“Who I’m comfortable with is none of your business. I can’t believe you did that. I can’t believe you thought you could make decisions for me like that. For him!”
“I did what I thought was right as your father.”
“Get out,” I said through gritted teeth.
“I came to see Bailey.”
“You are not welcome here right now. Leave.”
“You can’t keep her from me.”
“I’m her mother. I can do whatever the fuck I want. Leave!”
“You aren’t her mother, Daisy, you are her aunt, and you need to stop acting like you aren’t.”
“I have raised her since she was a baby. I can call myself her mother while telling her about Willow. Would you rather her have no mother?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Go now or I’m calling you in for trespassing.”
He laughed but shook his head. “No one would arrest me for that, Daisy.”
“Are you saying your department is corrupt? That they wouldn’t protect me because of who you are? That seems illegal. I should call about that, then.”
“Don’t do that,” he said, the small panic in his tone making me more angry.
“Then leave.”
His face was red with anger again, but he stepped back towards his car. “Fine. I’ll give you time to get over this hissy fit, but don’t you think I will be kept from Bailey forever?”
“Why not? Maybe it’s not good for her to be around someone so angry. You thought you could make decisions for me as my father. According to you, I can make whatever choices I think are best for Bailey.”
“Daisy, I—”
“Need to leave. Or you will be forced to.”
He shook his head, slamming the car door as he got in and peeled away from the curb.
I made it back to the front porch before I couldn’t go any further.
I knew Kye left so he wouldn’t get in trouble, but I didn’t realize my dad told him to leave me. I didn’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me. Why didn’t I think my dad would have played a bigger part than I expected?
I knew he would have told Kye to leave, but to leave me? To tell Kye that he would ruin my life if he stayed?
I couldn’t stop the wave of hatred for my dad — the way he thought he could run my life—but Kye was right. I was always the one going along with it.
But what now? I had built a life for myself. I had Bailey, my house, my job, and technically, I had Mark in some way. I was sure he told people we were together, and if I wanted, I was sure I could make that official.
As if he could hear me, a text came through.
Mark: Would you like to go out tonight?
Daisy: I don’t think I can. I’m exhausted and have the wedding to prep for tomorrow.
Mark: Of course. I could still take off if you needed a date?
Daisy: It’s alright. Between being a bridesmaid and Bailey, I will be pretty busy all day.
Mark: Alright. Text me when you’re free then.
I threw my phone aside, getting to my long to-do list and trying to block out every problem that seemed to be coming to light in my life.
FORTY-ONEKYE
So far, the entire day of the wedding had gone perfectly.
I had endured walking Daisy down the aisle. I assumed it was planned by the crew on purpose, but I didn’t know if it was because of the touching thing or the Daisy thing.
Either way, I was happy that, at the very least, I hadn’t had to watch her walk down the aisle with anyone else.
Now, Scout and Chase were married, the bright smile on Scout’s face making my chest hurt. Fox, Ransom, and Jax had all danced with her now, which meant it was my turn.
I stepped up behind her as she kissed Chase, who sighed. “Looks like I have to share you one more time,” he said. “Who would have thought the girl of my dreams came with four other men?” he joked. He loved to mess with her about the other men in her life, but there was no confusion that Chase was the love of her life.
We were her brothers. Family, and best friends.
She turned to me, the broad smile still plastered on her face. “Ahh, the last brother. My twin. I wondered if I’d get a dance with you.”
