“What are youdoing here? It’s late.”
“It’s not thatlate,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for you to get home.”
She glancedaround him at his truck parked on the street. “Seriously?”
“You won’tanswer my calls or text with me anymore.”
She sighed.“That’s not true. I texted you this morning.”
“Not the wayyou used to,” he said. “Listen, I didn’t mean to hurt the doc,okay? It was an accident.”
“Was it?” shesaid.
“I’m not a badguy, Kira.”
“I know you’renot.” She glanced at the house. She had promised Connor that shewouldn’t be alone with Daniel, and she felt uneasy about breakingthat promise. “I should go. It’s chilly and I’m not wearing ajacket.”
“Can I come infor a while?”
She chewed ather bottom lip. “That’s not a good idea. Connor’s staying with mewhile he recuperates.”
“What? Yourboyfriend won’t let you have other guys in the house now? Is thatwhy you’ve been ignoring me? Why you wouldn’t let me stop by andwatch the game with you earlier this week?”
“That isn’tit,” she said.
Daniel frownedat her. “If he’s stopping you from seeing your friends, that’s areal shitty thing for him to do. Do you really want him to controlyour life like this, Kira? I know everyone thinks the doc is a goodguy, but I’m not sure that he is. He’s got a coldness to him that-”
“He isn’tcold,” Kira said. “You don’t know him at all so stop makingassumptions. He isn’t keeping me from my friends. I was just outwith Gracie and Addison for most of the day.”
“So, it’s justme he’s keeping you away from,” Daniel said. “Look, I get that he’sjealous of our relationship, but again, do you want someone thatinsecure? It’s pretty immature of him to not allow you to have anyguy friends.”
“Stop it,” shesaid. Her confusion was ebbing way to be replaced with anger. “Stoptalking about Connor like you know him. You don’t, Daniel. Youdon’t know him at all.”
“I’m justworried about you, doll. You’re sweet and trusting and a guy likethat? He doesn’t understand our relationship.”
“Ourrelationship?” Kira said. “What exactly is our relationship,Daniel?”
“Special,” hesaid.
She rolled hereyes. “Are you kidding me right now?”
Daniel reachedfor her and she pulled away. He gave her a hurt look. “Now I can’ttouch you? You used to let me hug you.”
“It’s differentnow,” she said.
“Only becauseConnor’s made it different,” Daniel said. “I miss you, Kira. I missus. I get that Connor is important to you, but you’ve only beendating him less than a month. Don’t let him make you do somethingyou’ll regret like giving up on us.”
“Us,” shesaid.
“Yes,” hereplied. “Like I said, I miss us.”
“What exactlydo you miss aboutus, Daniel? Be specific,” Kira said.
“You know, Imiss how we were together. You coming to watch me play ball andcheering me on, bringing me special little treats at the station,helping me with shit, me coming by to watch the game with you. Icare about you a lot, and I hate that we don’t spend time togetheranymore.”
She staredsilently at him and shook her head when he tried to put his armaround her. “Don’t.”
She was anidiot. Daniel would never be jealous of her relationship withConnor. The only thing that bothered him about her dating Connor,was that she wasn’t around anymore to cater to his every whim, toworship him, and make him feel good that she pined after him like afool.