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.
I get why you say it, but she might not hear it how you mean it.
Tears threatened me at the words. He was right. She wouldn’t know what I meant, and I never want her to think badly about herself.
But the kind, caring words from Kye made my heart break. Not only for him now but for the boy he had been. The one who thought he was the problem, the root of all the bad things in his life. Did he really spend days thinking he deserved what happened to him?
Daisy
Thank you
Kye
You’re fucking killing it as a parent.
Bailey is amazing.
My heart jumped, but I tried not to show it to the girls.
Daisy
I hope that means she being good.
Kye
Currently racing Liam and winning
Daisy
I don’t even know if I want to ask what type of racing. I’m almost worried she’s driving your car.
Kye
…can she reach the pedals?
Daisy
NO, KYE IT’S A JOKE
Kye
Right, yeah, of course. Maybe in a year or two?
Forget it. Fox is making some sort of car setup for Liam, so we will just make a second one.
My heart squeezed at the thought. Kye, being in my life, our lives, for another year or two sounded way too appealing. He would be gone again soon, back to his life that had him traveling endlessly and never home. He would leave, and I would be right here.
Not that I hated where I was. I was proud of it, but that didn’t mean I didn’t think about the what-ifs. Six years later, I still think about him constantly. I had too many nights laying in bed, staring up at my ceiling, wondering what life would be like with Kye there with me. I knew I had to keep my distance. I couldn’t risk Bailey getting close to him just to have him go again, but I wanted to. I wanted to go right back to the apartments and drag him upstairs to bed.
I took a deep, clarifying breath. I couldn’t, and I wouldn’t.
We wrapped up dinner. Carly going on about the diner, Ash debated on having another kid, Scout about her wedding, and Quinn about the garage, but I tried to stay quiet. Most weeks, I was relieved to be here with them, but tonight, all I could think about was getting home and trying to make it through the week without crying.
I knew I would have to spend a lot of time with Kye, and I already knew the mess I was going to be at the end of it. It was Scout’s wedding, though, and I would not bother any of them about this. I knew they would listen and probably even play buffer between Kye and I this week, but I wouldn’t make them.
I pulled my shoulders back and smiled as Carly joked about something. I could spend one week with Kye and then get back to my life.
But I knew it wasn’t just a week—it was a reminder of everything I couldn’t have. I knew this week would test my resolve, and by the end, I would be left picking up the pieces of my heart again.
One week with Kye, I repeated in my head. I could handle one hundred and sixty-eight hours with Kye before going back to my life.
