“Good, because that goes on the list of scary things, and going anywhere alone tonight sounds like I’m setting myself up to be the dumb girl in the horror movie.”

He laughed, making sure my dress was straight before we headed back out.

“I want to say that’s not true, but with how often I think about sneaking away to have sex with you, I’m pretty sure I would be right there with you. Come on, let’s get the rest of this over with because I am already excited to get to bed with you tonight.”

FIFTYDAISY

For the third day in a row, I woke up next to Kye. His arm draped over me as he slept, and the look of him there almost made me cry. 

There was never anyone else for me. I didn’t know that there was ever a question for me if he was the one, but at twenty-one, I had given my choices away to others, letting them tell me what was right and wrong, and the war I created between us was too much for him. Too much for both of us, and it was always my fault. 

His eyes cracked open. “Are you watching me sleep?”

I smiled, moving his arm higher over me so I could get closer to kiss him.

“Yes.”

“I’m surprised. I thought I would be the weirdo creeping at you. Who would have thought that Daisy Wells would be obsessed with me?”

“I’ve always been obsessed with you.”

“My younger broken heart would beg to differ.”

“Actually, that’s what I was thinking about. I’m still sorry you were ever told to leave.”

He rolled onto his back, dragging me up against him as he looked up at the ceiling. “It’s okay now, and it was back then. You weren’t doing anything wrong. Not when you consider the circumstances. You were perfect, Daze. A good life and good prospects for life. I was a burnout mechanic who was getting into any trouble I could find. Fuck, the last night I saw you, I was about to kill your boyfriend. You were right to think there were red flags, even if you did love me.” He pulled me in, kissing my forehead. “Don’t be sorry for being smart,” he said with a laugh. “And I’m still sorry I stayed away for so long. I always thought it was the right thing to do for you.”

“And now?”

“I have tried extremely hard to grow up, and if you feel like I am no longer a walking red flag, then I hope you will stay with me. If there’s any part of you doubting it, then I guess we just won’t.”

“Depends. Are you still trying to get in trouble constantly?”

He flashed a wicked grin. “Of course, just a different type of trouble now.”

“Interesting. And I don’t have to worry about other women in your life?”

“Yeah, about that… There’s one other one.”

“What?” My heart dropped. He hadn’t mentioned a girlfriend, so I had assumed there wasn’t one, but I should have at least asked for sure. He had apparently gone out the other night, but I figured that was really just with Carly or something.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I love her, though. Speaking of which, I should go get her before she tears Quinn and Ransoms’ apartment to pieces.”

“You are terrible,” I yelled, flopping back onto the bed.

“You’re the one jumping to the worst possible conclusions.”

“You’re the one setting me up to freak out.”

He laughed. “I thought it was funny. Not that you would immediately think I had a secret wife or something. Are we hanging out for the day?”

I rolled back onto my pillow. “You know what? Just for that, I’ll let you know when you get back.”

He threw on a pair of shorts and headed out with a laugh.

I got up, dressed, and just made it to the kitchen when they burst back in. Bailey was climbing all over Kye as he laughed. 

“Bailey, you’re not a monkey, stop climbing on him.”

“It’s okay, Daze. I told her she could. She also said she makes good pancakes. I think she’s lying.”

I looked at Bailey, who smiled as she crawled up onto his shoulders. She really did move like a monkey, climbing on him and swinging around his neck with a laugh as he caught her.

“How are you fine with her using you as a playground?”

“Have to get the energy out somehow.”

I shook my head. “Come on. Pancakes it is.”

We cooked and sat down. As Bailey ate, Kye walked back over to me, pulling me in and kissing me.

“Can we go ride bikes?” Bailey asked, looking at Kye.

“Sure. How about we bike to town later and get ice cream?” She pumped her fist with a yes, something that Scout taught her that she refused to stop doing. Kye must have noticed, because he laughed. “I’m pretty sure there’s a specific noise that goes with that, Bailey.”

She did it again, letting out a whoop with it. 

“I can’t go. I have to work at two today.”

“Damn. Are you going to tell them you’re quitting?”

“Quitting? Why would I quit?”

His eyebrows furrowed. “Why wouldn’t you? Don’t you hate your job?”

“Yes, but I need money, so it doesn’t matter if I hate it or not. That’s kind of how things work in life.”

“Daisy,” he said, the tone suddenly serious. “I leave in two weeks for a race in Colorado, and then back here before leaving again for a few events. I have four of them in different cities. Not big ones exactly, but I can’t miss them. I have events booked throughout the year. I guess I shouldn’t have, but I assumed you would know that and you two would come with me?”

I almost dropped my coffee. “You’re leaving again? Why didn’t you say that before?”

“Like I said, I guess I assumed you knew that I still had to work. I just like to take off for long periods to be home before heading out again, and with the wedding, I was happy to hang around longer. But then I just guessed you two would come with me when I go. Bailey won’t be in school again until next year. Why wouldn’t you?”

“Because I have a job, a kid, a house, responsibilities?”

“A house that you don’t even want to sleep in. You hate your job, and I know damn well you would rather write, and the kid you have would come, too, and most likely have a blast. There are plenty of guys who bring their families, and she would have other kids around to play with at most stops. It’s hard to be bored at these things.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault someone broke in. I figured I would sleep there again at some point. I can’t just quit my job and write because that isn’t going to pay my bills. I will give you the last one because that daredevil of a child would probably love watching you race all the time.”