and I agree with every last one of 'em," he told him. But then Ted shook his head. "But I can't say this to them."

"But they need to hear it," Nate said with a deep frown.

"I agree. That's why you're gonna do it."

"Are you drunk?" he couldn't help but ask, his eyes going wide. And Daisy just laughed, unable to believe he asked him that now instead of the night before when he actually was drunk.

Ted just grinned, not at all deterred. "You're giving the pregame talk, and you're gonna read them this," he said, handing the pages over to him.

"I ju... I don't know—"

"It'll be fun," Daisy said, cutting his stuttering off.

Nate shook his head as she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the locker room. "No. No, no, no. Oh, my God."

Ted got everyone's attention once they were inside. "All right, listen up, fellas. As of late, I feel like y'all have heard enough of my jibber-jabber. So I asked Nate the Great here to jot down a few of his thoughts and ideas about you guys and today's game. So let's focus up. All yours, Nate."

Nate didn't move at first, so Daisy gave him a little shove before sitting on the bench in the free spot next to Richard. Though she did take the moment to pinch Sam's earlobes as she passed, making him smile.

"Okay," Nate said, taking a deep breath.

Seeing that he was too nervous to say more, the players began hyping him up, excited to hear his thoughts on them since he'd been with the team for so long.

"Let's go, Nate."

"Come on, boy. You got this."

"You got this, Nate. It's okay."

"Okay. Thank you," Nate said, nodding his head. "Let's do it. Isaac..."

Nate trailed off, not sure how to start. And Isaac, thinking this was about to be a sweet moment, just smiled. "Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you got this, bruv, all right? Yeah."

"I've noticed of late..." Nate again hesitated and looked back at Ted, who nodded encouragingly. "...that you've been playing like a big, dumb pussy."

The silence was staggering, only broken by Daisy giggling over Isaac's stunned face.

"Wow," Colin breathed out, the first to react other than her.

Isaac glared at Nate in disbelief. "What the fuck did you say to me, bruv?"

"You're more concerned about looking tough than actually being tough," Nate said, gaining a bit more steam. "There's a way to be intimidating without being physical. I hope you don't mind me saying." Daisy shot him a thumbs up, letting him know to keep going. "Sam."

Sam's grin that had been prominent during Isaac's turn quickly fell. "Oh, no," he said, shaking his head in denial as if that would stop this.

"You're constantly getting beat on the wings. It's 'cause you're indecisive. You second-guess more than a shitty psychic," he told him unapologetically. "The only African I know more imprisoned by their own thoughts is goddamn Nelson Mandela."

"Woah!" Daisy said, laughing a little. She hadn't actually read Nate's points — her father just told her it was harsh and truthful.

"Did you hear that?" Colin asked the others, practically choking on his laughter.

"You think that's funny, do you, Colin?" Nate asked, setting his sights on the boy. "You and all your fancy step over bullshit. Let me ask you this. Do you wax your pubes?"

"What?" he questioned as the others snickered.

"Did I stutter, dickhead?" he said, not stuttering for once. "Do you wax your pubes? Yes or no?"

"No."

"Then why are you always trying to play like a Brazilian?" Nearly everyone in the room began laughing and letting out childish 'ooh's. Richard laughed so hard that he hid his head in Daisy's shoulder.

Colin just sat there, stunned. "What just happened?" he asked, quite confused. This was not the Nate that let him and Isaac push him around constantly.

"Uh, Rojas."

Dani seemed to be the only one excited to be picked on. "Whoo! Roast me, amigo."

"All right. You say that football is life, right?"

"Football is life," he said with a bright grin.

"Yeah, well, then your defense is death. The only person I've seen lose their man more often is Carrie fucking Bradshaw."

"OH!" everyone exclaimed at the Sex and the City burn.

Dani nodded, taking the critique to heart. "Tough but fair."

"Right," Nate said before moving on. "Roy."

The locker room went still. All eyes went to Roy, who slowly stood and walked up to Nate. How he could look so scary and intimidating in a neon orange uniform was beyond Daisy. Nate was practically shaking now, all his nerve lost as he stood chest to chest with Roy — well, nose to chest.

