My chest is so tight that each breath takes force.
Ryke steps forward. “I love women and care about them more than you even fucking realize, Lo. But I saw my mother turn callous from that divorce. I say things that I shouldn’t because I stopped giving a fuck what people thought of me. I stopped trying to play the doting son—the role that that girl is going through right now. And it’s fucking killing me to watch it happen.”
I’m assaulted with so many emotions that I almost can’t see straight. I just keep nodding, trying to understand his point of view, trying to get it. “I need some space…” to think.
“I can’t leave you alone like this.” Ryke breathes heavily, and he hesitates to put a hand on my shoulder. If he sets one finger on my body, I’m going to jerk away. I’m so full of hate, resentment, and blackness—everything that normally sends me right to a bar.
“I’ll go back to the room with Daisy,” I say. “You go find Melissa. You know, that girl that you came here with.” I don’t want to butcher him anymore, but it’s so easy to cut people, especially my brother.
Ryke takes the hit, not moving one inch. “You almost made Daisy cry. You really want to spend time alone with her?”
“It’ll give me a chance to apologize,” I say. “Either you take that scenario or I’m walking out of here on my own.” My hands shake, and I clench them into fists. Ryke would never leave me alone right now. I want to relax. To sit at a bar and just float away.
Ryke motions to Daisy, and she jogs over. When she stops by his side, he says, “Don’t let him drink.”
“Okay.”
He hesitates before heading farther down the beach. We walk towards the resort in a heavy silence that weighs on my chest.
“I’m sorry,” I end up muttering while we wait for the elevator.
“No, don’t be,” Daisy says. “You were right. What I did—it was wrong. Sometimes I just forget about money. I’m going to try to be better about it.”
“Yeah, but I do it at times too. And I’m not your dad. I shouldn’t be lecturing you.” Or anyone.
She smiles. “It’s nice to know you care.”
We stop on our floor and she walks in front of me, leaving me to think about that.
I do care. Is that because I’m sober or is it just because things have changed? I wish I knew.
Daisy waits by the door, and she suddenly pales with worry. “Are you going to tell Lily?”
She’ll ask me what’s wrong as soon as I get inside. We’ve been around each other enough to pick up body language, and mine says I’m losing my shit. I hadn’t intended on lying to her. “Yeah,” I say, “but I don’t think she’ll be mad.”
“Really? Because I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lily in beast mode, like Rose’s eternal setting, and I’ve always been kind of scared to see that.”
I smile as I try to recall an angry Lily. She does kind of look like a little monster, but I find it more adorable than frightening. “You’ll be fine.”
I don’t know if Daisy thinks I’m actually this upset just because of the bartering, or if she realizes I caught onto her flirting with Ryke, both at fault, I believe. But I will never have that conversation with her. Lily can handle her sister, and I’ll handle my brother.
Daisy lets out a breath of relief before edging out of the way. I slide in the keycard, and we enter the room.
Rose refolds clothes on the nearest bed while Connor organizes various bags that surround the room. Between what Daisy brought and now what Rose purchased, I think we’ve officially clothed seven people for the week.
“How was the run?” Connor asks.
“Hot,” Daisy says.
I scan the room for Lily, unable to find her, and then I look through the glass door to the patio. She’s curled up on a chair, her legs to her chest, watching the birds or something.
I move towards the door, and Connor suddenly blocks my exit like he wants to have a conversation. All I really want to do is talk to Lily. I need to know if she knew about Ryke and Daisy’s… Jesus, I don’t even know what to call it.
“What?” I snap.
Daisy focuses on us, filled with curiosity, and this causes Rose to pat her mattress. “Daisy, come help me fold,” she insists.
Daisy answers her sister’s call—reminding me of what Ryke said about her. And I cringe a little, not wanting Daisy to be affected by her mother. All these girls have complexes, and I can see how most people would get one just from the freedom of our lifestyle and the pressure to maintain it. I feel like we’re all a little fucked up in our own right.