40. Daisy

FORTY

DAISY

It was ten o'clock that night before I got home, tucked Bailey in, and got into my bed. There was already a text waiting for me when I turned over and clicked open my phone.

Kye

You two get home, okay?

Daisy

Home and in bed.

My cheeks immediately flamed, and I felt so stupid. I would think I was enough of an adult to tell him that I was in bed without it having some alternative meaning. Even if it did make me a little hopeful that he would be picturing it.

Kye

Did you both have fun?

Daisy

Enough, yeah, but exhausted.

Kye

That might be good for you. Get a break for the night. You get a lot of help with her?

Daisy

Some. The crew, of course. My dad, but that's hit or miss if I want him to.

Kye

Shocked that he hasn't pulled me over yet.

Daisy

Give it another day or two.

Kye

You looked great today

I liked the blue dress

So, besides parading around town with Mark, chasing after the bee, and hanging out with the crew, what else do you do for fun?

Daisy

Fun? That's all the fun I have.

Kye

No seriously, what do you do for fun?

Daisy

Nothing? My free time is spent with the crew and I have no other free time.

Kye

None?

Daisy

Not really.

Kye

Okay, if you did have free time. What are you doing?

Daisy

I like to read when I can and love writing. If I had anymore free time, I would write more.

Kye

Interesting. Like what?

Daisy

If you make it a joke I'm blocking your number

Kye

Promise.

Daisy

I like reading and writing romance

Kye

So you and Jax are best friends then?

Daisy

What? No? Why?

Kye

Oh damn. Have you told anyone you read those books? Because Jax does. I mean, Carly does by association now, too.

Daisy

Okay, now I'm the one laughing. JAX? I can't. I'm bothering him about this all day tomorrow.

Kye

I'm here with alllll the dirty little secrets

Daisy

Then tell me one of yours.

Kye

What if I don't have any?

Daisy

I'm sure you have one thing you've never told someone.

Kye

How dirty are we talking exactly?

Daisy

Anything from PG to extremely x-rated

Kye

Oh, that's right. How could I forget that sweet little Daisy has a filthy mind? Bet those books are extremely x-rated, too.

Daisy

Probably even more than you're imagining.

Kye

Does that mean you are going to tell me a dirty secret?

Daisy

I think it depends on how good yours is

Kye

Fine. Since we are talking about your filthy mind, those things you would always say to me still get me off to this day

Daisy

Hold on I'm fanning myself so I don't pass out.

Kye

Better not because it's your turn.

Daisy

I can't

Kye

That means you have something in mind. Tell me.

Daisy

It's a lot

Kye

More than admitting that my ex-girlfriend's words from six years ago is still one of the main things that gets me off?? How?

Daisy

Maybe

And maybe it's just wrong to tell you

Kye

That's my favorite kind.

Tell me.

Daisy

Every time I was with someone else, I just closed my eyes and thought of you

Kye

Fuck.

I think I love the dirty little secrets game.

I woke up groggy the next day as Bailey ran screaming through the house. It was too early, and I had stayed up too late texting Kye. It was the day before the wedding and I was already exhausted for the weekend.

Kye

Come outside.

Daisy

Why?

Kye

Because I'm almost there.

Daisy

Okay. Why?

Kye

Get your ass outside, Daze.

Daisy

Bossy.

I stepped outside just as his car rolled to the curb at my house, and my stomach flipped when he rolled down his window and smiled.

There wasn't much more I loved than when Kye smiled at me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, reaching the car.

"I'm the delivery boy today. I have Bailey's dress for the wedding tomorrow."

"Oh, I thought Scout wanted me to pick it up later?"

"And I offered to drop it off sooner so you didn't have to."

"That was nice. Really nice. Thank you."

He got out and reached in the back, pulling out a small dress bag to hand to me.

"I'll still be in town after the wedding," he said. "Can you just let me know when you need something? I don't care if it's errands or whatever. I won't be working, obviously, so just…let me help when you need help."

It wasn't what I was expecting him to say, but from the day I met Kye, he was always ready to help me. I guess a lot of things didn't change. "Why would you offer that?"

"Because I have time, and you don't. Plus, I never mind seeing you or her. I've also heard that you're stubborn about the crew helping you."

"It's not their responsibility to help me."

"No, but they still like to."

"It's also not your responsibility."

"No, but I want to." He stepped closer now, handing me the bag and holding on to my hand as he did. "I've missed you," he whispered.

A sheriff's car pulled up behind his, parking along the curb and leaving me no chance to tell him how much I've missed him, too.

"Dad or Mark?" he asked.

I stepped back, knowing that it didn't matter who it was, neither of them would like how close we were standing.

"Dad," I said, the tightness in my chest giving me no relief.

"Daisy. Kye. What are you doing here?"

Kye only smiled and rolled his eyes. "Delivery for the wedding."

"Yeah? Along with bothering Daisy?"

"He's not bothering me. Would you knock it off?" I asked.

"She's dating Mark now, you know?"

My mouth dropped open, but Kye laughed. "Oh, I know it. I've heard all about it. Don't worry, Sheriff. I'm just dropping off a dress for the little Bee."

