It wasn’t what I was expecting him to say, but from the day I met Kye, he was always ready to help me. I guess a lot of things didn’t change. “Why would you offer that?”

“Because I have time, and you don’t. Plus, I never mind seeing you or her. I’ve also heard that you’re stubborn about the crew helping you.”

“It’s not their responsibility to help me.”

“No, but they still like to.”

“It’s also not your responsibility.”

“No, but I want to.” He stepped closer now, handing me the bag and holding on to my hand as he did. “I’ve missed you,” he whispered.

A sheriff’s car pulled up behind his, parking along the curb and leaving me no chance to tell him how much I’ve missed him, too.

“Dad or Mark?” he asked.

I stepped back, knowing that it didn’t matter who it was, neither of them would like how close we were standing.

“Dad,” I said, the tightness in my chest giving me no relief.

“Daisy. Kye. What are you doing here?”

Kye only smiled and rolled his eyes. “Delivery for the wedding.”

“Yeah? Along with bothering Daisy?”

“He’s not bothering me. Would you knock it off?” I asked.

“She’s dating Mark now, you know?”

My mouth dropped open, but Kye laughed. “Oh, I know it. I’ve heard all about it. Don’t worry, Sheriff. I’m just dropping off a dress for the little Bee.”

“The little Bee?” my dad asked, the edge of anger not hidden.

“Bailey,” I said.

“Oh, I got that, but I wanted to know why he suddenly knows Bailey enough to have nicknames.”

“Because he’s watched her for me.”

My dad’s eyebrows shot up, and I could see the angry red color coating his face.

Kye leaned down, whispering to me like he always used to. “Do you want me to stay or go?”

“I think going would save you a lot of trouble,” I said. “It’s alright. I’ve dealt with him enough. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I’ll see you then. Like I said, Daze, text me if you need anything. And I mean anything.”

I smiled as he waved to my dad. I was pretty sure Kye really meant anything. From burying bodies to giving me orgasms. I couldn’t think of one thing that Kye would deny me.

“Why the hell are you letting that boy look after my granddaughter?”

“That boy is very much not a boy anymore, Dad.”

“Daisy!” he scolded.

“I mean, he’s a capable adult who helped me the other day instead of having Daisy sit with me at the diner. He had already watched her when Fox had Liam and her for the night. Relax. Bailey loves him.”

“I don’t care who Bailey loves. She would love a stranger if they gave her a bar of candy. It’s your job to keep her safe and only let the right people watch her.”

“And Kye did amazing!” I yelled. “She’s completely happy, healthy, and safe. I’m doing my job, and I would like you to stop insinuating I’m not.”

I didn’t stand up to my dad much. Not that he was violent or anything, but it usually just didn’t feel like it was worth the effort. Falling in line and avoiding conflict was always easier, but I really couldn’t take this today. I still had work today and need to get ready for the wedding tomorrow. I was a bridesmaid, which meant I was getting up as early as possible to be there for Scout. The girls had welcomed me with open arms to their group when I needed them. Even now, they were always there for me. I wouldn’t let her down by missing a second of her day.

“I told that boy to leave you alone, and he said he would. Why the hell is he here to ruin your life again right as you’re on track?” he said, looking down the road at where Kye’s car had disappeared.

“You’ve seen Kye lately?”

“No. Mark told me he was back, but I thought we were in agreement of him leaving you alone to live your life. He’s trouble, Daisy. He’s going to bring trouble around and try to ruin your life all over again.”

In the pit of my stomach, I already knew what he was saying, but the words took longer to register.

“When did you tell Kye to stay away from me?”

“You already know when. Back when he tried to kill your boyfriend.”

“Dean was my ex-boyfriend at the time. Kye was my boyfriend. Is that why Kye left that night? You told him to leave me?”

“I told him staying would ruin not only his life, but yours and his friends’. I wasn’t lying, Daisy. Dean could have gone after him, and you, and his friends. I was protecting you from a life living with that mess of a boy. And I told him that. He was no good for you, and he needed to realize that. I thought he had, but he looked more than comfortable there with you now.”

“Who I’m comfortable with is none of your business. I can’t believe you did that. I can’t believe you thought you could make decisions for me like that. For him!”

“I did what I thought was right as your father.”

“Get out,” I said through gritted teeth.

“I came to see Bailey.”

“You are not welcome here right now. Leave.”

“You can’t keep her from me.”

“I’m her mother. I can do whatever the fuck I want. Leave!”

“You aren’t her mother, Daisy, you are her aunt, and you need to stop acting like you aren’t.”

“I have raised her since she was a baby. I can call myself her mother while telling her about Willow. Would you rather her have no mother?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”