Page 91 of Sugar Coated Lies
“I know. And I’m so sorry this happened, but I’m giving you my honest advice and opinion about Daire. He’s a mess over this. I didn’t think a man like that could break down, but he was crying.”
“Crying?”
“Distressed. There were tears in his eyes.”
“You saw the tears?”
“I could hear them in his voice.”
“How long did you talk for?”
She inhales a deep breath. “Well, he called when you were driving here. And Easton called, but I didn’t want to get off the phone with you, so I ignored their calls. They started texting me if I knew where you were. I replied I did. Then Daire bombarded me with more texts. He called me an hour after you arrived, but I had my ringer off, or else you would have been suspicious about all the texts and calls I was getting. I wanted to focus on you, not them. Once you fell asleep, I called Daire. We talked for about an hour. Then he called me this morning asking how you are.He’sneedy. Needy when it comes to you.”
The Daire I know, or think I know, would do all of this. He wouldn’t stop until he knew I was okay and explained. Even if that meant I chose not to be with him, he’d want to hear it from me and get the chance to explain.
“Do you think I should give him another chance?” The thought stirs panic in me, and I hate it.
She looks me directly in the eyes. “I think you should hear him out and decide based on how you feel. You’ll know.”
“I don’t want to keep running from what I fear might hurt me. I’ve lived like that for so long. With Daire, I thought those days were gone.”
“They still could be.” She dunks her biscotto into her coffee and takes a bite.
“You seem chipper.”
“Do I?”
“Yes. Does this have to do with Easton?”
“Maybe. But not in the way you think. Easton is cool and sexy, but he’s not the guy for me.” She dunks her biscotto in her coffee again and leans forward to take a bite, her wavy hair covering her face and the telling expression she might be trying to hide from me.
The screen to her phone flashes with a text.
I glimpse Daire’s name.
“So, are you two best friends now?” I tease.
“I see him more as a brother-in-law, but bestie is cool, too.”
I gasp and sit up. “Brother-in-law? What the hell happened between you and Easton?”
She laughs and waves her hand like she’s signaling for me to stop. “I meant, brother-in-law because you’re like my sister and if you and Daire get married, he’ll be like my brother-in-law. It was a bad analogy. Forget I said it.”
She scans the text.
“What does it say?”
She holds up the phone.
Daire: Do you think she’ll see me? I’m outside.
I turn and glance out the front window. Sure enough, a big form stands near the door.
“Oh my gosh. He’s here.”
“Yeah. I’m surprised he waited this long. He wanted to drive here last night.”
“He did?” My heart warms and wants to believe this can be fixed. “Wait. Is that why you’re dressed?” It seemed odd for her to be ready to go out this early when we just woke up, now that I think about it.
