Page 54 of Always Mine

Tabitha stared at her brother, and she knew he was hurting.Grabbing one of the other chairs, she slowly pulled it toward him and sat beside him.

“I want to sit with you, as we watch over our friend and hope she makes it out of this.”Tabitha was not going to let the tears fall.They had done this because of what happened to her, she knew it.Miles was hurting, and she was not going to hold it against him.They were all hurting.

“She shouldn’t be in this coma,” Tabitha said.

“For fuck’s sake, Tabs.”

“I mean, it’s not right.This is Daisy, and she should be the one telling all of us that we’re going to get in trouble.How we shouldn’t be doing this or that, remember?When it was just all of us in high school, sneaking out, going to party.”

Miles sighed.“You’re right.There were times I was so irritated by her, you know?She’d always be the voice of reason.I once asked Anthony why he would find a stick in the mud attractive.”

Tabitha winced.“I doubt that went good for you.”

“Fuck, no, it didn’t.It was ...well, put it this way.I am lucky to be able to use my dick and also consume food.I figured Daisy was pretty damn special to him.A sucker punch to the gut, and I did throw up Mom’s lasagna, and he might have damaged my dick permanently.If I never have kids, that is the reason why.”

She laughed.“I love how you blame Anthony, and not your bullshit question.”

“I’m sorry about that shit I said,” he said after a few seconds.

“It’s fine.”

“Is it, really?I was mean.”

“But ...I wear the Chaos Bleeds patch.Life is fucked up, and for a long time, not that I meant it to be, it was all about me and Simon, or Simon and me.Daisy is in that bed because of what happened with the Monster Dogs MC.You ever feel like life just seems to be a bit strange for a short time?Where right is wrong and wrong is right?”Tabitha asked with a frown.

“Yeah, it’s called a fucked-up world.”

She laughed.“I hate that Daisy is in that bed.I didn’t realize how often I have come to rely on her telling me it is all going to be okay.That we’re all going to make it work, and that somehow, some way, we’re all going to come out of this fine.”

Miles reached for her hand.“It will be fine.I know Daisy, and she is going to wake up, ask what day it is, and then probably make sure we’ve all done our chores and what we need to do to make it up to the club.”

Tabitha laughed.“Yes, she is always one step ahead of the game, which is why she and Anthony work so well.They always have plans.They don’t always see eye to eye, or work, but they at least have plans.”

She sighed and leaned over to rest her head on her brother’s shoulder.

“How is Simon and life in Piston County?”

“It’s good, and I’m happy.We’re all happy.”

“That’s good.I think I’m going to have to pay a visit and teach those kids how to piss you off.”

Tabitha chuckled.“I’d like that.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I think they would love to see their Uncle Miles.Nathan misses you all.It has been hard for him to settle into Piston County, but it is working.”

“Good, I’m glad.”

She turned toward Daisy.“I wish I knew what would wake her up.I’d do it, you know.For Anthony, for the club.”She knew everyone was hurting with Daisy being gone.

They all wanted her back.She was never going to take for granted any chance she got to hug her friend.That was how much she missed Daisy.

****

The light was growingstronger.

Daisy held onto the railing, and just kept staring.

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