“I shouldn’t have done that.”
“It’s fine,” I say at the same time.“We both just got caught up in the moment.”
“Right.Adrenalin, it makes you either wanna fuck or fight.Sometimes both.”
I stand, but our chairs are so close together that I almost wind up knocking him out with my pregnant belly.West gently puts his hands on my abdomen, as if to keep me from falling.Too late, I guess.My eyes prick and there’s a rather inconvenient lump in my throat I can’t swallow around.I step out of his reach, doing my best to avoid looking at him, or worse, having him see me cry.
“Dais—”
“We need to fix your hand, mister.”I waddle toward the bathroom at a clipped pace, much more energetic than I actually feel right now.My eyes are brimming with tears and I’m not even sure why.
Please don’t follow me.Please.But West is not a mind reader.
“Daisy.”
“I just need a minute to grab the first aid,” I say, hurrying for the bathroom.
“My hand is fine.Will you just stop and talk to me.”
I wave him away.“It’ll just take a second.”
“It’s not my blood,” West says.I stop and turn toward him.“Besides, I’ve known toddlers who hit harder than your husband.”
“Ex,” I correct.West raises his brow.“Or soon to be, I hope.After today, I’m going to find a good lawyer and have them read over those damn papers before I sign them.He served me a couple weeks back, and I’m not sure why I haven’t signed them yet, but I don’t want him taking any part in my baby’s life.”
“I don’t blame you.People like Fast Eddie are only looking out for number one.I don’t think this baby is gonna be coming to him for life advice.”His gaze bores into mine.“Now, are we done talking about Eddie, because I’d much rather talk about what just happened between us.”
“We just got—”
“Caught up.You said that already.”
“I can’t ...I have a baby.”
The corner of his mouth turns up in a lopsided smile.“Yeah.Kinda knew that already too.”
I press my fingers against my lips, swollen and puffy, still warm from his kiss.“West ...I ...I’m raising a baby alone.”
“You’re not alone.You’ve got me.”His voice wavers as he said that last word, so I look up into his eyes as I wrap the bandage around his hand.“Whatever that looks like for you.Whatever you need from me, just say the word.”He studies my handy work and then sighs deeply.“Besides, you do realize you’re an honorary Winchester now?You’ve got all of us, whether you like it or not.”
“I like it,” I whisper, tears finally spilling down my cheeks.
West smiles and his gaze drops to my mouth again.His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows and when he leans in, my heart starts beating out a staccato drumbeat.His lips part.I close my eyes as he leans in ...and presses a kiss to my forehead.I swallow down my hurt, my longing, and my humiliation.West cannot see any that because one kiss is a perfectly acceptable accident, but two would certainly ruin the friendship.
Another beat and he pulls away, and I want to beg him to kiss me, to touch me, but I don’t.Instead, I ask, “Will you spend the night?”His eyes go wide, and I hurry to correct him, “In case Eddie comes back.”
“I’ll stay forever if it’ll make you feel safe, Dais.”
“Thank you,” I say through a throat tight with tears.I snuggle in against him, even though I know it’s not fair.It’s too much to ask of him, but I can’t help it.I need him.I want him.I just can’t afford to ruin our friendship, because he’s the one true friend I’ve got.Besides Hadley, he’s theonlyone I’ve got, and I’ve never been more aware of that fact than I am right now, curled into him, as he presses a tender kiss to my hair.
