Page 134 of Love to Hate You

Wait a minute…what the hell is that?

I narrow my eyes.

Is that a thong on the chair?

Shit. That’s definitely a thong.

Nope. I can’t invite her in here. Plus, it’s highly doubtful she’d want to sit on the furniture. Most of the time, I feel like I need to hose myself off with Lysol after I get up.

Decision made, I slip through the door past Owen onto the porch. “There’s a park about a block away, do you want to go there?”

The edges of her lips curl up as if she knows why I didn’t invite her inside. “Sure, that works.”

I glance at Owen. If he thinks it’s odd that I’m taking off with Noah’s mother, he doesn’t say a word. Which is for the best. Owen might outweigh me by a good fifty pounds, but I’ll kick his ass if he makes one inappropriate comment about Marnie Walker.

This woman can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned. Noah and Daisy are lucky to have her. And before all this, I was lucky to have her in my life as well. That thought is like a kick in the gut.

I stuff my hands into the pockets of my jeans as we head down the street to the small park nearby. There’s not much to it—just a slide, swing set, and monkey bars—but it’s good for what we need.

Privacy.

There’s a bench on the other side of the equipment. Once we’re settled, Marnie angles her body toward me. There is no beating around the bush with Noah’s Mom. For as long as I’ve known her, she’s taken a no-nonsense approach to life. It can be a little disconcerting and entirely too forthright.

Most of the time, I appreciate it.

At this moment, though?

Not so much.

“Noah tells me that you’ve moved out of the apartment,” she says.

I shrug and stare straight ahead. “Not officially,” I mumble.

“Is there a reason why you can’t stay at your place?” She pauses for a beat. “The one you pay rent for?”

I’m not sure how to answer that question, so I remain silent. Maybe I am a pussy just like Noah accused.

“My guess is that Daisy has something to do with this new living arrangement,” she continues.

“I, ah, just thought it would be best for everyone involved if I wasn’t there.” I’m trying like hell to avoid her penetrating stare.

“Is that what Daze told you?” Her voice sharpens. “That she would be more comfortable with you gone?”

My gaze arrows to hers and I hastily shake my head. “Of course not. Daisy would never say that.” Even when she hated my guts, she still agreed to live with me.

A satisfied smile curves her lips. “I didn’t think so.”

“I just…” I have no idea how to explain the situation or my fears to her. The only way I can keep myself in check is to keep my distance from the one person who makes me feel too much. Who makes me feel out of control. It’s the scariest fucking feeling in the world and I hate it.

“You’ve liked Daisy for a long time,” she says.

Even though Noah told me that his mom suspected my feelings, it’s still a surprise to hear her say it.

“What? You think I didn’t notice all these years?” She smirks. “I knew how you felt about Daisy before you did, Carter.”

“Noah mentioned something about it,” I mumble in embarrassment and stare down at my fingers.

After a silent moment of me fiddling with them, Marnie reaches out to still my movements.

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