In the spare room, I change into Kade’s t-shirt. The soft fabric falls mid-thigh, and a faint scent of laundry soap tickles my nose.
Sliding into bed, the events of the evening catch up to me, and I’m weighted down with exhaustion.
I need to get Kade out of my mind.
How am I supposed to do that when every time I close my eyes, he’s all I see?
twelve
CHAINS
ThefirstthingInormally do in the morning is make myself a strong, black coffee to kick-start the day. Not today. Today, I skip the hot brew and head straight for Natasha’s apartment. I tell myself it’s because I want to check on her and the baby. And I do, but if I’m honest, it’s not the only reason.
I tossed and turned all night. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was Daisy. The taste of her skin lingered on my tongue, my body remembering how she felt. How she smelled. The sounds she made. The thought of her got me so hard, I had to jerk off. Twice.
Last night, I could have had her. Done all the things I’ve fantasized about. Had her on her knees and at my slightest touch… ready. Hearing her say the words was the hottest thing I’ve ever heard.
I wanted her so bad, and would’ve gone against everything I’ve told myself about her—she’s not the type of woman you mess with for the night. I stopped because of Evan. I didn’t miss theway he looked at her. The simple touches. He wants Daisy. They may not have fucked, but it’s only a matter of time until they do.
And I won’t get in his way.
Whatever Evan wants, he can have. I’ll always put his needs first. So, if that means never touching Daisy again, as hard as it will be, I’ll live with it.
I let myself into Natasha’s apartment and hear muffled voices coming from the kitchen.
I find Evan sitting at the breakfast counter, Daisy pouring him a cup of coffee. The scene looks comfortable. Like this is their place, and I’ve walked into a moment in their lives. The only thing that doesn’t fit the scene is my t-shirt that she’s still wearing. It lands mid-thigh, showing off her lean, creamy legs. Legs I imagined over and over last night wrapped around me while I pounded into her. I shake the image from my mind.
When she sees me, her smile stiffens. Is she pissed because I left her aroused? Did she go back to her room and finish off? My cock twitches at the thought.
“Good morning. I just made coffee. Would you like some?” She isn’t going to mention what happened. Not when Evan is in the room.
“Sure.” My gaze once again drops to her legs. She must notice where I’m looking as she tugs at the hem.
“Your shirt’s more comfortable than my dress. Sally is bringing me clothes to wear. I’ll give it back then,” she explains.
“Keep it. I have plenty.” Black t-shirts are my staple.
Pouring coffee into a mug, she slides it to me and glances between Evan and me, like she’s sensing that we may need privacy, or she wants to get away from me. “Well, I’ll check on Natasha.”
“I’ll come find you before I leave.” Evan smiles at Daisy.
She nods. “Okay.” Taking her cup, she practically runs from the room.
I cup the mug in my hand and stare into the dark liquid. It’s been twenty-four years since I’ve been in the same room as Evan. The last time we spoke, he was crying, begging me not to let them take him away. The memory of his tears, the sobbing, kicking, and screaming is my recurring nightmare. At twelve, I had no control over the situation, no matter how much I argued and pleaded with the social worker. I promised I’d take care of him; I’d been doing so all his life, but they took him anyway.
If I had hidden my bruises better. If only I’d told the social worker I was in a happy home and our parents loved us, then maybe we’d still be together.
It wasn’t until I had enough money to hire a private investigator that I learned Evan getting placed in a different family was the best thing to happen to him. He was with people who loved and cared for him. A family that gave him a stable home. People who eventually adopted him. The family I got placed with was the complete opposite, and I’m grateful I was given to them and not Evan.
Even though I’ve seen photos and videos of my brother growing up. It feels surreal that we are in the same room. For years, we’ve had no contact. On one hand, with all the information I’ve received, I feel like I know him, yet on the other, I’m face to face with a stranger.
“So, you’re a doctor? Good for you,” I say to break the silence and take a seat at the counter.
“I am, but you already know that, considering you paid off my student loan.”
My head whips toward him. “How do you know that?” I kept all payments anonymous. I didn’t want him to ever feel like he owed me anything.
Evan takes a sip of coffee, then places the mug on the counter. “First, Mom and Dad’s mortgage got paid off, then my college fees disappeared, and the mortgage on my apartment wipedclean. We didn’t know if my parents had any secret wealthy relatives. It took me a while to figure it out. I was never one hundred percent certain. You just confirmed it. How did you know where I was and what I was doing?”
