Page 98 of Play Fast (Brooklyn Dawn 2)

“Daze, wait. Daisy!”

But I didn’t stop.

And I didn’t look back.

Nineteen

Closing my eyes, I fisted my hands. I hadn’t even wanted to come tonight. For good reason. Daisy and I being in the same place meant something would happen. We couldn’t stay away from each other.

Well, correction. She could stay away from me, evidently, as she’d done just fine all week. She hadn’t even offered to do my hair and makeup, although it was technically her job. I’d said no all along, but every week, she’d asked anyway—until this one.

Her metaphorical and very deserved middle finger hadn’t gone unnoticed.

I wanted to go after her. It took literally everything inside me not to chase her down and try to explain.

I just didn’t know how.

I’d hired someone to keep an eye on her. She was right. I’d paid money to do something I wouldn’t. Namely to be at her side and make sure she was safe. I knew Noah was watching out for her too, but he was only one man and spread far too thin as it was. As far as I was concerned, there couldn’t be enough people keeping Daisy protected.

They just couldn’t be me.

“You.”

I opened my eyes and met the dark, narrowed ones belonging to Everleigh Flannigan. I hadn’t seen her in five years, and she’d sprouted up like a damn weed since the last time I’d been in her presence, but there was no disputing it. She was a serious looker now too. Tall, willowy, effortlessly pretty with long hair and tight jeans and cowboy boots.

And her expression proved if I made one wrong move, she would take me out.

“You don’t look like your sister,” I said, which was probably one of the stupidest things I’d ever said. At least this hour. There were a lot of contenders.

She placed her hands on her hips. “What did you say to her?”

“Which time?” I rubbed my suddenly throbbing temple.

Next time, I was just going to stay home. It wasn’t as if I was in a partying mood. Even getting drunk didn’t appeal. That seemed like a way out I didn’t deserve. All I wanted was to sit alone in the dark and listen to Whitesnake—what the fuck—and marinate in my idiocy.

“Tonight, asshat. I ran into her running out of here. By the way, why are you here? She said the only reason she was coming was because you weren’t going to be here.”

You’d figure that if you walked out on someone for very valid reasons that took their well-being into account, you wouldn’t ache like a motherfucker at hearing they didn’t want to sit near you at a tea party. You’d think.

“I didn’t know she was coming.” In fact, I’d told myself I hoped she wouldn’t.

Until I walked in and got a glimpse of her sunny hair and all the knots inside me tightened even more from wanting her.

“Right, because God forbid she has fun with the band, right? Look, I know you’ve always had a giant head, so this is probably beyond you, but couldn’t you let her down easy? If you aren’t interested, don’t be a prick about it. Kerry loved her even if you don’t understand the concept.”

“The concept of love or loving Daisy? Because you’d be very surprised what I understand, and it’s none of your business in any case.”

Oh, look, my prick side had shown up for attendance.

Ever shook her head, causing her long dark hair to tumble over her shoulders. “She’s my sister, and I’m pretty sure you get that concept even if all others elude you. Just seriously, next time you treat her like trash, think of Kerry.”

“Forget Ker, I was thinking about Daisy. How she didn’t need a life dealing with me getting thrown in jail when I got pissed at myself and did something crazy. Or when some asshole made comments about her and looked at her too long. She deserves someone who can be real and honest with her and give her back everything she has to offer. Someone who wouldn’t make her fucking cry.”

And I’d done it again tonight. The visible pain in her beautiful eyes had hit me like a gut punch. I’d told myself I was doing the right thing. Sure, it sucked now, but she would be better off in the long run.

I wasn’t the boyfriend type. I definitely wasn’t a husband or a father in the making. I got too in my head and dwelled on shit I shouldn’t, and when I let it out, I tied her to the goddamn bed.

She’d been a virgin.

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