“Just let him be. He’ll calm down,” Clay said, pulling me back from the door. I turned on him and gave him a dark look.
“Look, Clay. Daniel is my friend. He’s pissed off and drunk. He needs me right now.” I found my gloves in my coat pocket and tugged them on.
Clay grabbed my arms. “Well, I need you too. Doesn’t that count for something?” he asked me angrily. Was he serious? How could he make this all about him?
I wrenched away from him. “Stop being a selfish prick. My friends need me right now. I would hope you’d understand that. But if you don’t, well—fuck you,” I ground out, before leaving him to find Daniel.
chapter
sixteen
ifound Daniel down by the lake, sitting on a bench as the snow fell around him. He hadn’t put on a coat, so he was shivering from the cold. “You’ll freeze out here, you idiot,” I said, coming to sit beside him.
Daniel was still a little wobbly, but he moved over to make room for me on the bench. “What the hell was that? Was she serious? Because I had no clue she felt that way,” he bit out angrily.
I touched my shoulder to his in support and took his hand. “Danny, Rachel loves you. I meanlovesyoulovesyou. I’m not sure I should even be telling you this, but I can’t stand aside and watch the two of you hurt each other over and over again. So, now you know how she feels. What are you going to do about it?” I asked him.
Daniel hung his head. “I don’t know. This is insane. I’ve known Rachel since we were babies. I just never thought she felt that way about me.” He shook his head.
“Well, I guess the question is, Do you feel that way about her? I know she’s your friend. The three of us have been attached at the hip for a long time. But there sometimes comes a point when things change. And that can be a really good thing, Daniel.” I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and hugged him close.
“I’m really messed up right now. I can’t think.” He gripped his head with his hands like he had a headache. “Our friendship is really important to me. I don’t know if I can ruin that.” He sounded vulnerable and I leaned over to kiss his cheek.
“Well, maybe for now, you just need to go in there and talk to her. Sort through your shit. Because I can’t play middleman between the two of you much longer. It’s exhausting.” I rubbed the back of his neck, trying to soothe him.
“You’re pretty damn fantastic, Mags,” Daniel said, smiling his sad, drunk smile.
“Yeah, I know,” I quipped, letting him pull me into a tight embrace, his hand coming up to stroke my hair. We stayed like that for a while, hugging each other. Daniel seemed to cling to me like a lifeline. He pulled back finally and patted my cheek.
“You’re right. I should go talk to her. This has gotten out of control.”
I grabbed his other hand and squeezed. I gave him a nudge. “Okay, well, go on,” I urged.
Daniel got to his feet. “Wish me luck. If you hear my screams, know she’s trying to kill me and come help. Okay?” Daniel was joking, of course, but I could see how nervous he was.
“Sure,” I said, smiling.
After Daniel left, I sat on the bench a while longer. It was then I felt a strange prickle at the back of my neck. Turning around, I could see Clay’s dark form in the shadow of the trees.
“Clay?” I called out. He didn’t answer me, just stood there watching me. I got up and walked toward him, my stomach dropping at the look on his face.
Great, he was mad again.
“How long have you been out here?” I asked, shoving my hands into my pockets. His eyes met mine.
“Long enough to see your touching little interlude there,” he spat out with disgust. I lifted my hands in the air and huffed.
“Of course you’d say that. Because apparently all I do is go behind your back with other guys. I mean, thatiswhat you’re accusing me of, right?” I said bitterly, moving around him to go back in the house.
Clay grabbed my arm. “Well, if the shoe fits,” he said coldly. I whipped around and got in his face.
“Well, I’m not the one out here like a damn stalker! Daniel is my friend, you moron! I’m through explaining myself to you!”
I ran back into the cabin and went straight upstairs.
Clay was right on my heels. “Maggie, stop. Please.” I could hear the change in his voice. He sounded worried; panicked, even.
“If it wasn’t snowing, I’d tell you to take me home. This is ridiculous! You’ve been an asshole all evening. I’ve had enough of your irrational insecurities!” I yelled at him as I ripped off my coat and threw it on the floor.
