“Yeah, she’s observant. And tough. She’s a great kid, though. That’s the one I tell you is best friends with Liam and Lily. Daisy’s done well with her.”

“You told me about their friends, but failed to mention whose kid she was. Why didn’t anyone tell me?” The anger and regret were coming over me, and I could feel my temper flaring. I had gotten it under more control as I got older, but any one of them could have told me what Daisy was going through. It wasn’t like they never talked about her, but they failed to mention one of the biggest things in her life.

“She asked us not to. Ash said she seemed sad anytime we brought you up, so we tried to not do that too much around her either. It just seemed like it would help you two keep your lives separate. You looked fucking miserable anytime something about her was mentioned, so we just got the hint and stopped mentioning everything.”

“I could have come back, though.”

“To what? Take care of her? Take care of Bailey? We’ve obviously done what we could to make sure they are both okay. She doesn’t take help easily, though.”

“I don’t know. I could have at least come back to help through the funeral.”

“She was dating someone, anyway. Not that it lasted after Bailey came around. That guy ran for the hills and Daisy was too busy to care.”

“Is she with someone now?”

“Yeah, but I don’t actually know how serious it is. He seems…fine.”

“Fine?”

“Yeah, like a good guy, a simple guy. He’s a cop, so I’m assuming her dad likes him, and he seems to want to be a family guy, so he likes Bailey enough. I don’t know if it’s serious yet.” He smirked. “She makes sure not to bring him around us much, so that’s about what I know.”

“Why? How long have they been dating?”

“Maybe four months? The gossip is that he tried for a long time to get her to go out on a date and finally she caved one day. He’s been trying to move for more, but she’s taking it slow. The girls don’t like him much, but I don’t know why.”

“The gossip, Jax? Really?”

“I have a pregnant wife whose friends pile into the apartment to tell her all about the outside world anytime they can. I overhear stuff.”

“Damn, we need to get you out more.”

“I currently can’t be more than ten minutes from my wife and child, so maybe we can do that after the baby comes.”

“Fine, fine. We will wait. Or just load everyone up and go to the track.”

“That we can do.”

“I’m serious. We should do that this week.”

“And I’m a hundred percent in. Ask Scout, it’s her week. Well, hers and Chase’s, but I’m assuming Scout would be there faster than any of us. She wants the wedding, but she hates everything leading up to it.”

I rolled my eyes. He wasn’t wrong. Scout would always take a chance to be at the track. Even on her wedding day, I bet we could get her there.

I looked at Daisy as we went outside. She was dating someone. A cop, at that. I guess it made sense. I’m surprised she wasn’t already married or something. She had only grown more beautiful and still kept her head up high, the prom queen that would never let anyone see her trip. I admired it, though. She was always trying her best, and no one could claim otherwise.

We made it through the doors just in time to watch Bailey jump into the pool, fully clothed, with a yelp of joy.

“Bailey, no,” Daisy yelled, running to the edge. Her face fell, and I could see the exhaustion now.

“Can she swim?” I asked, running to the other side, ready to jump in.

“She’s a great swimmer, and that’s the problem. She will not get out now. Bailey, come on.”

She only laughed, splashing back and forth from each side. She was a good swimmer and knew to stay out of Daisy’s reach.

“I should not have bought swimming lessons for you,” she groaned. “Bailey, come out, now. You are going to go dry yourself off before dinner.”

I couldn’t help smiling as she spun around in the water, grinning.

“You think this is funny?” Daisy said, staring daggers at me.

“I mean, yeah, a bit,” I said.

Suddenly, the entire crew was laughing behind her.

“You guys,” she said. “Stop laughing. I can’t even control her.”

“We aren’t laughing at you, Daisy. We are laughing with you,” Quinn said. “No one here is expecting you to control her. She is uncontrollable, and unfortunately for you, it’s adorable.”

Bailey spun again, smiling up at me.

“Are you going to get out like she told you?” I asked.

She shook her head no, her smile bigger than ever.

I kicked off my shoes, and pulled off my shirt. Luckily, I was still in my shorts from the plane and, unlike everyone else, had a change of clothes in the car.

“What are you doing?” Daisy asked, and I didn’t miss the panic in her voice. I looked up, and her mouth dropped open, staring at me.

“Getting your daughter.”

I sat on the edge and slid in. The water was a perfect temperature that I could hardly blame Bailey for not getting out.

As soon as she saw me in the pool with her, she screamed in joy, paddling the opposite way.

“Oh, man. This is the exact type of shit we would have done. I can catch you, Bailey. You better swim faster.”

“Kye, language.”

“Oh, shit.” I shook my head. “Sorry!”

“Ohhh, shit,” Bailey repeated, her lips sounding out the O, and I knew I was in trouble.

“Kye!” Daisy yelled.

“I’m sorry! I forgot,” I said, grabbing for Bailey, who thought she was faster. “You don’t stand a chance outrunning me.”

I picked her up, pulling her back to the shallow end.