Safe with Daddy (Bad Daddies) by Evie Clark

Author:Evie Clark [Clark, Evie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-22T16:00:00+00:00

9

Cassidy

N ormally, birthdays are the worst for me, but when I wake up on Saturday, I feel myself more excited than I’ve ever been. My whole life, my birthday was a day of mourning. After a lackluster celebration at the house, Mom would pack me up in the car and we’d head to the cemetery, where we’d spend a long time in silence. Eventually she’d send me back to the car, and as I walked back, I would always hear her crying.

It was like a dam broke, and all of her emotions could finally spill free, washing away anything in their path. Part of me felt guilty. Had I been born a day later, when the roads weren’t icy and Dad wasn’t fighting against traffic to get Mom to the hospital, none of this would’ve happened. He’d be here. My birthdays wouldn’t end with the sound of Mom crying somewhere deep in the house, locked away.

When I was little, I never understood her pain, but now that I’m older and I’ve experienced love, I get it. I can empathize with her, because I would never want to lose Bryce or Grace or any of the Outlaws. It would be as if my heart were ripped from my chest, and though the pain was enough to kill me, I’d continue living on, aching, hollow.

I never thought I’d have a birthday that didn’t make me feel depressed.

But like with all things since I’ve moved in with Bryce, today is better. Today is different. I’m not afraid of my mother’s cold, detached stare as I laugh and blow out my candles. I’m not dreading the trip to the cemetery to see Dad.

Instead, I find a bouquet of flowers beside my pillow with a note wrapped around the stems. I unroll the paper and smile to myself.

“Happy birthday, beautiful. I hope it’s not too cheesy, but roses are my favorite, and I figured you’d like them. This is the first of many birthday surprises me and the Outlaws have in store for you. By the way, you might want to head downstairs. There’s something else for you, too. I’ll see you soon, babe.

XOXO, Bryce.”

“Fucking cheeseball,” I groan, though I don’t mean any bit of harshness in my voice. I never would’ve thought someone like Bryce, that towering, massive man with his icy blue eyes and his deep, rumbling voice, would have such a soft spot. I saw it with Grace, and that made complete sense, but with me…

I don’t know. I don’t want to put myself down on my birthday. That can wait until later.

Rather than debating with myself whether or not I deserve Bryce’s affection, I climb out of bed and take a quick shower, changing into a pair of denim shorts and one of Bryce’s oversized flannel shirts. I pull on my boots, then hurry downstairs to catch up with the other guys.

Miguel is working the bar, his chin held up by his hands as he stares at the television. It’s a

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.