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"Used to being the operative words. I'm a married man now, if you hadn't heard."
Daisy scoffs. "Oh please. We both know this little farce with Talia won't last." She tosses her dark hair. "You need someone who understands your world. Someone born into your world of wealth and privilege. Besides, I've missed you, Dare."
I finally turn to look at her, disgust churning my gut. "You don't know the first thing about me or my world. Not anymore." I toss a few bills on the bar and stand. "Do yourself a favor, Daisy. Stay away from me and my wife."
I stride out without a backward glance, Daisy's shrill voice fading behind me. The night air is cool and crisp, clearing the cloying perfume from my senses.
I take a deep breath, the night air filling my lungs. For the first time in a long while, my mind feels clear.
Daisy was an error. I can see that now with crystal clarity. But Talia...she's different. With her, I feel like I've found solid ground after years of drifting aimlessly at sea. Our love woke something in me that I didn't even know was sleeping.
“Where are you going?” Daisy asks. “Dare, stop.”
She reaches out and catches my arm. I rip my sleeve from her hand and continue on my way, pointedly looking at the ground in front of me.
Daisy isn't ready to let me go that easily. Though I've left the bar, she follows me, her heels sounding like gunshots on the pavement.
"Dare, you're being unreasonable," she wheedles. "Come back inside and buy me a drink."
I shove Daisy away as she tries to press herself against me, her cloying perfume invading my senses.
"Don't touch me," I snap. "You're the most awful fiancée I've ever had the displeasure of knowing. I never loved you. Not really. It was all a naive illusion in my mind."
Daisy scoffs, her eyes narrowing into slits. "Oh please, you know you wanted me. Who do you think you're fooling with this 'I love Talia' act?"
"It's not an act," I retort. "I know what real love feels like now, and you and I never had that."
"You expect me to believe you actually have feelings for that mousy little twit?" she says with a cruel laugh.
I bristle at her insult toward Talia. "Believe what you want. The only one I care about convincing is my wife."
Daisy rolls her eyes dramatically. "You two won't last a month once the shine wears off. She's just a placeholder until you realize I'm the one you really want."
She reaches for me again, but I grab her wrist tightly. "Let go of your delusions, Daisy. I don't want you. Not now, not ever again."
I release her hand and turn to leave, ignoring her sputtering indignation. I take a deep breath, the night air filling my lungs. For the first time in a long while, my mind feels clear.
Daisy was a mistake, one that I let cloud my judgment for far too long. When I look back on our relationship now, all I see is a tangled mess of mind games and manipulation.
"Dare!"
I whip my head around, my eyes searching for my brother. Daisy leans against the entrance to Herbsaint, and I see my twin come jogging up the sidewalk, his eyes sliding between us.
"And just what's going on here?"
ChapterNineteen
DARE
Ilock eyes with Burn. My twin, jogging down the sidewalk towards me, eyes accusatory. I stiffen, clenching my fists. What's he doing here?
I don't have time to wonder before a hand grasps my arm. I whirl to find Daisy at my elbow, ruby lips curved into a sultry smile.
"Change your mind?" she purrs, sidling closer. Revulsion twists my gut.
Burn is nearly at the entrance now, focused on the entrance to the bar. With a smirk, I grab Daisy and pull her against me. She gasps in surprise. Perfect.
"Burn!" I shout as he steps onto the curb. His head snaps up, eyes narrowing when he spots us locked in what must look like an intimate embrace. I don't give him a chance to react before I add, "You'll never believe what Daisy just said. Unless I am very mistaken, she's making a pass at me."