"Go on," Roy told him. "Say what you're gonna say."

"Okay," he muttered, looking down at the paper.

Roy quickly ripped it from his hands and threw it down. "Don't read it," he ordered in a gruff tone. "Say it to my face."

Nate took in a deep breath to gather himself before manning up and doing just that. "The great Roy Kent. You're old now. And slow. And your focus drifts," he said, speaking softly. "But your speed and your smarts were never what made you who you are. It's your anger. That's your superpower. That's what made you one of the best midfielders in the history of this league."

"But I haven't seen it on the pitch at all this season, Roy," he kept going. "I mean, you used to run like you were angry at the grass. You'd kick the ball like you'd caught it fucking your wife, for fuck's sake. Or Daisy, 'cause Christ knows you look at her more than the ball at training."

Okay, so maybe Nate went a little off script.

Daisy sat back a bit, her eyes going wide and her cheeks burning. She ignored the childish snickers and whispers that went around the locker room, and when she saw Richard's teasing grin, she stomped on his foot.

Roy didn't spare her a glance at the comment though. He just kept staring down at Nate with a hard look.

"But that anger doesn't come out anymore when you play. But it's still in there. And I'm afraid of what it's gonna do to you if you just keep it all for yourself," Nate finished, still speaking in that soft, caring tone.

All of them had their eyes on Roy, waiting for his reaction. And when it came, it was a big one. His chest heaved as he turned back around, facing the bench. Daisy caught his eye for half a second before he let out a grunt. Roy grabbed onto the wooden bench attached to the wall and began to pull on it forcefully.

Everyone quickly scrambled off the bench as he let out a frustrated grunt and pulled even harder. Before their eyes, he ripped the bench up from the floor, the wood splintering. Daisy's mouth hung open, knowing there must've been something wrong with her for thinking his sign of anger was so goddamn attractive to her.

Then Roy turned to look at Daisy once again, who could see a new kind of fire in his eyes. "Let's go get these fuckers!" he shouted, making the whole team cheer.

They rushed out of the locker room, Isaac and Bumbercatch pushing Roy ahead of them excitedly. Nate was left standing, absolutely terrified and glad that he wasn't the bench.

"See?" Ted asked him, patting Nate on the shoulder. "Told you it'd be fun. Coulda done without the Daisy comment, though. I'm still trying to deny anything is happenin' there."

"There is not anything happenin' there," Daisy denied, following her father. Though she could only go so far as they'd split up so that she could go to her seat next to Allora up in the visitors' box with the others.

"It's like you heard my advice and decided to do the exact opposite," Beard grumbled, shaking his head at Daisy. "But yes, there is so something happening there."

✵︎

Maybe Daisy could believe it, but Allora, Keeley, and Rebecca certainly couldn't when Richmond won against Everton for the first time in decades. Allora got so into the match that Keeley could hardly keep her attention, making her realize how passionate about the sport the dance instructor was. And the game was won by Roy, who scored the only goal of the match.

Daisy had never seen Roy play so well, run so fast. That anger that made him so passionate was finally displayed on the field, and she was beginning to understand why everyone in Richmond was so obsessed with Roy Fucking Kent.

The girls could hear the team chanting and singing before they even got through the doors, and Allora and Daisy were quick to join in.

"We're Richmond till we die. We're Richmond till we die. We know we are, we're sure we are. We're Richmond till we die!"

The first to get a hug was Nate, who Keeley embraced, having heard about his pep talk. "Oh, my God! Come on, give us a hug, Nate. Yeah."

Daisy ran to her father and hugged him tight, laughing as he spun her around a bit. "Congrats, Daddy."

"Thank ya, Darlin', but it whatn't me," he said, a big grin on his face as he sat her down.

"Ted!" Rebecca called over the shouting, tapping his shoulder to help get his attention.

"Hey!" he greeted, turning around.

"Congratulations."

"Thanks, boss."

