35. Daisy

THIRTY-FIVE

DAISY

Bailey ran ahead of me up the stairs toward Fox and Ash's apartment. She already knew the place inside and out for how much we came over, except for one place.

One apartment that I hadn't even been in front of, let alone inside, in six years.

I looked up the last flight of stairs that led to Kye's apartment and wondered if he was up there now. The first time I came over to see the girls, I blocked it out until I was back in my car and then cried the entire night. After that, I never came over when Kye would be around, and when I had come over, I made it a point to not look up there.

Now, it was impossible because I knew he was there. How was I supposed to not want to see him after his big show at dinner the other night? He had taken his shirt off, and I couldn't remember my name, let alone why I shouldn't be talking to him.

I pushed open the apartment door, trying to grab Bailey, but she was already running to launch herself over the back of the couch. A loud grunt came before Bailey was lifted up in the air, Kye sitting up with her above him.

"You Wells woman are really always trying to jump me," he said, laughing and setting her on the ground. "Liam's in his room."

Bailey laughed, too, and took off. Disappearing into the bedroom, they added on for Liam.

"Sorry," I said, apologizing for what felt like the hundredth time for Bailey's antics. He was already up, smiling at me as he went towards the kitchen.

"It will never be something you have to apologize for," he said. I sucked in a hard breath, remembering every second of the night I had jumped him. I wondered what it would be like now. If he would still be stiff and awkward at first or if he would melt against me.

"Are you staying here to watch the kids?" I asked, trying to stop myself from following him more.

"Yep. Apparently, the girls had to watch the kids last time, so tonight's guy's night consists of us and three unruly children," he said, smirking.

"I'm sorry," I said again, already hearing the kids yelling in the room.

He grabbed his drink and walked back towards me, his eyebrows furrowed. "For what this time?"

"Ruining your guy's night."

He was already shaking his head. "I see your people-pleasing tendencies haven't changed."

I looked down, seeing the pink hue of the drink he had. "And your choice of beverages hasn't changed either."

"I guess some things will never be different," he said, shrugging. His face hardened as he looked towards the room and back at me. The sudden seriousness on his face made me chew my bottom lip.

"You might want to stop apologizing for Bailey. She's going to hear you doing it and think she's a problem. I'm choosing to be here. There's nothing to be sorry for."

He waited a second before walking back to the couch to sit back next to Ash. I stayed frozen, feeling like I had just been slapped. I was never trying to make it sound like Bailey was an issue, but I knew she was a lot for some people to be around. She had literally just launched herself on top of him. I couldn't expect everyone to be fine with that.

Kye's words were still echoing in my mind when the girls waved me out the door with them. I wondered if he knew from firsthand experience or really just thought I was a bad parent. From the day I took Bailey, I had worried constantly about what I was doing wrong. If I was ruining her life a little more each day, or was I raising a strong girl who would grow up to do great things?

But what if Kye thought I was messing it all up? Somehow, his opinion carried a heavy weight to it, and the thought that he could already be disappointed in me was sickening.

We made it to the restaurant, and the girls kept me moving until I sat at the table.

"Daisy?" Quinn asked. "Are you getting a drink?"

"I'm the driver," Carly said, her frown deepening. "Obviously."

"Oh yeah, sorry. I'll take a Long Island," I said, immediately dropping back into thought about Kye's words.

A few more minutes passed by before Scout got my attention.

"What is going on? Are you okay tonight?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just such a busy week. I'm a little out of it."

"You're telling me," she said. "I thought planning a would be all fun and games, but apparently, making sure 150 eat and have a good time is anything but that. How the hell do I even know 150 people?"

"You could always do what we did. Hurry and get married in Vegas. Boom, done," Quinn said with a grin.

"As fun as your wedding was, I'm already committed to this thing. Oh, by the way, Daisy," Scout said, getting my attention again. "Is Bailey all set for flower girl duties?"

"As long as you're okay with her antics, she's more than ready. It was so nice of you to have her do it. She's already excited."

"I love her and will be looking forward to antics, so don't even worry."

"She's walking down the aisle with Liam. The girl is going to be so love-struck she might do nothing but smile."

I groaned. "Let's hope. She's so much sometimes, and I worry I'm ruining all of it."

Ash laughed and patted my shoulder. "You're doing great, babe. Stop worrying so much. I think you've made her too smart for her own good. She's perfect."

"I try to remember that, but this single-parent thing is a lot."

The server set my drink in front of me, shooting me a cute smile as he did. A round of laughter went around the table as he walked off.

"Bet you could get his number," Quinn said.

