Her eyes glisten with unshed tears and a part of me fucking hates myself for being the one responsible for them. I never, ever wanted to bethe man responsible for this woman’s sadness. But the other part of me, the part that’s holding onto three years’ worth of resentment wins out. I push off from the truck and come to stand in front of her.
Her eyes remain focused over my shoulder, and it pisses me off. “Look at me, Daisy.”
She doesn’t.
Instead, she trains them back on the ground, silent tears falling freely down her face as she shakes her head.
“Why?”
She says nothing, so I push harder.
“Why won’t you look at me?”
I don’t even know why I’m wasting my time entertaining this. I shouldn’t fucking care. I don’t want to care.
But I do.
Daisy still says nothing, her eyes remaining focused on the ground and I take one final drag on my cigarette before dropping it to the floor and stomping it out with my boot.
“Tell Noah I walked home.”
I don’t wait for her reply. I don’t stop when she calls out my name. I keep walking as my blood boils with pent up rage, my pulse thundering in my ears and only once I’m far enough away from town – away fromher,do I let it out.
“Fuck!”
CHAPTER 6
DAISY
Bella and Noah bicker as they exit the bar and make their way across the gravel lot in the direction of Noah’s truck, completely oblivious to the emotional turmoil currently going on inside of me.
Noah stops first, his brows furrowing in confusion as he sweeps his eyes around the parking lot in search of his friend.
“Where’s Killian?” Bella asks, her steps faltering.
I keep my eyes on Noah as I respond. “He told me to tell you he’s walking home.”
Noah’s frown deepens. “His truck is parked at my house.”
I shrug. “He didn’t mention his truck.”
Noah sighs and unlocks his truck. “Come on. I’ll drop you two home and then go and find him.”
We don’t say anything more as we climb into the truck. The drive from the bar to our house is short but feels long as tense silence swirls around the dark cab. Lights from the town whiz past the windowsand that, combined with the alcohol and the events of the last twenty minutes make me feel dizzy, so I lean my head back against the seat and close my eyes.
The conversation with Killian plays on a loop in my brain, his familiar words threatening to drag me into the past.
***
“I’m scared, Killian.”
His deep laugh skates over my shoulder, sending shivers coasting down my spine. “Don’t be, angel. I’ll be right here the whole time.”
I look up at the horse and swallow. “What if I fall?”
“Look at me, Dais,” he says from behind me, and I turn in his arms, tilting my head back to meet his slate-coloured eyes.
He brings a hand up, cupping my face and I lean into his touch. “If you fall, I’ll catch you. I’ll always catch you.”