"Could I, uh, just introduce you to—"

Evidently, Flo wasn't a stranger, because Ted's face lit up when he saw her. "Sassy Smurf!" he exclaimed.

"Marlboro Man!" she said just as enthusiastically, shocking Rebecca and Daisy. Then she and Ted hugged each other. "Oh, my God."

Rather than question it, Daisy decided to just keep celebrating. She jumped around the locker room, hugging players left and right until she bumped into Roy. Daisy giggled, steadying herself as she grabbed his arms. Then she stopped the Richmond Till We Die cheer and changed it up.

"He's here. He's there! He's everywhere!" she said. "I told you. My bones knew."

Roy rolled his eyes before picking her up suddenly in a hug, making her squeal. She ignored the looks Allora and Keeley were giving her as they made their way closer. And Roy nearly kissed her fiercely, not caring about all the watching eyes. However, he reigned the desire in, knowing her father was in the room.

"It is a good thing you got a lot of sleep last night, Daisy Lasso," he said, putting her on her feet again.

"Why's that?" she asked, matching his grin.

Then Roy jumped up on what was remaining of the bench. "Oi! Listen up!" he shouted, getting instant silence as everyone looked at him. "None of you are going back to the hotel tonight 'cause we did something today that no one thought we could do, including us! So, we're going out, we're celebrating, and we're gonna rub it in this city's fucking face!"

"Whoo!"

"Yeah!"

"Roy! Roy!" Sam shouted over the cheering. "Where are we going?"

Roy then set his eyes on a familiar figure. "Let's ask the girl with the crazy hair that's been all over our screens all weekend," he said, pulling Keeley up onto the bench. "Keeley?"

Keeley grinned, glad to learn she wasn't all that embarrassed anymore about her poor acting job. She began reciting the script that she'd heard far too many times since arriving. "Well, Liverpool has much to offer — from pubs to clubs to the great Asian pastime of karaoke!"

✵︎

If Daisy thought that the gala had been fun, then karaoke with the team was the perfect night. She couldn't remember the last time she smiled and laughed so much, feeling at home as everyone crowded into the karaoke bar, throwing back drinks, eating, and singing while waiting for the cows to come home.

It was a wild night. Dani and Zoreaux were by far the most far gone, having taken off their shirts while singing along, holding each other close. Sam was up on stage and singing Wonderwall, the rest of them echoing back to him happily.

"I said maybe—"

"Said maybe!"

"You're gonna be the one that saves me."

"Saves me!"

"And after all, you're my wonderwall!"

Daisy was having the best time, pressed up close to Roy's side, who had his arm thrown over her shoulder to make more room on the couch they were sharing with Allora and Keeley. Originally, it had been cramped, but Keeley relocated to Allora's lap, giving Daisy plenty of room to put space between her and Roy, an opportunity that she didn't take.

"I'm going for a smoke," Sassy said over the music, not too far from them.

"Can I join you?" Rebecca asked with an excited grin.

And Sassy was glad to see a bit of the old Rebecca shining through. "Come on."

"You're gonna get cancer," Daisy called after them, not feeling bad at all about judging them. Sassy just laughed and flipped her off.

"Thank you, Richmond FC!" Sam them shouted into the microphone, finishing up his song. "Who is next?"

"I believe that would be me," Beard declared, making everyone cheer as he took the microphone from Sam.

"Go, Uncle B!" Daisy shouted, hearing the opening notes to Bad Romance. Things hadn't been going all that smoothly between him and Jane as of late. Then she leaned back and looked at Roy. "You gonna sing?"

He just scoffed. "Fuck no," he denied.

"Ooh, Daisy," Allora said, getting her attention. "You've gotta get a little country up in here for us. C'mon."

"Naw, I'm not good at singin', Lora," she denied, for once siding with Roy.

"And he is?" she asked, pointing to Beard who was making quite a spectacle as he sang off-key. "You've gotta. I'll give you a two-pound raise."

"Oh, then yeah, I'll sing," she agreed while laughing. "I'm gonna have to have a drink or somethin' if I do, though."

