“What?”

“I just want you to be happy, and it looks like you’re doing what you always do and trying to please other people instead of making sure you are happy.”

“You don’t know what is going to make me happy.”

“No, but is being paraded around by Mark and your dad really what you want? Does he know you’re pretending?”

She shrunk back. “Maybe I’m not–”

“Does he know? Is this like what we did? You pretend to date and each gets something out of it. Is that what this is?”

“No,” she said, taking a deep, shaky breath and looking away. “No, it’s not like that.”

“Then what’s it like?”

“I don’t know. We are dating, Kye. He takes me out, I go along, he wins his Sheriff stuff, and then…”

“Then? You ride off into the sunset together? You get married? Have a family? Then, what?” I asked. I could hear my temper rising in my voice and feel it in my chest. I wasn’t trying to get upset. When I walked over here, I thought I was going to keep my cool, but now I was learning that she wasn’t actually interested in the guy she was dating.

“Does he know?” I asked.

She gave a half-hearted shrug with one shake of her head.

“Daisy.” This time it really did sound like I was scolding her.

“Kye!” she said, matching my tone. “You have no room to judge my life. You walked out of it. You don’t get to throw your judgment at me the moment you walk back into it. I have to go.”

I took three steps until I was only inches from her. “You are amazing, Daze. Perfect exactly the way you are, and you do not need to be paraded around for other people’s benefits like that just so they think you are a good girl and staying out of trouble.”

“Isn’t that what we did? Didn’t you like that I was seen as a good girl, and you used it to your benefit?”

I smirked. “Didn’t you like that I was seen as trash who would fight anything that moved, and you used that to your benefit?”

“I never saw you that way.”

“I know that’s a lie, but I’ll let it slide. Do you want to know the difference between what happened with us compared to what’s happening with you and Mark?”

“What?”

“First, we were both in on it. And second.” I reached out, running my fingers down her arm and wishing I could do more. “I think I fell in love with you the moment you kissed me, and I’m pretty sure you fell in love with me. We can say different, but I don’t think much of what happened between us was fake from that night.”

A speaker sounded behind her, and I could hear Mark’s voice.

“I have to go,” she said again, but moved closer.

“Alright. I’m texting you later.”

“You are?”

“I can call you if that’s better?”

“No. Texting is fine,” she said, but I could see the confusion.

Part of me did feel bad that her relationship didn’t seem to be everything she hoped for, but the other part of me was hopeful.

There might still be a chance that Daisy could love me again.

FORTYDAISY

It was ten o’clock that night before I got home, tucked Bailey in, and got into my bed. There was already a text waiting for me when I turned over and clicked open my phone.

Kye

You two get home, okay?

Daisy

Home and in bed.

My cheeks immediately flamed, and I felt so stupid. I would think I was enough of an adult to tell him that I was in bed without it having some alternative meaning. Even if it did make me a little hopeful that he would be picturing it.

Kye

Did you both have fun?

Daisy

Enough, yeah, but exhausted.

Kye

That might be good for you. Get a break for the night. You get a lot of help with her?

Daisy

Some. The crew, of course. My dad, but that’s hit or miss if I want him to.

Kye

Shocked that he hasn’t pulled me over yet.

Daisy

Give it another day or two.

Kye

You looked great today