Page 94 of Ghost Note

I turned to see Danny standing behind me wearing nothing but his jeans. His arms were folded over his defined, tattooed chest, his legs, shoulder-width apart and his hair, a ruffled mess of perfection. He did not look soft or smug the way he had the night before. Danny looked as angry as Gina, his face creased, and his jaw twitching as he ground his teeth together.

“Gina,” he said, his voice deep and smooth. “Please don’t talk to Zee that way.”

“Oh, she’s yourZeeagain now?”

“She never stopped being.”

“You’ve got some damn nerve.”

“You can think what you like. It doesn’t matter to me.”

Glancing between the two of them, I realised this wasn’t about me anymore. This was about them, even if they were using my name as a toy to fight over. Gina’s stance shifted, her arms folding over her chest to mirror Danny’s defensive pose. She swallowed, and it looked like it hurt, before her nostrils flared and she held his gaze.

“I see you’re as selfish as ever,” she said. “Waltzing back here and taking what you want, when you want it, with no thought of how life will be when you leave again. Just using what you need to make your stay here as pleasant as possible.”

“I’m not using Daisy—”

“I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s not like any of us expected you to have changed in the last few years.”

“Gina, if you’ve got something to say to me…”

“I’ve gotplentyto say to you.”

“Then say it when we’re alone. Daisy doesn’t need to be a part of this. It’s not fair.”

“Fair? Since when have you cared about what’s fair?”

“I care now.”

“Right.” Gina scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Now, he wants to play the hero. Give me a break.”

“I don’t want to play anything.”

“Except with Daisy’s life and happiness, right?”

“Her happiness means more to me than my own.”

“You know… you’re good at what you do, I’ll give you that. You almost sound sincere. I guess I can’t blame her for buying into it again.”

My heart was pounding standing there between them. “I am here, you know,” I said, but my voice was too quiet, and neither one of them broke their intense stare-off with one another.

Gina and Danny had been like brother and sister growing up, and in her own way, she’d loved him as much as I had. This wasn’t just about her protecting me, and that was obvious in the slight sheen of moisture that began to coat her eyes.

“Maybe I should leave you two to talk,” I offered.

“No, thanks,” Gina said, resigned as she turned to me. “There’s nothing to say that matters now. I didn’t come over here for that. I came here to make sure you were okay.”

“Gina…”

“And you look okay. I just hope it stays that way.” She exhaled, long and heavy before she stepped to me and wrapped me up in her arms. “Be careful, Dais. Don’t let him break you apart again.”

“I… won’t.”

“We’ll see.” She let me go without another word. Before I could stop her or say anything to put her mind at ease, she turned and walked away, and I watched her marching down the road with anger fuelling every footstep.

I took a step out of the door before Danny’s hand landed on my shoulder, pulling me his way. Green eyes stared down at me, determined. “Don’t. This isn’t your fight. Let me go.”

There was no time to stop him. Danny took off in a gentle jog. The early morning sun shone from every muscle in his back as he made his way to Gina. I swallowed the desire that lit me up inside, and I watched as he reached for Gina’s elbow and spun her around. She shrugged him off instantly and raised a finger in his face. I’d seen her scold Jackson hundreds of times since she’d had to become his parent, but I’d never seen her look so passionate in her tirade.

---