“Go now or I’m calling you in for trespassing.”

He laughed but shook his head. “No one would arrest me for that, Daisy.”

“Are you saying your department is corrupt? That they wouldn’t protect me because of who you are? That seems illegal. I should call about that, then.”

“Don’t do that,” he said, the small panic in his tone making me more angry.

“Then leave.”

His face was red with anger again, but he stepped back towards his car. “Fine. I’ll give you time to get over this hissy fit, but don’t you think I will be kept from Bailey forever?”

“Why not? Maybe it’s not good for her to be around someone so angry. You thought you could make decisions for me as my father. According to you, I can make whatever choices I think are best for Bailey.”

“Daisy, I⁠—”

“Need to leave. Or you will be forced to.”

He shook his head, slamming the car door as he got in and peeled away from the curb.

I made it back to the front porch before I couldn’t go any further.

I knew Kye left so he wouldn’t get in trouble, but I didn’t realize my dad told him to leave me. I didn’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me. Why didn’t I think my dad would have played a bigger part than I expected?

I knew he would have told Kye to leave, but to leave me? To tell Kye that he would ruin my life if he stayed?

I couldn’t stop the wave of hatred for my dad — the way he thought he could run my life—but Kye was right. I was always the one going along with it.

But what now? I had built a life for myself. I had Bailey, my house, my job, and technically, I had Mark in some way. I was sure he told people we were together, and if I wanted, I was sure I could make that official.

As if he could hear me, a text came through.

Mark: Would you like to go out tonight?

Daisy: I don’t think I can. I’m exhausted and have the wedding to prep for tomorrow.

Mark: Of course. I could still take off if you needed a date?

Daisy: It’s alright. Between being a bridesmaid and Bailey, I will be pretty busy all day.

Mark: Alright. Text me when you’re free then.

I threw my phone aside, getting to my long to-do list and trying to block out every problem that seemed to be coming to light in my life.

FORTY-ONEKYE

So far, the entire day of the wedding had gone perfectly.

I had endured walking Daisy down the aisle. I assumed it was planned by the crew on purpose, but I didn’t know if it was because of the touching thing or the Daisy thing.

Either way, I was happy that, at the very least, I hadn’t had to watch her walk down the aisle with anyone else.

Now, Scout and Chase were married, the bright smile on Scout’s face making my chest hurt. Fox, Ransom, and Jax had all danced with her now, which meant it was my turn.

I stepped up behind her as she kissed Chase, who sighed. “Looks like I have to share you one more time,” he said. “Who would have thought the girl of my dreams came with four other men?” he joked. He loved to mess with her about the other men in her life, but there was no confusion that Chase was the love of her life.

We were her brothers. Family, and best friends.

She turned to me, the broad smile still plastered on her face. “Ahh, the last brother. My twin. I wondered if I’d get a dance with you.”

“This is one I wouldn’t miss.”

“Good,” she said as I pulled her closer and started dancing with me.

“Although, I really re-thought my position when you chose Fox to walk you down the aisle.”

She smacked my arm. “Don’t even start. You know why I chose Fox. He appointed himself that role years ago. The man is worse than a father sometimes. Forever stuck between father figure, brother, and best friend. I don’t call you twin because you want to be a dad figure in my life.”

“No? What do I want to be, then?”

“My annoying twin. The exact opposite of me, the same age, and somehow exactly like me.”

“I don’t think we are anything alike, Scout. And you’re a short little redhead. I don’t think we look close enough to be twins.”

“I think we are alike in all the other ways. In heart, you know? And god, have you annoyed me all my life like a twin brother would,” she said with a grin, but my heart cracked.

Scout did always annoy me like a sister, and I loved her like one, too. “Well, no annoying you tonight. I’m here to celebrate you finding Chase and somehow convincing him to marry you.”

She smacked me again. “Rude. I didn’t have to convince him of anything. What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Finding the woman of your dreams anytime soon?”

“No, I don’t think I will be.”

“Because you already found her,” she said, the words clearly a statement and not a question.

“Maybe.”

“And you aren’t doing anything about it?”

“What’s there to do? She is with someone, and why would she give the guy that left her a second chance?”

“Because you left for a good reason. And you didn’t want to. She should understand that.”

“I think she does. Maybe, she does, but that doesn’t mean she has to want me in her life. Plus, with Bailey now, she would have to be more careful who she lets in. I’m sure Mark is safe, and not a flight risk.”

Scout gagged and rolled her eyes. “And boring. The man has zero hobbies besides running after her dad and being a cop. Like zero. He doesn’t even like Bailey.”