"For what? I have a…guy in my life, remember?" I asked, still not bringing myself to call him my boyfriend. The word felt so final that we were together and somehow it didn't feel right for us.

"Honestly?" Ash asked, her nose scrunching. "Not really. I forget the man exists with how little you talk about him, and I rarely see him with you."

I gave a halfhearted shrug. "He's busy. I'm busy. I already know he would drive you all crazy, so I don't bring him around."

They all glanced at each other before each of them broke into a smile.

"Wow, please tone down the passion, Daisy. We're in public," Carly said, mocking my bored tone and laughing when I finally smiled along with them.

"There's nothing wrong with Mark. I just feel so obligated to Bailey. It's hard to add another obligation like that."

The table went quiet, and I did, too. Maybe it was wrong to call Mark an obligation, but it felt like it. The only reason I agreed to a first date again with him was because my dad asked. With Mark running for sheriff, my dad thought it would help his chances dating me. I had agreed to one date, but Mark had been so nice. We kept going on dates until suddenly, we were dating. At least, I think we are. He really doesn't call me a girlfriend, and we are both busy, so spending time together doesn't happen much. Especially not time without Bailey. It didn't bother me either way. I could go out to dinner when I needed out of the house, and he didn't seem to care if I went days without responding to him.

The girls kept talking. From the wedding to Carly's pregnancy, the conversation moved with ease, but Kye's words still bothered me.

"Could I have Kye's number? I want to check on Bailey," I asked all of them, hoping no one would interrogate me. I should have known better. The girls would have a thousand questions, but they were all apparently going to wait. Carly was silent as she opened her phone and slid it over with Kye's number already up.

Daisy

Do you really think I'm a bad parent or something?

Kye

Daze?

Daisy

Yes

Kye

Why would you think I think that?

Daisy

Because of what you said about me calling her a problem, I don't think she's a burden, but I just want people to know she's a lot.

Kye

I do not think you are a bad parent. Not at all.

Daisy

Then why say that?

Kye

Because I was always told that. Constantly. The words are so burned in my brain and no, I'm not comparing you to my parents, but the words sound the same to a kid.

I get why you say it, but she might not hear it how you mean it.

Tears threatened me at the words. He was right. She wouldn't know what I meant, and I never want her to think badly about herself.

But the kind, caring words from Kye made my heart break. Not only for him now but for the boy he had been. The one who thought he was the problem, the root of all the bad things in his life. Did he really spend days thinking he deserved what happened to him?

Daisy

Thank you

Kye

You're fucking killing it as a parent.

Bailey is amazing.

My heart jumped, but I tried not to show it to the girls.

Daisy

I hope that means she being good.

Kye

Currently racing Liam and winning

Daisy

I don't even know if I want to ask what type of racing. I'm almost worried she's driving your car.

Kye

…can she reach the pedals?

Daisy

NO, KYE IT'S A JOKE

Kye

Right, yeah, of course. Maybe in a year or two?

Forget it. Fox is making some sort of car setup for Liam, so we will just make a second one.

My heart squeezed at the thought. Kye, being in my life, our lives, for another year or two sounded way too appealing. He would be gone again soon, back to his life that had him traveling endlessly and never home. He would leave, and I would be right here.

Not that I hated where I was. I was proud of it, but that didn't mean I didn't think about the what-ifs. Six years later, I still think about him constantly. I had too many nights laying in bed, staring up at my ceiling, wondering what life would be like with Kye there with me. I knew I had to keep my distance. I couldn't risk Bailey getting close to him just to have him go again, but I wanted to. I wanted to go right back to the apartments and drag him upstairs to bed.

I took a deep, clarifying breath. I couldn't, and I wouldn't.

We wrapped up dinner. Carly going on about the diner, Ash debated on having another kid, Scout about her wedding, and Quinn about the garage, but I tried to stay quiet. Most weeks, I was relieved to be here with them, but tonight, all I could think about was getting home and trying to make it through the week without crying.

I knew I would have to spend a lot of time with Kye, and I already knew the mess I was going to be at the end of it. It was Scout's wedding, though, and I would not bother any of them about this. I knew they would listen and probably even play buffer between Kye and I this week, but I wouldn't make them.

I pulled my shoulders back and smiled as Carly joked about something. I could spend one week with Kye and then get back to my life.

But I knew it wasn't just a week—it was a reminder of everything I couldn't have. I knew this week would test my resolve, and by the end, I would be left picking up the pieces of my heart again.

One week with Kye, I repeated in my head. I could handle one hundred and sixty-eight hours with Kye before going back to my life.