"The little Bee?" my dad asked, the edge of anger not hidden.

"Bailey," I said.

"Oh, I got that, but I wanted to know why he suddenly knows Bailey enough to have nicknames."

"Because he's watched her for me."

My dad's eyebrows shot up, and I could see the angry red color coating his face.

Kye leaned down, whispering to me like he always used to. "Do you want me to stay or go?"

"I think going would save you a lot of trouble," I said. "It's alright. I've dealt with him enough. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'll see you then. Like I said, Daze, text me if you need anything. And I mean anything. "

I smiled as he waved to my dad. I was pretty sure Kye really meant anything. From burying bodies to giving me orgasms. I couldn't think of one thing that Kye would deny me.

"Why the hell are you letting that boy look after my granddaughter?"

"That boy is very much not a boy anymore, Dad."

"Daisy!" he scolded.

"I mean, he's a capable adult who helped me the other day instead of having Daisy sit with me at the diner. He had already watched her when Fox had Liam and her for the night. Relax. Bailey loves him."

"I don't care who Bailey loves. She would love a stranger if they gave her a bar of candy. It's your job to keep her safe and only let the right people watch her."

"And Kye did amazing!" I yelled. "She's completely happy, healthy, and safe. I'm doing my job, and I would like you to stop insinuating I'm not."

I didn't stand up to my dad much. Not that he was violent or anything, but it usually just didn't feel like it was worth the effort. Falling in line and avoiding conflict was always easier, but I really couldn't take this today. I still had work today and need to get ready for the wedding tomorrow. I was a bridesmaid, which meant I was getting up as early as possible to be there for Scout. The girls had welcomed me with open arms to their group when I needed them. Even now, they were always there for me. I wouldn't let her down by missing a second of her day.

"I told that boy to leave you alone, and he said he would. Why the hell is he here to ruin your life again right as you're on track?" he said, looking down the road at where Kye's car had disappeared.

"You've seen Kye lately?"

"No. Mark told me he was back, but I thought we were in agreement of him leaving you alone to live your life. He's trouble, Daisy. He's going to bring trouble around and try to ruin your life all over again."

In the pit of my stomach, I already knew what he was saying, but the words took longer to register.

"When did you tell Kye to stay away from me?"

"You already know when. Back when he tried to kill your boyfriend."

"Dean was my ex-boyfriend at the time. Kye was my boyfriend. Is that why Kye left that night? You told him to leave me?"

"I told him staying would ruin not only his life, but yours and his friends'. I wasn't lying, Daisy. Dean could have gone after him, and you, and his friends. I was protecting you from a life living with that mess of a boy. And I told him that. He was no good for you, and he needed to realize that. I thought he had, but he looked more than comfortable there with you now."

"Who I'm comfortable with is none of your business. I can't believe you did that. I can't believe you thought you could make decisions for me like that. For him!"

"I did what I thought was right as your father."

"Get out," I said through gritted teeth.

"I came to see Bailey."

"You are not welcome here right now. Leave."

"You can't keep her from me."

"I'm her mother. I can do whatever the fuck I want. Leave!"

"You aren't her mother, Daisy, you are her aunt, and you need to stop acting like you aren't."

"I have raised her since she was a baby. I can call myself her mother while telling her about Willow. Would you rather her have no mother?"

"No, that's not what I meant."

"Go now or I'm calling you in for trespassing."

He laughed but shook his head. "No one would arrest me for that, Daisy."

"Are you saying your department is corrupt? That they wouldn't protect me because of who you are? That seems illegal. I should call about that, then."

"Don't do that," he said, the small panic in his tone making me more angry.

"Then leave."

His face was red with anger again, but he stepped back towards his car. "Fine. I'll give you time to get over this hissy fit, but don't you think I will be kept from Bailey forever?"

"Why not? Maybe it's not good for her to be around someone so angry. You thought you could make decisions for me as my father. According to you, I can make whatever choices I think are best for Bailey."

"Daisy, I?—"

"Need to leave. Or you will be forced to."

He shook his head, slamming the car door as he got in and peeled away from the curb.

I made it back to the front porch before I couldn't go any further.

I knew Kye left so he wouldn't get in trouble, but I didn't realize my dad told him to leave me . I didn't know why it hadn't occurred to me. Why didn't I think my dad would have played a bigger part than I expected?

I knew he would have told Kye to leave, but to leave me? To tell Kye that he would ruin my life if he stayed?

I couldn't stop the wave of hatred for my dad — the way he thought he could run my life—but Kye was right. I was always the one going along with it.

But what now? I had built a life for myself. I had Bailey, my house, my job, and technically, I had Mark in some way. I was sure he told people we were together, and if I wanted, I was sure I could make that official.

As if he could hear me, a text came through.

Mark: Would you like to go out tonight?

Daisy: I don't think I can. I'm exhausted and have the wedding to prep for tomorrow.

Mark: Of course. I could still take off if you needed a date?

Daisy: It's alright. Between being a bridesmaid and Bailey, I will be pretty busy all day.

Mark: Alright. Text me when you're free then.

I threw my phone aside, getting to my long to-do list and trying to block out every problem that seemed to be coming to light in my life.