Page 67 of Ghost Note

“Okay,” I whispered, reaching around and peeling his hand away. It landed in my lap with a thud, and even though his fingers were against my thighs, I didn’t move them. “Then let me say it more clearly. I’m going to go now.”

When his lashes fluttered open, Danny looked at me with so much pain, I almost caved. Another second of staring into green eyes I wanted to overdose on, and I’d be ruined for another five years. Maybe even a decade.

I uncurled myself from his embrace as carefully as I could before I stood up and over him.

He stared up at me with wide, wanting eyes.

“Bye, Danny,” I croaked. With a deep breath, I searched for strength I wasn’t sure I had, and I turned on my heels to leave. I made it to the hallway doorway before I heard his voice again.

“Daisy?”

I spun slowly, taking him in one last time.

“I’m sorry I keep forgetting you have a boyfriend, and I’m sorry if you think that kiss I just stole was a step too far. I can’t help but feel like you’re still mine, and I know that’s wrong. It’s not fair to you. I want to try and be fair because you deserve that.” He began to stand, and it wasn’t long before he’d pushed his hands into the pockets of his jeans and hunched his shoulders together as he began to walk forward. “I know you’re not the type of woman to betray someone you love. Don’t feel guilty for that kiss. That was all me. You have nothing to feel bad about.”

To my surprise, he looked genuinely frustrated with himself… and guilty, too.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I admitted weakly.

“What?” Danny frowned.

“Ben… he’s not my…” I exhaled heavily. “He’s not my boyfriend, Danny. He never has been.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You don’t have to understand, okay.” I ran a hand across my forehead. “I’m sorry. I just can’t do this with you tonight. I have to go.”

Before he or I could say another thing, I marched out of the house, knowing that if I didn’t leave soon, I’d only regret it in a few days when he left. I couldn’t have any more regrets with Danny. That bucket was already full.

Still, once I arrived home, I couldn’t stop running my fingers over my swollen lips or over the back of my neck where his touch had been. Every moment with him burned, and despite me wanting to hate it, I was starting to crave the pain all over again.

My body was at war with my heart, and I had no idea how I was going to get them to live together in harmony anymore.

Twenty-Three

“Daisy?” Ben’s voice was sleepy when he answered my call.

“Were you in bed?” I asked, shuffling my legs under my bum as I sat on my bed.

“No. Just napping on the sofa.”

“It’s after eleven. That’s not napping, Ben, that’s full-on sleeping.”

“Yeah, yeah. What’s up? Why are you calling me this late?” Another groan and a huff of breath, and I could tell that he was rolling himself to sit up—probably on the sofa in his living room. “Is this a booty call?”

The idea had crossed my mind, but I was no actress, and I knew it wouldn’t take long for both Ben and me to realise I was trying to replace my feelings for Danny with temporary relief from Ben. That wasn’t fair to any of us.

“You wish.” I chuckled.

“Not going to deny that. But seriously… is everything okay?”

“I just wanted to apologise.”

“What for?”

“Leading you on for so long.” Ben met that statement with silence, forcing me to speak again. “You are one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, and as much as I’ve enjoyed every moment with you, leaving you hanging was a shit trick to play, and I’m sorry for that.”

“And you had to tell me this now?”

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