My mouth dropped open before I broke out in laughter. “Mark? As in Mark you went on a date with while we were dating? Mark, who took you to the haunted house?”

“Hey! In my defense, I did not know we were dating for real.”

“How long have you been seeing him?”

“We’ve just gone on a couple of dates. It’s only been a few months.”

I was still laughing, and it was making her laugh now.

“And here I am again. Showing up right in time to piss him off. I don’t care how much I grow up, that will continue to be hilarious to me.”

The moment I said it, I realized what I was implying. The image of everything we did in that haunted house came back all at once, along with a hard wave of wanting. A feeling that had died in me so many years ago, hitting me like it never went away. No one had ever made me want them like Daisy. All she had to do was look at me, and I was ready to do anything for one more second with her.

Her eyebrows jumped up and lips parted. “You really have impeccable timing.”

“Does he know what happened that night?”

“He knows that I left with you, yeah.”

“You told him?”

“I guess indirectly. I told my dad that I had left with you that night, and he ended up telling Mark.”

“So basically, I’m getting arrested this week by Mark, no matter what I do?”

“What? No! He wouldn’t do that. I think we’ve grown up more than that, Kye.”

“Maybe you have, but I guarantee that guy hates me now. He will not be happy to learn I’m going to be around you all week.”

“Why are you going to be around me all week?”

My eyebrows furrowed. “The wedding? All of us have plenty to do for it this week. I just assume I’ll see you.”

“Oh, right. Yeah, and I have to work and help Mark with his stuff.” She leaned her head back, exposing more of her neck.

Six years of thinking of her was already threatening to come out. Six years of no one else because the only thing that could turn me on was thoughts of Daisy. The only person who didn’t make me want to scream when she touched me was now five feet away, and I couldn’t touch her.

“Where do you work?”

Now she looked confused. “I work at Carly’s diner? I assumed you knew that.”

I was already shaking my head. “No. Definitely didn’t.”

“Now that you say it, I’ve never seen you there.”

“I’ve stopped by when I’m in town. I’ve never seen you there, and Carly never told me.” I made a mental note to talk to Carly, because that was something they could have clued me in on. “Apparently, they took a lot of precautions to make sure I knew nothing about you or see you.”

“Why?”

I stood up, reaching out to help her up when she moved to stand with me. I couldn’t be out here alone with her any longer.

She slipped her hand into mine and I pulled until she was staring up at me. I didn’t pull it away, my thumb running over hers once before I dropped it.

“I think we both know why.”

“I don’t think I do.” Her words were breathless, and I stepped closer. My hands twitched to reach out and grab her, but I held them in place.

The back door opened and Scout stepped out, her hands on her hips. “I swear, Kye, you need to be tied to one of us or you run off.”

Daisy gave a sad laugh. “She might not be the only one who thinks that.”

“Come on. I’m sure Bailey’s looking for you, too.”

She nodded and walked past me, that all too familiar scent of lavender and mint hitting me like it had the night I met her. The night she had jumped into my arms and begged me for a kiss.

The night that changed my life forever.

Because it didn’t matter how far away I was or how long we had been apart, I was still completely in love with Daisy.

THIRTY-FIVEDAISY

Bailey ran ahead of me up the stairs toward Fox and Ash’s apartment. She already knew the place inside and out for how much we came over, except for one place.

One apartment that I hadn’t even been in front of, let alone inside, in six years.

I looked up the last flight of stairs that led to Kye’s apartment and wondered if he was up there now. The first time I came over to see the girls, I blocked it out until I was back in my car and then cried the entire night. After that, I never came over when Kye would be around, and when I had come over, I made it a point to not look up there.

Now, it was impossible because I knew he was there. How was I supposed to not want to see him after his big show at dinner the other night? He had taken his shirt off, and I couldn’t remember my name, let alone why I shouldn’t be talking to him.

I pushed open the apartment door, trying to grab Bailey, but she was already running to launch herself over the back of the couch. A loud grunt came before Bailey was lifted up in the air, Kye sitting up with her above him.

“You Wells woman are really always trying to jump me,” he said, laughing and setting her on the ground. “Liam’s in his room.”

Bailey laughed, too, and took off. Disappearing into the bedroom, they added on for Liam.

“Sorry,” I said, apologizing for what felt like the hundredth time for Bailey’s antics. He was already up, smiling at me as he went towards the kitchen.

“It will never be something you have to apologize for,” he said. I sucked in a hard breath, remembering every second of the night I had jumped him. I wondered what it would be like now. If he would still be stiff and awkward at first or if he would melt against me.

“Are you staying here to watch the kids?” I asked, trying to stop myself from following him more.

“Yep. Apparently, the girls had to watch the kids last time, so tonight’s guy’s night consists of us and three unruly children,” he said, smirking.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, already hearing the kids yelling in the room.

He grabbed his drink and walked back towards me, his eyebrows furrowed. “For what this time?”

“Ruining your guy’s night.”