Page 33 of Daisy Chain
His words are like a knife in the gut. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him. “You were better off without me.” Iwasbetter off dead to him.
He jabs a finger in my direction. “That was not your decision to make.”
“Evan…” He’s right. Once we went legit, I could’ve reached out and reconnected. Whenever I thought about it, the darkness of my past cloaked over me. It’s something I couldn’t wash clean, no matter how much money I made or how much better the life I’d created for myself. Years of torment are a constant stain. Something I didn’t want to infect him or anyone else with. “I’m sorry.” Nothing I can say will make this better.
Evan slowly nods. “Yeah, so am I. I never would’ve judged your lifestyle. Having you back in my life is all that matters. You not contacting me when things got better is a bitter pill to swallow.” He flicks out his wrist to check the time on his watch. “I’ll say goodbye to Natasha before I go. I’ll be back tomorrow. I’m not walking away from you. No matter what you’ve done.”
A rush of relief washes through me as the weight of losing my brother has lifted. Could it be that simple? Can Evan forgive meso easily? What would it be like to have him in my life again? It’s been so long; what do we even have in common?
Daisy.
Before he leaves the kitchen, I say, “How do you know Daisy?”
Evan turns toward me. “Why?”
I shrug. “Curious.”
Sliding his hands through his hair that has fallen over his forehead, he says, “I could ask you the same thing.”
I clamp my lips shut. There’s no way I’m going to tell him she came to my club, and I almost fucked her.
Sighing like he knows I’m not going to answer, he says, “We’re friends.”
“That’s all?”
He scratches the back of his neck. “We’ve gone out a few times. Nothing’s happened, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Are you wanting something to happen?” I ask, not sure I want to hear his answer.
He takes a step toward me. “I like her. She’s sweet.” That’s funny, because I’ve yet to see that side of her. “I’d like more. I don’t think she’s ready or wants to.” He stares intently at me. “Do you have something to do with that? I mean, she was at your club, helping you with Natasha. Why were you together?”
Leaning a hip on the counter, I cross my legs at the ankles. “I hardly know her. I’ve met her briefly a couple of times. When Natasha went into labour, I happened to be talking to her, and she followed along.” I’m not going to tell him that my first instinct was to hold her hand and take her with me. Or that I’ve touched her in places I shouldn’t have.
His brows crease. “That’s it? There’s nothing going on between you?”
I shake my head. “No.” And it’s true. Nothing is going on between us. If Evan wants to pursue a relationship with her, Iwon’t get in the way. My stomach clenches because this will be harder to do than anything I’ve done before.
thirteen
DAISY
StandingatNatasha’sapartmentdoor, I juggle grocery bags in my hand to punch in the code she’d given me. After leaving this morning with Evan, I spent most of the day at church, then filling Sally in on the events of last night and shopping.
“What are you doing back?”
I startle at the deep voice behind me. One I’m beginning to know well. Turning my head, I glance at Kade. “Nice to see you too,” I respond sarcastically.
He cocks an eyebrow.
I sigh with resignation. “Natasha wants me here.” By the deep frown on his face, I’m assuming he doesn’t.
He nods down at my hands. “What’s in the bags?”
“Food. I checked her pantry and fridge. It’s full of junk food. She eats like a teenager.”
“That’s because she is one.”
A teenager who’s now in charge of a tiny human. I pray she has the strength for motherhood. “Yes, well, now she’s feeding a baby, she needs nutrition.”
