Page 28 of Daisy Chain
This is not how I pictured my night going.
Dancing, having a couple of drinks, and maybe getting a glimpse of Kade somewhere.
That’s it.
Instead, I’ve watched a woman give birth, had to call the man I’m kind of seeing to deliver it and found out he’s the brother of the man I’m lusting over. I couldn’t have planned the night like this, no matter how hard I tried.
Kade or do I call him Chains? hasn’t said a word since we drove off in his sleek, black Aston Martin.
The dashboard lights shine a dim light on Kade’s face. It’s unreadable. I have no idea how tonight has affected him. His fingers clenching and unclenching around the steering wheel is the only indication that he’s feeling something.
Stopping at a red light, he turns to look at me. “What’s going on between you and Evan?” There’s a stiffness to his voice.
Whatisgoing on between us? “We’re friends.”
The light turns green, and he drives off. “Looked like more than friends to me.” Do I detect some jealousy in his tone? That can’t be possible. I twist my fingers together. “We’ve had coffee and dinner a few times.”
“Have you fucked?” He makes a right turn and continues to drive casually as if he hasn’t dropped the biggest bomb.
On a gasp, my head whips toward him. “What kind of question is that?”
“A serious one.” He pulls into a driveway, and an automatic garage door opens.
“It’s none of your business.”
He drives into the garage and parks the car. Twisting in his seat, he pins me with a hard stare. “It is my business. Have you fucked?”
I swallow hard, wishing I was the type to slap him in the face for the audacity of asking such an inappropriate question. “I still don’t see how it’s your business. Why do you want to know?”
Resting his arm on my seat, he leans in close. “Because if you’ve fucked my brother, I won’t touch you again.”
eleven
DAISY
InNatasha’sapartment,Ihelp Daphne set everything up for her and Remi. The new mother is propped up with pillows and cradling the baby in her arms with such fierce protectiveness, like if she were to let her go, even for a moment, someone might swoop in and take Remi away. I had to assure her multiple times that the baby would not leave this room.
I sense Kade’s gaze on me as I move around. Like the moment we’re alone, he wants an answer to the question he asked in the car. With the arrival of the patient transport vehicle, I never got the chance to give him one. Should I keep the answer to myself? It isn’t any of his business. He said he’d never touch me again. Do I want him to? God, I’m so tired and overstimulated at the same time, my brain is suffocating through a fog so thick I can’t think clearly.
It's a problem for another day.
With Daphne here to help, and Natasha settled, I’m not sure why I’m here. Natasha’s probably stressed and scared, and thought she’d be alone when she’d asked me to stay with her.
Sitting on the side of the bed, I brush my finger down the soft, velvety skin of Remi’s arm. With thin black hair and a wrinkly, scrunched up face, she looks like a little old man. And absolutely gorgeous. So precious. “Natasha, you seem settled, and Daphne is taking care of you. I think I’ll go home now.”
Natasha’s eyes turn pleading. “Please stay. I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“You have Daphne,” I remind her. “She knows all about babies, and Kade is here too.” Kade stands, his shoulder leaning against the doorjamb.
“Kade?” Her eyebrows knit together with confusion. “Do you mean Chains?”
That’s right,Chains. “Yes, I mean Chains. I’m sure he’ll help.” No, I’m not sure. He knows nothing about babies. Not that I know much.
Natasha latches onto my hand. “Can you please stay tonight? I promise I won’t bother you.” Just then Remi squirms and lets out a high-pitched cry. “And I’ll try to keep Remi quiet,” she says, looking panicked, like the baby making noise will make me leave.
“Okay, I’ll stay. And don’t worry about keeping Remi quiet. Babies are supposed to make noise. Alotof noise.” I smile, hoping to ease her anxiety.
Her shoulders roll forward with relief. “Thank you.”
