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Her chest deflated. “You know I can’t.”
“I know you won’t.”
She swiped away her tears before straightening her back and collecting her things. “Look, we’re bound to end up breaking each other’s hearts anyway, so let’s not drag it out. It’s better to remain friends—for Flynn’s sake.”
Anger vibrated through my being. “I can’t be friends with you, Daisy. That’s always been the problem with us. It’s not enough. It’s never going to be enough.”
Her anguished eyes held mine before she pushed past me. “It has to be.”
“Daisy, please. I lov—”
A sob burst from her mouth as she spun around. “Don’t say it!” Her chest rose up and down in quick succession before her final words destroyed me. “I’m not letting you turn this down, even if it tears me up inside.”
“Daise…” Her name felt like my last breath as she disappeared out of the cabin and, seemingly, my life.
14
DAISY
The next few months were torture.
With Flynn’s help, I made sure I wasn’t home when Ethan came to pack up his things. He wanted Ethan to take the job as much as I did, so I refused to let him anywhere near me. It was easier this way. If I didn’t see him, I couldn’t beg him to stay. God knew I wanted to, and God knew he would have, but the timing wasn’t right for us. I didn’t want him resenting me for missed opportunities, especially one so special. I just wished it didn’t hurt so damn much.
Thankfully, my brother moved back home, but I sensed he was delaying his travel plans for me. He had no job or purpose back in Oceanside and extremely itchy feet. It wasn’t in Flynn’s nature to sit still. He fixed every broken thing he could find or tinkered until something broke. It was driving me crazy and only adding to the ache in my heart, because instead of Ethan, it was Flynn I was holding back.
“You should call him,” my brother said after I’d dished out his breakfast. He’d just returned from his morning surf and was dripping everywhere.
My head shot up as I mopped up the puddles beneath him. “Why?”
He swallowed his first mouthful of omelette. “Because you’re mopey as fuck and depressing to be around.”
“I am not,” I uttered with my hands perched on my hips.
“I’ve put on ten pounds since living here. You haven’t baked this much since Mom and Dad died.”
I gazed around the kitchen and let out a dejected sigh. There were containers of cookies and cakes everywhere. “Well, even if I wanted to, he doesn’t have a cell phone, remember?”
“He does now.” Flynn snatched my phone off the table. “And this is his number.”
My mouth gaped as he held out the porthole to Ethan. “Why would you do that?”
“I figured this thing between you two would fizzle out after a few months, but after visiting Ethan last weekend, and living with your miserable ass, I realized this isn’t going away. If anything, it’s getting worse.”
“He’s sad too?” I asked, desperate to know how he was doing. I missed him so much.
Flynn held up his hands. “No, no…you’re not using me as a middle man anymore. You have his number. Call him.”
I stared at my phone. “And say what?”
“Whatever you’re feeling.”
“I can’t do that over the phone.” There was too much to say.
“Then do it in person.” Flynn picked up his phone and began typing. “I’ll buy you a ticket right now.”
I gasped. “You want me to fly over there? To New York?!”
“I want you to face your feelings, Daisy.” His worried gaze met mine. “The nightmares are getting worse.”
