Page 258 of The Winslow Brothers

“You know what I think?” Winnie’s voice grabs my attention, and I glance to my right to find her and her husband Wes slow dancing together. “I think the two of you should plan a wedding.”

Flynn smirks. “Sorry to break it to you again, Win, but we already did that.”

“Yeah, I’m aware. But I’d like you to plan a wedding that I can actually attend.”

Wes smirks. “Like you should talk, baby. We got married on a beach in the Bahamas. And only you, me, and Lexi were in attendance.”

“Shut up, Wes!” Winnie squeals and smacks a hand over his mouth. He just laughs and playfully bites at her fingers in a way that makes her giggle and yank her hand away from his face.

Flynn is amused by the whole scene. I know this because a genuine smile kisses his perfect mouth. But me, on the other hand? Well, I’m overwhelmed. Confused. And my heart is starting to take up a breath-stealing rhythm inside my chest.

I’m a fraud. A liar. A phony. A fake.

And even though I never anticipated the aftermath of Flynn’s and my marriage, I’m starting to comprehend just how many people our web of lies has ensnared.

Not to mention, your heart.

Guilt pitches a tent inside my stomach, and I have to remove myself from the dance floor, away from Flynn and his family, and just…away from everyone I feel like I’m going to disappoint far too soon.

I step back and out of Flynn’s arms, and he looks down at me with a quirk of his brow.

“I…uh… I think I need to…uh…” I pause, searching for a reasonable reason to leave. Sure, most of the guests have already left, but I doubt me springing out of the restaurant like my ass is on fire is going to occur unnoticed.

“I’m tired,” I explain lamely. “I think I’m ready to call it a night.”

“Okay, babe.” Flynn doesn’t ask any questions. He just…places a gentle hand to my back and guides us off the dance floor and toward our table where I left my purse.

But this isn’t what I want him to do at all. The more time I spend with him, the harder this whole thing is getting. The more he treats me like a fucking princess, the more I realize I’m far past the point of having justsomefeelings for him.

I haveallthe feelings for him.

I just need space. Away from him. Away from his family. Away from my lies.

Far away from tomorrow’s fate…and the inevitability of a broken heart.

Flynn

“You guys heading out?” Rem asks, giving me a slap on the shoulder and a shake of my hand.

“Yeah, man.” I look right beside me to where Daisy should be, anticipating her smile and ramble, but she’s nowhere to be found. I grace Rem with a return slap on the shoulder and glance around the room for my favorite bouncy head of curls. It’s only when I look all the way across the restaurant, at the double doors that lead out the front, that I spot that very hair making an abrupt departure.

“Everything okay?” Rem asks, observing me so closely that I can feel it without even having to look.

Honestly, I don’t know. One minute, Daisy was with me, and in the span of two minutes when I was grabbing money out of my wallet to tip the waitstaff, she was gone.

Maybe she’s sick?

That possibility doesn’t sit well with me, and I don’t offer Rem any explanation. Instead, I excuse myself with an “I’ll see you tomorrow” and head for the exit. I don’t even bother saying goodbye to Jude or Sophie when I pass them at the bar, despitetheir being the guests of honor, and I don’t seek out anyone else from my family to let them know we’re leaving.

I’ll see them at the wedding tomorrow anyway, and after forty-one years of silent goodbyes, there’s no need to start announcing my departure now.

The instant I step outside, I’m hit with a cool night breeze and the vision of Daisy hauling ass in the opposite direction of our apartment.

What the hell is going on?

I break into a jog as I trail behind her quick feet, and thanks to long legs and good genetics, it only takes half a block for me to catch up with her.

“Dais,” I say in a quiet voice so as not to startle her from behind. “What’s wrong? Where are you going?”

---