He was already shaking his head. “I see your people-pleasing tendencies haven’t changed.”

I looked down, seeing the pink hue of the drink he had. “And your choice of beverages hasn’t changed either.”

“I guess some things will never be different,” he said, shrugging. His face hardened as he looked towards the room and back at me. The sudden seriousness on his face made me chew my bottom lip.

“You might want to stop apologizing for Bailey. She’s going to hear you doing it and think she’s a problem. I’m choosing to be here. There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

He waited a second before walking back to the couch to sit back next to Ash. I stayed frozen, feeling like I had just been slapped. I was never trying to make it sound like Bailey was an issue, but I knew she was a lot for some people to be around. She had literally just launched herself on top of him. I couldn’t expect everyone to be fine with that.

Kye’s words were still echoing in my mind when the girls waved me out the door with them. I wondered if he knew from firsthand experience or really just thought I was a bad parent. From the day I took Bailey, I had worried constantly about what I was doing wrong. If I was ruining her life a little more each day, or was I raising a strong girl who would grow up to do great things?

But what if Kye thought I was messing it all up? Somehow, his opinion carried a heavy weight to it, and the thought that he could already be disappointed in me was sickening.

We made it to the restaurant, and the girls kept me moving until I sat at the table.

“Daisy?” Quinn asked. “Are you getting a drink?”

“I’m the driver,” Carly said, her frown deepening. “Obviously.”

“Oh yeah, sorry. I’ll take a Long Island,” I said, immediately dropping back into thought about Kye’s words.

A few more minutes passed by before Scout got my attention.

“What is going on? Are you okay tonight?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just such a busy week. I’m a little out of it.”

“You’re telling me,” she said. “I thought planning a would be all fun and games, but apparently, making sure 150 eat and have a good time is anything but that. How the hell do I even know 150 people?”

“You could always do what we did. Hurry and get married in Vegas. Boom, done,” Quinn said with a grin.

“As fun as your wedding was, I’m already committed to this thing. Oh, by the way, Daisy,” Scout said, getting my attention again. “Is Bailey all set for flower girl duties?”

“As long as you’re okay with her antics, she’s more than ready. It was so nice of you to have her do it. She’s already excited.”

“I love her and will be looking forward to antics, so don’t even worry.”

“She’s walking down the aisle with Liam. The girl is going to be so love-struck she might do nothing but smile.”

I groaned. “Let’s hope. She’s so much sometimes, and I worry I’m ruining all of it.”

Ash laughed and patted my shoulder. “You’re doing great, babe. Stop worrying so much. I think you’ve made her too smart for her own good. She’s perfect.”

“I try to remember that, but this single-parent thing is a lot.”

The server set my drink in front of me, shooting me a cute smile as he did. A round of laughter went around the table as he walked off.

“Bet you could get his number,” Quinn said.

“For what? I have a…guy in my life, remember?” I asked, still not bringing myself to call him my boyfriend. The word felt so final that we were together and somehow it didn’t feel right for us.

“Honestly?” Ash asked, her nose scrunching. “Not really. I forget the man exists with how little you talk about him, and I rarely see him with you.”

I gave a halfhearted shrug. “He’s busy. I’m busy. I already know he would drive you all crazy, so I don’t bring him around.”

They all glanced at each other before each of them broke into a smile.

“Wow, please tone down the passion, Daisy. We’re in public,” Carly said, mocking my bored tone and laughing when I finally smiled along with them.

“There’s nothing wrong with Mark. I just feel so obligated to Bailey. It’s hard to add another obligation like that.”

The table went quiet, and I did, too. Maybe it was wrong to call Mark an obligation, but it felt like it. The only reason I agreed to a first date again with him was because my dad asked. With Mark running for sheriff, my dad thought it would help his chances dating me. I had agreed to one date, but Mark had been so nice. We kept going on dates until suddenly, we were dating. At least, I think we are. He really doesn’t call me a girlfriend, and we are both busy, so spending time together doesn’t happen much. Especially not time without Bailey. It didn’t bother me either way. I could go out to dinner when I needed out of the house, and he didn’t seem to care if I went days without responding to him.

The girls kept talking. From the wedding to Carly’s pregnancy, the conversation moved with ease, but Kye’s words still bothered me.

“Could I have Kye’s number? I want to check on Bailey,” I asked all of them, hoping no one would interrogate me. I should have known better. The girls would have a thousand questions, but they were all apparently going to wait. Carly was silent as she opened her phone and slid it over with Kye’s number already up.

Daisy

Do you really think I’m a bad parent or something?

Kye

Daze?

Daisy

Yes

Kye

Why would you think I think that?

Daisy

Because of what you said about me calling her a problem, I don’t think she’s a burden, but I just want people to know she’s a lot.

Kye

I do not think you are a bad parent. Not at all.

Daisy

Then why say that?

Kye

Because I was always told that. Constantly. The words are so burned in my brain and no, I’m not comparing you to my parents, but the words sound the same to a kid.