Pushing Up Daisies Read Online Free Page A

Thanks.” Daisy clipped her words. Frustration and anger replaced panic and worry as she turned to leave. Liar—Jasper’s a liar.
    “However…”
    Daisy did an about-face and looked at the receptionist as she blinked back tears.
    “A nurse from the last shift said that we did have a Jasper here earlier. She couldn’t remember his last name, though. He wasn’t her patient.”
    Daisy dialed, then spat wildly, frantically into her cell phone, “He’s not at University, Gigi. At least I don’t think so. First they said that they didn’t have a Jasper Stevens registered. Then they said maybe he was there earlier, but weren’t sure. They changed shifts. Goddamn shifts. And wouldn’t you know it, sign-in sheets too.”
    “Trust me, he was there, Daisy. The doctor interrupted me and Marcus’s conversation. But that doesn’t matter now. All you should focus on is getting your butt home and picking up his clothes—”
    “What?” Daisy asked, switching lanes and frame of mind. The previous night’s alcohol, lack of sleep, and bouncing between hurt, pain, and worry had begun to take a toll. She’d forgotten which face to put on and when. Her mood became like a voice, everyone had two. There was the happy, polite one usually reserved for business, and then the real one. My problem is that I don’t know what real is anymore.
    “Are you listening? Get home! I just got off the phone with Marcus. He wants me to meet him at your house. If he’s on his way there, then Jasper’s on his way too.”

    Daisy’s heart raced as she rifled through the coat closet. No raincoat. She yanked the front door open, wincing at the sound of the mirror shattering behind it. She hurried out into the rain and began gathering the sopping clothes.
    “What can be saved?” she asked herself frantically. Maybe some of the silks, but the suedes had no hope. Neither did she. What would she tell Jasper?
    Once she had gathered all the clothes she could carry, she hurried back inside. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she mumbled, dumping the heavy, wet load onto the floor.
    Now for the rest, she thought with a sigh. She had no idea how she was going to get Jasper’s boxers out of the tree. And she still had to get the shoe from across the street in the neighbors’ yard. What if they’d moved it?
    Daisy gave herself a pep talk. She could do it. Had to. She sprinted across the street, feeling the cold wetness of her jeans on her thighs. No shoe to be found anywhere. She got down on her hands and knees, palms sinking into the soggy grass. Finally, she spotted the shoe under the bushes. As she reached for it, the sharp branches tore her skin. Daisy winced in pain, pulling back her hand. Blood trickled down her arm as she held up her wrist to examine her injuries.
    Daisy hurried back across the street, retrieving shirts, pants, and socks. After dumping them in the foyer, she went back outside and tried to rip a branch from the rosebush. She had to get Jasper’s boxers next.
    She moved under the tree and looked up. There they were, dangling. She counted silently and jumped, swinging the rosebush branch, praying that the boxers would catch on a thorn. No luck. She tried again. The branch snagged the boxers and broke in two.
    She gave up for the moment, deciding to get the remaining clothes first. As she ran toward the house with another pile in her arms, the wind blew the front door closed. She came to an abrupt halt, her wet feet sliding on the walkway, and fell face-first in a puddle of mud.
    As Daisy lifted her face from the wet, stinking ground, a car door slammed behind her. She turned to find Gigi staring down at her, a smile plastered across her umbrella-shaded face. They both giggled.
    Then Daisy’s smile vanished. Jasper’s Escalade had pulled up behind Gigi’s car.
    Daisy wanted desperately to run into the house, but the front door was closed and on automatic slam-lock. She looked at Gigi, who shrugged. Not knowing what else