"You got it. One fruity little Carrie Underwood drink coming right up!" Allora said. She tapped Keeley's thigh, who slid off her lap so she could go and order something.

"Get her an amaretto sour," Keeley told her. "Jamie let her try his at the club, and she loved it. They shared it all night."

"Ooh, yes, please," Daisy said, smiling at Allora.

"Wait," Keeley said, looking around. "Where'd Rebecca and Sass go?"

"To ruin their lungs. Left while you were shouting lyrics with Sam," Daisy told her.

"Ah, I'll be right back. Make sure they didn't ditch us because I put my drinks on Rebecca's tab," she said, making her laugh.

That left Daisy alone with Roy, leaning back against him as she watched her uncle sing.

"Is he, like, really your uncle?" Roy suddenly asked, speaking in Daisy's ear.

She shook her head and smiled up at him. "Not by blood, I mean. But yeah, he's my uncle," she replied. "So, you gettin' excited for the recital coming up? It's right after the Man City game."

"Fuck yeah. Phoebe is gonna kick everyone's ass."

Daisy peered up at him in amusement. "It's a dance recital, Roy. They don't compete against each other."

His smile fell. "Then what the fuck do you do it for?"

"Well, she can enter competitions," she said, laughing. "But the recital is just to show off how much they've learned."

"Dumb," Roy muttered. "But Phoebe said you're dancing with them?"

"Yeah, the routine calls for it. They're all flowers and I'm a tree."

"A fucking tree?" he asked, chuckling. "No competition, and Phoebe is a flower. I'm sure that'll be a riveting night."

Daisy elbowed his side at his sarcasm, not all that upset as he poked fun at her. "Y'all don't even have playoffs here, so shut up."

By the time Beard finished up the last notes of Bad Romance — while also jumping on a table — Rebecca and Sassy came back in with Keeley behind them. It was just in time, as Allora arrived with Daisy's drink, which she began sipping on.

"What a baby drink," Roy teased with a small smile.

"Beer is gross, and you must hate yourself or have fragile masculinity to be drinking it all the time," Daisy shot back, making him actually laugh.

"All right, who's next?" Beard asked the crowd.

Before Allora could push Daisy up, Sassy was rushing to the stage and grabbing the microphone. "Me, me, me." But it wasn't really her. "Your turn, Rebecca. Get on up here."

Daisy instantly let out a cheer, realizing they were getting Rebecca to sing. She leaned forward excitedly, not taking her eyes off the woman who nervously stood in front of her team.

"Thank you. Oh, God," she muttered. "Okay. Uh, I don't even know what song I'm singing. But I would like to dedicate it to the best friend a girl could ever have."

"That is me! She's talking about me!" Sassy declared while raising a hand, making sure everyone knew. With her free hand, she was already filming on her phone.

The familiar opening notes of Let It Go began, and Rebecca's expression softened. "This is also dedicated to my goddaughter, Nora," she said, blowing a kiss into the video. Daisy put her hand over her heart, happy to see her trying to reconnect with the girl. "I love you."

"The snow glows white on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen."

Daisy's jaw actually dropped as she listened to Rebecca's beautiful voice, which was low and velvety. How the heck was she supposed to go up there after this? How was anyone meant to sing after her?

"Don't let them in, don't let them see. Be the good girl you always have to be," Rebecca sang.

As everyone cheered, Daisy looked around the room at all the impressed faces. She caught Roy silently mouthing the words to himself — he'd watched the film a hundred times with Phoebe before.

"Conceal, don't feel. Don't let them know. Well, now they know. Let it go, let it go. Can't hold it back anymore."

"Go, Rebecca!" Daisy shouted, unable to believe she was so talented. Sassy hadn't been lying for her friend's benefit.

As Rebecca's performance went on, Daisy couldn't take her eyes off of her, just cheering and joining in with the others when they sang along to the chorus. So, the girl didn't notice when her father rushed from the room, the beginnings of a panic attack taking over his mind.

