Tanner. Eve’s heart raced. When Dylan spoke again, ice dripped from every word.
“I won’t you let take Daisy.”
Eve swallowed a gasp.
“She’s my daughter,” Tanner said. “I want her to live with me.”
“I understand,” Dylan said. “She’s a wonderful little girl. You can’t help but love her. But—”
“I have a job,” Tanner rushed on. “A friend from law school hired me at his firm. The pay is good, and the hours are reasonable. Mom agreed to let Daisy and me move in with her.”
“You already talked to Mom?” Dylan scoffed. “You son of a bitch.”
“I needed her on my side,’ Tanner said.
“She always is.” Dylan sighed. “I can fight you.”
“Eventually, I’ll win,” Tanner told him. “You honestly want to put Mom and Daisy through a long, ugly custody battle?”
Eve’s fingers curled into fists. Tanner used the same argument Dylan used with her. She gave in. She prayed Dylan wouldn’t.
“Daisy should be with her father,” Tanner said, his voice calm. “I don’t want her to grow up thinking I didn’t care. I want her to be proud of me. For Daisy, Dylan. Don’t fight me.”
Eve didn’t know how much time passed. A minute? An hour? She waited, holding her breath for Dylan to answer.
“Give me a few days,” Dylan said. “I’ll find a way to make Eve understand.”
Eve stumbled to her room. She sank onto the floor. Dylan betrayed her. No. He betrayed Daisy. He caved to his brother without a fight.
“You broke your promise.” Eve rubbed her chest, wincing at the pain. “You threw Daisy away.”
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
DYLAN SEARCHED FOR Eve. They were ready to bring in the cake, but no one could remember seeing her.
“Did you check her room?” Piper asked. “Could be she needed to get away for a few minutes. Your friends can be a bit much.”
Rushing up the stairs, Dylan tapped on Eve’s door.
“Come in.”
“Here you are.” Dylan’s smile faded when he saw Eve’s old backpack on the bed. Instead of the sparkly dress, she wore jeans and a sweatshirt. “What’s going on.”
“The month we agreed upon is up tomorrow.” Eve slipped on a pair of sneakers. “I thought about leaving a note. But I wanted to say goodbye.”
“What are you talking about?” Dylan felt a burst of panic. “You can’t leave. What about me? Us? What about Daisy.”
“I heard your conversation with Tanner.” Eve shrugged. “I was on the balcony.”
“Eve—”
“I’m not angry.” She said. “I was. But the more I thought about what Tanner said, I realized he was right. Daisy should be raised by her father.”
“I would have fought for her.” Dylan ran a hand through his hair. “But—”
“Daisy is what matters. She needs her family. Tanner. Your mother. And you.”
“She needs you, too.” Dylan insisted. “She’ll always need you.”
“I’m better on my own.” Eve looked at Dylan and smiled. “The last month has been like a dream. Now, I need to wake up and get back to the real world.”
“I love you, Eve.” Dylan had to make her understand. “Please. Don’t leave me.”
“Here.” Eve handed him an envelope. She slung her backpack over her shoulder. “Read it when I’m gone.”
“You’re leaving now?” Dylan couldn’t believe his ears. “At least wait until morning. Don’t make a rash decision in the heat of the moment.”
“Goodbye, Dylan.”
“I’ll drive you.” Dylan wouldn’t budge. “Where are you headed?”
“I have a cab waiting.”
“Damn it.” Dylan grabbed Eve’s arm. “Do you want me to beg?”
“No.” Eve shook her head. “I want you to say goodbye.”
“I can’t.”
Dylan followed Eve down the hall to the backstairs. She stopped but didn’t turn around.
“Don’t walk me to the taxi.” Eve let out a long, shuddering breath. “If you do, I might cry.”
“Cry. Scream. Hit me.” Dylan willed himself not to grab her. “Anything. Just don’t go.”
For a second, a breath, Dylan thought Eve might change her mind. She sniffled, then ran down the stairs taking his heart with him.
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
“I DON’T CARE if you want to wallow. Hell, Eve broke your heart. Tanner took Daisy. You have the right to grieve.” Levi wrinkled his nose as he set a large carry-all on the ground. “But damn, son. Do us all a favor and take a shower. You reek.”
Dylan, his feet propped on the deck’s railing, looked at Levi though a pair of bloodshot eyes.
“Why are you here?”
“Piper made me come,” Levi took a seat, upwind, and shrugged. “I said we should let you be. She said after three days, I should at least make certain you weren’t dead.”
“Three days?” Dylan had lost track of time. “Tell her I’m thankful. Mission accomplished.”
“I don’t know,” Levi said. “You seem to be breathing. But you smell dead.”
“Fuck you.” Dylan slid on a pair of sunglasses. “First, go away. You can fuck yourself after you get off my property.”
“Have you eaten?” Levi took a thermos from the bag. “Of course, you haven’t. Homemade vegetable beef soup. Yum.”
Dylan considered moving into the house. After a moment, he deemed the effort more trouble than it was worth.
“In another minute, your soup will be up your ass,” he said. “Homemade enema. Yum.”
“You’ve always been an easy-going guy,” Levi told him. “Who knew getting dumped would turn you into such an asshole.”
“Levi.”
“I know,” his friend said. “Fuck off.”
“Well?” Dylan asked when Levi didn’t move.
“Give me a minute.” Levi’s expression turned serious. “I know you’re hurting. But I care too much to leave you alone. I will be here. Everyday.”
“Can’t wait,” Dylan grumbled.
“If you need someone to punch. Well, I won’t volunteer,” Levi said. “But I’ll grab Tanner.”
“Can’t.” Dylan sighed. He was tempted. “Can’t make Daisy cry. Eve would—”
“I can’t believe she left.”
“She left something,” Dylan said.
“Besides a trail of tears? Good for her.” Frowning, Levi picked up the envelope Dylan tossed into his lap. He looked inside. “What is it?”
“A bankbook.”
“Doesn’t everyone take care of their money online these days? I didn’t know bankbooks were a thing anymore.” Levi checked the name
