Chapter 14
chapter fourteen
Daisy
A few hours later, Beau and I are getting ready to take Mouse for a walk.
I’m still pissed at my brother. I’m ready to go to battle on Beau’s behalf even if our night was a one-time thing. Which I’m guessing that’s what this is. I mean judging from the fact that Beau didn’t try to explain anything to Flynn.
I finish pulling my hair up in a ponytail and then step out into the living room.
“Are you ready?” I ask.
Beau holds up Mouse’s leash. “We just have to make sure we steer clear of the corgis’ house. They make Mouse very nervous.”
I scratch Mouse’s head. “Those tiny dogs are mean to you, huh, baby? We’ll protect you.”
We make it to the door, and Beau swings it open. And my past stands there on the porch.
“Well, isn’t this domestic,” Timothy says, his posh British accent making every syllable sound pretentious and judgmental.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask.
Mouse growls, low and deep in his throat.
“Is that?” Beau asks.
“Yep.”
Beau hands me the leash. “Go inside. I’ve got this.” He steps out onto the porch.
I’m not going inside because I’m nosy as hell and want to see what’s going to happen. I don’t have anything to say to Timothy. I got all I needed when he gave me that lump sum of money and signed away his parental rights.
“I don’t believe you and I have any business, sir,” Timothy says.
“Oh, but we really do,” Beau snarls.
“I made a mistake, Daisy. Please forgive me.”
“What’s the matter, Timothy? Did your wife kick you out?” I ask.
“I just want another chance with you,” Timothy pleads.
I look him up and down and wonder what the hell I ever saw in him. Once upon a time he’d been charming and handsome and so romantic. But it had all been a charade.
“You don’t deserve another chance,” Beau says, his voice is low and deadly. “You don’t even deserve to look at her, let alone breathe the same air as her.”
“Oh, and I suppose you think you deserve her?” Timothy asks Beau.
“No. I know I don’t deserve her. But I also know that no one will take care of her the way I will. No one will ever love her and her baby the way I will.”
I think my heart stops beating. He doesn’t mean that. Right? I mean he’s just saying that to Timothy to make him go away.
“That is not your child,” Timothy says.
“It’s not yours either, motherfucker,” Beau says. “Since you already signed your rights away.”
“Daisy, can you call off your beast?” Timothy asks.
“I don’t think I will,” I say. “I’m rather enjoying this.”
“Does this man speak for you?” the sperm donor asks.
“I said everything I needed to say to you back in London. We have nothing to discuss.” I put my hand on my stomach, trying to protect my daughter from hearing anything out of Timothy’s mouth. “I am not your concern. My child is not your concern. I can’t imagine why you would have spent the money to fly yourself all the way to Texas for this ridiculous display.”
“Backwater state,” Timothy murmurs.
“You had your chance with her. You threw it away,” Beau says. “I should kick your ass up and down this street. But I think your pencil dick and that nasal-quality of your voice is probably punishment enough.” He takes a step towards Timothy. “Now get the fuck off my property.”
“Do not contact me again,” I say. “Or I’ll be forced to take legal actions.” I have no clue if that’s even an option, but it sounds good in that moment.
Timothy opens his mouth like he’s going to say something, but Beau takes another step towards him. “Whatever it is you think you need to stay, don’t. Just walk to your fancy town-car and go back where you came from.”
There’s a pause and then the sperm donor turns and stalks to his car without another word.
We stand in silence as the black sedan drives away.
I’m not sure what to say to Beau now. Do I tell him I know he wasn’t making promises or declarations, that he was only protecting me?
Finally, Beau turns to face me. “You alright?” he asks.
I nod.
“I could’ve kicked his ass, but I figured you’d prefer I not be violent.”
“Probably best that way. Though if anyone ever deserved an ass kicking...”
“I’d wager he got a few growing up,” Beau says with a smirk.
That makes me smile.
He steps closer to me. “So I need you to know,” he starts.
I brace myself for him to admit that he was just saying things that sounded good in the moment.
“I realize that just because I’m choosing you doesn’t mean you’re choosing me in return,” he says. “I’ve never done anything like this before, and I fully admit I have no idea what I’m doing. But I do know, with a certainty in my bones, that I will never not want you. I will never stop hoping that someday maybe you’ll feel a fraction for me of what I feel for you.”
I look up at his beautiful face and smile. “What are you saying, Beau?”
“I’m saying that I know it’s fast and I can’t make any sense of it, but I know what I feel. I’m in love with you, Daisy Harrington. I don’t ever want to be away from you from this day forward.”
He closes the distance between us, but instead of kissing me, his hands go to my bump.
“I’m saying that I have no idea how to be a father since the only one I ever knew did nothing but mark my body. But I’m a fast learner, and once I’m dedicated, I’m all in. No looking back. No regrets. I love both of you, and I’d be so fucking honored if you’d let me be a part of y’all’s lives.”
I cup his face. “Of course I choose you, you beautiful, sweet man.”
“Well, fuck,” Flynn’s voice comes from behind Beau.
I was so lost in Beau’s admission that I didn’t even hear my brother and Temple arrive.
Beau spins to see his friend.
“I can’t very well beat on you after an admission like that.” He steps forward, using those extra few inches he has on Beau’s height. “Just promise me you meant it.”
“Every fucking word,” Beau says.
“Babe, I think you’re ruining their special moment,” Temple whispers not so quietly from behind Flynn. She looks around my brother’s stupid body and gives me a wink.
“I thought I was going to have to kick his ass,” Flynn says.
“You still can,” Beau says. “I mean I did pursue her. I convinced her to foster Mouse and ended up getting her evicted from your cabin.”
“What do you mean she fostered Mouse?” Flynn asks. “That’s your dog.”
I look up at Beau, brows raised. “That explains so much about Mouse’s behavior.”
“Sorry I lied, Little Mama. But you stood on that sidewalk and told me you were afraid of being by yourself and weren’t sleeping. It was the only thing I could think of. I knew you wouldn’t just take my dog.”
I throw my arms around his neck and pepper his face with kisses. “That’s the sweetest thing ever. I love you too, you know.”
“Yay, happy endings all around,” Temple says.
“Wait, does this mean I’m evicted from my cabin?” Flynn asks.
“We’ll figure it out,” Temple says, grabbing his hand. “Life is an amazing adventure.”
“A very unexpected and wonderful adventure,” I say, looking up into the eyes of the man I love.