The only one to notice was Rebecca, who was stepping off the stage the moment she sang her last note to go after the man. And most everyone was too drunk to pay attention, figuring Rebecca left to avoid the praise as they all cheered for her and her astounding voice.

"Who goes next?" Sam asked, getting to his feet and looking around. He hadn't had this much fun with his team in weeks.

"Daisy!" Allora exclaimed, pushing on her back slightly.

The team members began to chant Daisy's name, who rolled her eyes while getting off the couch. She went over to the DJ and told him the name of her song before going to the microphone.

"I can't sing a lick," Daisy told them, shaking her head. "But it's time to introduce y'all to country rap music. And I know for a fact that you know this one, Richard, because you were singing it at a workout one day."

"Oh, this will be magnificent," Richard said, leaning forward a bit.

Daisy rolled her eyes as the music began, the fiddle in Nothin' To Lose quite prominent. Then she removed the microphone from the stand and started to sing, not missing a beat.

"It was noon time, down time, break time, summertime, Miller time, anytime, she was looking pretty fine. A red light, green light, go, all fired upside downtown, she was shaking me all around. I was tuned in, going nowhere, second wind, jonesing, drooling, feeling good, if you would," she went on. Richard let out a whoop and then jumped to his feet, drunkenly shouting the lyrics, slurring his words as he did so.

She hopped off the stage as the song continued, dancing up to Allora, who was getting into the song she'd never heard before with a fast beat. "Oh yeah, by the way she moves, she's got me rolling in dirt in a white t-shirt. Breaker, beaker 1-9, she's a big ol' flirt. By now she's got me pretty tied up, tied down — any way I chose, I got nothin' to lose."

The rest of the night went by in a blur of bad singing and dancing and drinking, everyone having the time of their lives as they rubbed the win in Liverpool's face. Eventually, the karaoke bar was ready to close, letting them know it was the last call. So, the rowdy Richmond team flooded into the streets.

Colin and Isaac were carrying a wasted Nate up on their shoulders, pushing everyone out of the way. "Excuse me. Very drunk man coming through."

"Yeah," Isaac slurred, tipping Nate a bit too far to the side.

Sassy grinned mischievously at Rebecca and the other girls. "Guys. Guys, guys, guys. I think we should take the boys to the pub."

"No, way," Daisy said, shaking her head.

"Oh, I am so done, Sass," Rebecca agreed. "Sorry."

Keeley was toying with one of Allora's hands that was wrapped around her waist. "Think we're tapping out for the evening too, actually."

Sassy smiled innocently at them all. "So I have to take eighteen young, handsome men all by myself?"

Rebecca rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh, trauma."

"All right then. See you later," she said, blowing them a kiss.

"Bye. I love you," Rebecca told her.

Then Dani passed them, his shirt still missing, which he was realizing now in the cool weather. "Amigos, I can't find my tropical shirt."

"Nah, you don't need it," Allora told him, waving her hand.

Keeley just laughed as Dani stumbled away. "He's so drunk."

"Allora's right," Sassy told the boy. "You won't need it, you won't need it."

"Right," Rebecca said, finally facing the other three, "want a lift back to the hotel?"

"If you'd please," Allora said before leaning down to whisper something in Keeley's ear that made her giggle. Keeley turned her head and stood on her toes to leave a lingering kiss on Allora's lips.

Daisy hesitated, spotting Roy just behind them, leaning against the brick wall with his eyes on her. They'd been so close all night, and she found herself not wanting the night to end. "Um, no," she mumbled, glancing back at Rebecca shyly. "Um, I think I'm gonna walk, actually. If that's alright?"

Rebecca, Keeley, and Allora all not-so-subtly looked at Roy, who just rolled his eyes. Then they looked back at her with big smiles.

"I approve," Rebecca said.

"I fucking told you," Allora said, laughing a bit.

Keeley smirked at her. "We'll keep it in my room tonight, yeah?"

"Yeah," Daisy said in a flat tone. "I didn't appreciate that last night."

"Oh, please," Rebecca said, throwing her arm around Daisy as she did so. "You spent the night wrapped in muscular arms. You shouldn't complain."

