“You can think you are going to use this to take Bailey, but you are going to have to do that the legal way. Fight me in court, Dad, that’s fine. If that’s what you think is best for Bailey, you can do it, but I promise you will not win. Kye, please put Bailey in your car.”
“Daisy, you don’t have to—”
“Now, please.” I kept my voice calm, but I didn’t move from between them. “I need to go inside and get Bailey a few things. Are you going to let me or make me go buy new things so you don’t call me an unfit mother?”
“Are you going to his place?”
“Yes,” I said, already knowing nothing was stopping me from staying with Kye tonight.
“Then go ahead and show me how great of a mother you are. You can’t go back in the house. It’s a crime scene.”
I smiled, already walking towards Kye’s car. “Great. Thanks so much, Dad.”
He caught up to me, grabbing my arm as Kye shut the car door, watching us.
“I heard you broke up with Mark, and now this? Daisy, I am worried about you and Bailey. This is your safety, her safety. Please, I'm trying to help.”
“Well, stop it. I know I’ve gone along and done whatever you wanted, but I’m not anymore. I want my own life and I get to choose who is in it. If you want to keep us safe, figure out who is slashing my tires and breaking into my house.”
“And if it is Kye?”
“You better have undeniable proof before you think I will ever believe you.”
He nodded, and I went to get in the car.
“Thanks,” I said. “And now I’m exhausted, so let’s go.”
Kye didn’t say anything, but he pulled out, taking me home. I could already feel the calm relief flooding me, and I leaned back into the seat, enjoying every quiet second.
FORTY-SIXKYE
By the time we made it into Ransom and Quinn’s place, Bailey was already passed out as I laid her on their couch. They only smiled, more than happy to have them over for the night.
Before Daisy could say anything, I was already heading out the door. I heard every word from her dad. I didn’t realize she was risking anything for just talking to me, but apparently, this wasn’t a new threat from him.
And Mark. Her fucking boyfriend who, instead of taking care of her and Bailey, wanted to blame me for breaking into her house. Who didn’t even ask if they were okay, but instead wanted to hit me.
It didn’t matter if I had grown up. I was still happy to fight, but there wasn’t a chance I was going to do it in front of Bailey.
“Can you guys watch her?” Daisy asked as I pulled open the door. I gritted my teeth, already knowing she was coming after me, and already knowing I couldn’t handle it.
The door shut behind us, and I kept stomping up the stairs with no intention of stopping.
“Kye?”
One word and I immediately turned, ready to do whatever she wanted.
“What?”
She looked up at me, her hazel eyes wide. Her blonde hair was up in a messy bun that was falling to the side now.
My chest tightened, every part of my heart shattering.
“I was wondering if I could come up and stay with you tonight,” she said, the uncertainty in her tone only breaking me more. I really couldn’t do this. I couldn’t keep turning down the only person I wanted.
“Why?”
“Because I…need you?”
“Need me or need to not be alone? Why didn’t you go with Mark? The man you’re dating. The guy that is so much better than I am, and won’t threaten your damn child being in your life. You’ve been with him the entire time I’ve been here, Daze. Don’t ask to come to my fucking bed when you are with him.”
The softness of her face turned until she was frowning, eyebrows furrowed.
“You left me, Kye. Did you think I should drop my entire life the moment you came back? The night you left killed me. I laid in bed for weeks. It took me months to realize you really weren’t coming back. Should I have seen you step back into town and just assume you had any feelings? Should I even assume that now? Maybe you are just looking to sleep together to get you through another six years.”
“That’s bullshit. I would never just want you for sex and you know it. Every part of me died that night. I wanted to die that night,” I said. “Do you somehow think it was easier for me?”
“You’re the one who left! I was here. I never left. You did! Maybe it was easier.”
I could only shake my head, already knowing where this was heading. I would never be what Daisy needed. It didn’t matter how much I wanted to be, there would always be something, or someone, standing in our way.
“I left because I had to. Because your life was going to be fucked if I stayed. Please give me a damn break. What your dad says proves it. I will never be what you need. I am not the perfect one. I am not the guy that is always charming and safe and comfortable. Please, just go to Mark and stop with this, with us, because what I have to offer you is never going to be enough. Not for you, for your dad, for your life. I could cut my heart out and give it to you, and somehow everyone would think I’m trouble because I got blood on the floor. I could love you a thousand times better than anyone in this entire fucking world, but it’s not the right kind of love apparently,” I said, each word lifting the stress and fear off my chest. “And please, give me a fucking break. You know, Daisy. You fucking know I’m still in love with you and you are killing me.” I took a ragged breath, trying to stop myself from getting more enraged. “I will not take anything else away from you. I thought it could be better this time, but I heard everything your dad said. I know what he’s threatening this time, and you can’t lose Bailey because of me. I’ll die, Daisy. I would fucking die. Please don’t ask me to come to my bed because I cannot say no again.”
Cutting out my heart really would feel better because at least I would know the pain wouldn’t last for more than a few minutes, not the rest of my life. I wanted Daisy. I wanted Bailey. I wanted to give them everything, but there would always be someone taking something from her if she chose me, and there was nothing in the world I could give her to make up for that.
I spun back, heading up the next flight of steps. I made it to my apartment door when I heard her footsteps behind me.
“Kye, no, wait,” she said, grabbing my hand. “You aren’t going to give me a chance to say anything?”
