Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
I won’t let her go.
Not even for Noah.
As we reach the apartment door, I tug Daisy into my arms and brush my lips across hers. She immediately opens and my tongue sweeps inside her mouth. Everything rioting inside me calms. I never imagined there was anything or anyone who could do that, but she does. She’s a balm for my soul.
After a handful of moments, I pull back. My gaze locks on hers and searches for signs of doubt. “Are you ready for this? ’Cause after we let the cat out of the bag, there’ll be no turning back.”
I pause and give her time to reconsider. Now that a decision has been made, I’m ready to move forward. But Daisy needs to be just as certain about her feelings as I am. When she doesn’t immediately answer, nerves prickle to life at the bottom of my gut. My throat constricts, and it becomes harder to breathe.
Has she changed her mind?
Maybe now that she’s taken a good look at what I come from, she’ll want nothing to do with me.
Could I really blame her for that?
Fuck no.
But that doesn’t mean it won’t kill me.
“Daisy?” It takes everything I have inside to keep the fear from entering my voice.
Her eyes snap to mine. There’s nothing but steely determination shining brightly in them. The relief that floods through me is enough to weaken my knees.
“I’m ready, Carter.” Her brows slide together. “But are you?” She tilts her head and studies me carefully. “I’m not the one who was filled with doubts,” she reminds. “You were.”
I tug until her body is flush against mine and then kiss the crown of her head. “You’re right, I was. But as usual, you’ve blown my best laid plans to hell.”
She chuckles and swats at my chest. “Please. I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
“You are.” I sober, wanting to get this over with. “Let’s go tell your cousin what’s going on, so he can get his head wrapped around it.”
“Okay.”
With one last shared look, I unlock the apartment door and hold it open. Noah sits at the table as he types away on his computer. You can tell he’s in serious student mode because his black rimmed glasses are perched on his nose. He glances up and does a double take when he sees us. A frown settles on his face as his eyes narrow.
This afternoon started out great and then turned to shit. Somehow, Daisy and I have grown stronger because of it. Even though we’ve been hiding our relationship from Noah, I think he senses the shift as well. He leans back against his chair and folds his arms across his chest.
“Where have you two been?” he bites out.
I’ve heard him take that tone with plenty of the guys on the team. But never with me.
Daisy grinds to a halt. Her muscles freeze as she spears me with a look as if to ask if I’m sure about going through with this. I almost shake my head in exasperation.
How can she doubt me after everything we’ve been through today?
I grab Daisy’s hand and thread my fingers through hers, locking us together in a show of solidarity.
Noah inhales a sharp breath. “What the hell—”
“Daisy and I have been seeing each other.” I brace myself for the fallout, aware that I’ve broken bro code.
The longer he remains silent, the more jacked up I get. My nerves have already been shot to hell from dealing with my parents. But Daisy is worth it. I straighten to my full height as my resolve strengthens.
Instead of losing his temper, Noah slaps his thigh and stabs a finger in my direction. “Holy shit! For a moment there, you almost had me.”
I give Daisy a bit of side eye.
She shrugs as if to say I don’t know what to make of this, either.
“Dude, I’m serious.” I clear my throat. “Daisy and I have been seeing each other.”
That statement has him doubling over with laughter. He wipes the moisture from his eyes. “Nice try! You two can barely stand to be in the same room together.” He howls with laughter. “You hate each other!”
That was never true. It had more to do with self-preservation than anything else and I regret every damn minute of it.
When Noah doesn’t get himself under control, my patience snaps. I was expecting anger, not flat-out disbelief. For fuck’s sake, the idea of us being together isn’t that farfetched.
“Things have changed, bro,” I grit out. “This isn’t a joke. Daisy and I are together and wanted you to be the first to know.”
I’m not sure if it’s the look on my face or the seriousness of my voice, but all at once, Noah straightens. The laughter dies as he stares at me with wide eyes. “The fuck you say!”