"You also shouldn't be wasting time," Allora said, pulling Daisy from Rebecca. She then tapped her ass, sending her toward Roy. "Get."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm going, I'm going," she said, shaking her head.

As Daisy reached Roy, Rebecca caught his eye and saluted him, which he mirrored before focusing all his attention on Daisy. The hotel wasn't even that far, but walking with her would be nice.

"You really played amazing tonight, Roy," Daisy told him, needing to get the compliment in. "I mean, you're always great out there, but still."

"Well, suppose Nate made some good fucking points," he admitted with a shrug, his arm brushing her shoulder as he did so.

"Kind of annoyed you didn't sing, though," she couldn't help but say while smiling.

"Fuck no is that ever happening," he scoffed. "They don't have a single goddamn song downloaded that would be worth it."

"Really? Not even if they had Winner, Winner, Football Din — ah!" Roy had grabbed Daisy, picking her up to silence her as he spun her around. She just laughed, leaning against his chest until he put her down.

"If you mention that bloody song one more time, I'll fucking lose it and throw you across the pitch and, like, burn Keeley's house to the ground for telling you about it," he threatened, obviously not being serious.

"Oh, fine. I'll let it lie," she said with a heavy sigh like he'd asked something very difficult of her. "But it is downloaded on Phoebe's iPod."

"God-fucking-damn it!"

✵︎

The walk was nice, Daisy thought. Roy made her laugh the whole time and asked how work was going. And she'd ask questions about his career and what his favorite moments were, just getting to know him better.

At one point, a car sped past them, and Roy grabbed Daisy's hand to pull her back before some water could splash on her. After that, he never released her hand, keeping a tight but soft grip on her.

Eventually, though, the walk had to come to an end. Roy was wishing he knew the streets better so that they could've taken a longer route. Neither really wanted to stop walking, but they had to when there was nowhere else to go.

"This is me," Daisy said, stopping at her door that was just across from his. "I've been promised that Allora and Keeley won't be in here. Still, thank you for last night though."

Roy stared down at her and let out a short grunt, which she just took as a 'goodnight'. But just as she turned to unlock the door, he bent down and kissed her, giving her little time to react. Daisy melted instantly, sliding her hands up his broad shoulders before placing them behind his neck. And Roy held her body tightly, pulling her flush against him as he kissed her passionately, taking her breath away.

Daisy felt like her whole body was on fire by the time he pulled away for air, and she stood on her toes to chase after him, pecking his lips quickly, smiling as she did so.

Neither said anything, and Roy's dark eyes bore into hers intensely. Her bottom lip fell between her teeth as she stared at his parted lips, already wishing that he was kissing her again with that same force.

She went to speak — to say what, she'd never know, because Roy was leaving her side quicker, walking past his room altogether and leaving her alone in the hallway. Daisy watched him go with a confused frown. In less than a month, two men had immediately left after kissing her, and this time she had no clue why, as they hadn't been arguing.

At least Roy had the decency to say, "Goodnight," as he was quite literally fleeing.

Daisy leaned back against the door of her room, only growing more confused, wondering what she'd done wrong. She even brought her hand to her mouth and breathed into it to smell her breath, not finding anything wrong. Her breath smelled minty from the mojito she had earlier.

Finally, she just rolled her eyes and let herself into the room with a pout on her face. "Men."

✵︎

Daisy kept her eyes down as she loaded on the team bus. It wasn't necessary, of course, because Roy wasn't on it yet. So, she made her way to the very back where Allora was already waiting for her, her neck covered in shameless hickies left behind by Keeley. As she sat down, Daisy didn't say a word.

She silently eyed the front of the bus until Roy got on, the older man pointedly taking a seat on the first row rather than his usual seat at the back. Daisy found herself letting out a sigh of relief, not ready for any kind of drama on the long bus ride.

"What's wrong?" Allora questioned, finding Daisy's silence odd. "Did something happen?"

"I'm gonna have to try that shot of tequila, I fear."