2. Daisy
***Daisy***
Before I could process Wes’ words Hank took off running towards the house with the kids squealing and chasing him. “Is the door open?”
The panic in my voice alarmed the brothers but they didn’t move fast enough. I grabbed Rat’s arm and tugged him along with me as I hoped and prayed Hank didn’t eat anything before I found him. “Come on, kid. We still need to figure out what we’re doing about your mini car.”
“You’re not doing anything about it,” Wes called after me.
I pretended not to hear him.
Hank was in the kitchen on his back, licking his lips while the kids stared at him in awe. The dog looked pleased with himself, which was never a good thing.
“He just swallowed it.” Hazel sounded slightly horrified and slightly impressed.
“Swallowed what?” I looked around and was taken aback by just how dirty the place was. I’d only visited on holidays with Tyler but I’d never taken the guys for people who’d live in a mess. Maybe Flynn, but not Wes or Max. Yet, the house was just as chaotic as the kids.
“The chicken!” Charlie hopped in place. “He opened his mouth and then the chicken was gone! It was so cool!”
“What chicken?” I let go of Rat to move farther into the kitchen. “What kind of chicken did he inhale?”
Flynn’s amused voice replied. “The kind of chicken that Wes spent the morning slow roasting.”
“That dog ate a whole chicken?” Wes glared at Hank and crossed his arms over his wide chest. “Does he need a vet?”
“Nah, man, this dog is just built different. He ate a weed cookie in the car and I googled it. Says he’s fine but it didn’t mention the munchies.
I get it, Broseph. I would kill for a whole chicken right now.
” Rat fist bumped Hank’s paw and turned to me.
“Me and the dog could be like Shaggy and Scooby. Rat and The Ears, or some shit like that.”
I had to suppress a nervous laugh. We’d just arrived and already Hank had ruined their dinner.
“Who are you?” Wes had directed his glare to Rat. “And why are you still in my house?”
Rat grinned and held his fist up to Wes. “I’m Rat. Driver by day, DJ by night. That’s my car out there that the kid smashed up.”
“Should you seriously be driving?” Wes shook his head. “Not my business. Did that dog seriously eat my whole chicken?”
I couldn’t stand the idea that I’d already inconvenienced them so I slipped into support mode.
I crossed to the sink and washed my hands and when I turned back to the people watching me I was a different woman.
In charge, in control, and in their kitchen whether they asked for me there, or not. “I’ll fix it.”
“Daisy, you don’t need to-”
I cut Flynn off with a bright smile. “I do. Rat, get my bags from outside, please. Grab my phone from my purse and plug it in, would you? Hazel? Will you show Hank the backyard? He’s going to need the bathroom very soon.
Charlie, Poppy, go with her to make sure Hank doesn’t try anything.
He tricked me into going to get his ball while he slipped back inside to poop in my suitcase last week. ”
Rat gasped. “The suitcase I’m grabbing?”
“Different suitcase.” I was already loading the dishwasher, one eye on the job and one eye on the men. “Wes, Flynn, Max, you three just do whatever you need to do. I’ve got this.”
Part of me stiffened, waiting for them to tell me to get out and to take my damn dog with me.
When no one said anything I grinned and got to work.
The anxiety still making my neck prickle made me go overboard, the way I always did when worried that someone was upset with me.
I put my head down and didn’t come up until the kitchen was sparkling clean and there was a huge dinner on the table waiting for them.
I baked for a living and genuinely loved pouring my care into baked goods I could share.
The kitchen island showed that. There were cupcakes for the kids, way too many for just three kids, all under the age of nine, and two pies for their dads.
The quick rolls smelled just as delicious as any bread I made and they were the last thing I put on the table before looking up to call everyone to dinner.
Rat and the dads were in the living room watching a baseball game and the kids were at their feet in a tight circle, whispering and pointing at Hank. Hank, who’d planted himself in Wes’ lap, despite being too big for it. Wes didn’t look happy about it.
I shook my head and ignored it. Tyler still wasn’t there, I noticed with a growing sense of dread. “Dinner’s ready, everyone. Where did you say Tyler was?”
The mood shifted instantly. Even Rat looked awkward. He nodded to the side table where he’d plugged in my phone. “You should check it. I wasn’t trying to see anything, D, but it was right there when I turned it on.”
I wiped my hands on the apron I’d dug out of the pantry and crossed the room. “Why is everyone being so weird? What is it?”
Wes cleared his throat and then growled at Hank when Hank didn’t budge to let him up. “Move, dammit.”
I shot Hank a look and he grumbled but climbed down, deciding being worshipped by the kids was worth the move. “He’s stubborn but we’re working on it.”
“Hey, kids, why don’t you guys go wash up for dinner. Aunt Daisy made something that smells good and I’m starving.”
Him sending the kids away just made the sinking feeling worse. My hands shook when I picked up the phone and I had to try twice to get the screen to turn on. The message waiting for me was worse than I ever imagined.
Tyler: Don’t come to the lake, Daisy. I won’t be there. I’m going to Europe with Brooke for the summer. It just happened. Sorry.
I let out a confused laugh, my brain working overtime to convince myself it was a joke. “He said he went to Europe with Brooke. My sister? What…”
It was the look on Max’s face that finished the gutting that Tyler’s words started. He looked embarrassed. They all knew their brother had left me.
My voice shook as I looked back down at the phone. “My sister?”
No one answered me. No one had to. They were just waiting for me to catch up to what they already knew, to what they’d known since they’d seen me fall on my face outside. Tyler had ditched our plans to spend the summer at his family’s lake house to go to Europe with my little sister.
“My sister.” I sank down on the couch next to Rat and stared out the expansive windows lining the wall facing the lake. I could see someone tubing behind a bright yellow speedboat. “Oh, God. He left me for my sister.”
Rat put his arm around me and sighed. “I knew he wasn’t right for you. I’d never break your heart, girl.”
“Kid.” Max’s deep, gruff voice cut through the rest of my control.
“Keep it in your pants, Squirrel.” Wes growled at Rat while shooting him a dangerous look.
Rat deflated. “It’s Rat…”
“Don’t care.”
The first sob sent the three dads back a step.
The horror on their faces as I lost it would’ve been funny if my heart wasn’t shattering.
I leaned into Rat and stopped trying to contain the tears.
I was sobbing on a teenager I’d only met hours earlier in the day, whom I owed a car, and there wasn’t any sign of it letting up.
Rat patted my head. “Want that cookie now, D?”