Page 119 of Play Fast (Brooklyn Dawn 2)

Ever opened the door wide. The furniture had been shoved back and a yoga mat took up half the room. “She got a temp job doing hair down the block. Since her actual job is about to end. Her dream job, gone forever because of you and your wandering dick.”

I half expected her to spit on the ground in disgust.

“My dick hasn’t gone anywhere, I swear. And no, she won’t be losing her dream job. Can I come in, please?”

Ever crossed her arms. “You have never said please to me before. Even when you were shoving money at me to take care of my own sister, as if I didn’t do it for free. Although I had fun using your cash to sign you up for dating sites. Funny they never contacted you. Must’ve been because I said you had syphilis. And yes, I used your full real name.”

“You did not.”

She shrugged. “You’ll never know.”

“Look, I love your sister.” I swallowed hard, amazed the words hadn’t gotten stuck. “I want to be a good guy for her. I think I can be, with some help.”

Ever didn’t so much as blink. “Let me guess, now you’re offering credit instead of cash?”

“What? No. I’m doing it myself. I have ideas. Mostly myself. It requires a little assistance.”

“Doesn’t everything with you?”

“Ever, just let me in and listen to me. If by the time I’m done with the plan, you still think it sucks—that I suck—I’ll leave you alone.”

“And find someone else to help you break my sister’s heart? Which is already broken, thanks to you?”

I didn’t know what else to do, so I took out my wallet and the picture of us I’d stashed there. I handed it to Ever.

“Look at the back.”

She studied the photo for a moment before turning it over. “Kerry,” she murmured.

“Yeah. I didn’t know. I swear, I didn’t. It never occurred to me someone like Daisy could see me as…well, someone worthwhile. Someone she could love. Maybe. If she does. Or did.” I scraped my hands through my hair. I hadn’t bothered tying it back and it was in full wild mode. “I haven’t earned it yet, but that doesn’t mean I won’t. I’ll die trying.”

“Right, another escape.” She handed back the picture. “Sounds like Croly Street Oz to me.”

I had to laugh. “Ever, if you don’t help me, if no one helps me, I’m still going to do this. I’m still going to try. I have to. My life without her was so dark and empty I didn’t even know it.”

“That makes no sense.”

“I thought that was as good as it got. But it wasn’t. It isn’t. A few days with her and everything changed. Me most of all. I want more of them. I want a lifetime.”

So, yeah, that was new.

Ever narrowed her eyes. “She doesn’t even do yoga.”

I didn’t know the connection, but I wasn’t about to ask.

She relented and let me inside. I asked her nicely about three times for her assistance, which she finally gave once I mentioned if this went well, maybe Daisy would want to live with me since I had a number of homes.

That was the closest I’d seen Ever to being perky.

Sarah frowned when I got back in the Spyder a short time later. “How did it go?”

“That woman is a black belt in ball-busting, but I think she might help. She also really wants Daisy off her couch.”

“You do realize offering a place to live for financial reasons hardly makes a woman’s heart go pitter-patter. Nor is it wise in the long term.”

I snapped on my belt as Sarah shot into traffic. “I want her to live with me because there’s so much I’ve missed in five fucking years. Never mind all the shit I missed before that while she was standing in front of me.”

“The rate of homicide goes up greatly in close quarters. Proceed carefully.”

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