THIRTY-SIXKYE
I made it to Holt’s track late the next day. Everyone turned to watch me pull in with a small shake of their head.
“I should’ve known you wouldn’t be here on time,” Scout said.
“Listen, I overslept. Give me a break because I just got in yesterday.”
She only shook her head, the oversized sunglasses most likely hiding an eye roll.
“Miss the wedding by one second and I’m going to ruin your life.”
“Who says you aren’t already?”
She lunged, grabbing my arm as I stepped away. She only used it for leverage, though, punching me hard in the stomach.
I bent over with a grunt. The problem with Scout was she was small but knew exactly where to hit to knock the breath out of a grown man.
“Wow, I leave for fifteen minutes and you two are already fighting like children,” Carly said, but I didn’t look up, still catching my breath. “I swear, if my own kids are this bad together, I’m making you two babysit all the time.”
I finally stood up, but it wasn’t Carly who met my eyes. It was Daisy. She stood next to Carly, her eyes wide as she looked at me. Her hand adjusted nervously in Bailey’s, but she didn’t say a word.
“I didn’t know you two were coming today,” I said. She looked beautiful in another light sundress that showed off every curve of her body. I could feel the heat creeping down my spine, and I tried to ignore it.
Her chin tilted up to me, her shoulders pulled back, and I gave a soft smile, loving that some things didn’t change.
I still knew Daisy. Maybe I didn’t know everything about her life, but I knew her, and I knew she was putting on her proud face.
“Is that a problem?”
“Not even a little. I just wasn’t expecting you.”
“I am friends with everyone,” she said, the words tight but proud.
“Then you should absolutely be here.”
Without a word, Bailey took off, running to where Liam and Lily were playing off to the side.
“Alright, Scout,” Fox said, breaking the weird tension. “It’s your week. What are we doing today?”
“Everything,” she said.
“Seriously,” Ransom said. “Are we just drag racing or the circle track or dirt, what?”
“Everything,” she said with a grin. “We haven’t been here together in months and it will be a few more months until we are again. Carly ordered tons of food from the diner that Daisy and her already set upstairs. Kye brought drinks. We are set for the rest of the day.”
“And,” Chase added, grabbing her hand to pull her around the back of the nearest garage. “I have a surprise for you.”
We followed, and I was surprised to see a bunch of oversized chairs facing the garage wall.
“You got me…outdoor seating?” she asked, her eyebrows furrowed hard.
He rolled his eyes. “I mean, kind of, but I thought you might like a movie night out here with everyone instead of all of us trying to pack into an apartment tonight. I have a projector we can set up later.”
Her bottom lip pouted out as she smiled at him. “I thought I was marrying you for your money, but here you go, being all sweet again.”
They both laughed, lost to their own world with their own jokes. It was something Scout always joked about, only to remember that Chase literally gave up everything to be with her. He worked hard now, running half the business side of Carly’s diner, and being Scout’s manager basically, which only made her career take off even more.
I was lost in thought and didn’t notice Daisy heading my way until she was right in front of me.
“If me being here is a problem, we can go,” Daisy said. I looked down over the dress again, the slit up the side showing off all of one leg, and I struggled to look away.
“Why would it be a problem?”
“Because you keep giving me that look and I’m assuming you don’t want me hanging around your friends when you are home.”
My hand twitched, wanting so badly to reach up and run her hair through my fingers. “The look is probably my resting bitch face problem. I’m glad you’re here. A little surprised you want to be within five feet of me, but glad. And they are your friends, too.”
“But you get first dibs on hanging out with them.”
My smile grew and I stepped a little closer. “Is this split custody? Do I get weekends or weekdays?”
She fought the smile that was threatening to take over, but looked at me with those bright hazel eyes. She didn’t step back, and I wanted to pretend that was a good thing, but I was pretty sure it had less to do with me and more her need to always stand strong.
“Well, I’m pretty busy during the week, so weekends are better for me, but that would mean I have to leave because it is Tuesday.”
“I’m kidding, Daze. Stay. Please stay.”
“Are you sure? I–”
