AllFreeNovel
Share Us
After that, I was passed from person to person. Food was shoved into my hands, and Whitney Mae made sure my plate was never empty. Everyone sat around me, sharing stories and tall tales. There was barely a minute without laughter. Even Reed had managed a smirk or two.
I ended up beside him when I went to toss my plate in the garbage. “Is that track ready to send me?”
He looked at me with a pinched expression. “Why were you an alcoholic?”
“I, uh…I thought the story was I’m a gym bro.”
He clucked his tongue. “That might work with the little kids, but I’m not stupid. I hear things.”
“Right.” I nodded, suddenly queasy. I’d gotten this kid to admire me, to think I was sort of cool. The last thing I wanted was for him to know how boringly fallible I was. “I can’t say for sure why I’m an alcoholic. Genetics has something to do with it. Growing up in an environment where alcohol was constantly flowing contributed. When I got older, I felt like I had to be trashed to be interesting. I used my alcoholism as a reason for my failures instead of facing the real problem: me. A lot of reasons, none stronger than the rest.”
His mouth had fallen open sometime around my second reason. “Whoa. I didn’t expect you to be that honest.”
“I don’t have a reason to lie to you, kid. If you ask me a straight question, I’m going to give you as straight an answer as I can.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, kicking some rocks by his feet. “I guess all those reasons made it hard to get sober.”
“Yeah,” I sighed. “Didn’t think I’d be standing here. Never thought anyone would throw me a one-year party.”
“That’s Daisy.” He looked up at me, the confusion fleeing his expression. “She knows what’s important. That’s why she’s always after me. Showing me I’m not alone. Guess she’s doing that for you too.”
“Guess she is. Aren’t we the lucky ones?”
I glanced at Daisy on the other side of the patio, bouncing baby Joey on her hip. She looked stunning and happy. My gut twisted with what I now recognized as longing for her. She had to stop being so goddamn wonderful or I would never get over her.
A couple hours later, the party was winding down. Daisy was bustling around, throwing things away and stopping to chat with anyone who grabbed her.
I finally had my chance to speak to her and stepped into her path. “Daze.”
Her momentum had her stumbling into my chest, a giggle bursting out of her. “Some warning might’ve been nice.” She patted me right over my tumbling heart. “After all, you’re all buff from your year at the gym. This is like granite.”
“Daze,” I said softer now, catching her big brown eyes. “Thank you for this. All of it. Bringing everyone together, your support. I can’t—I’ve never had someone like you in my life.”
Her breath hitched. “I can say for sure I’ve never had someone like you in my life either. I feel lucky to know you. It’s my privilege to be here for your one-year anniversary and help you celebrate it.”
My throat tightened. “Good party,” I gritted out.
“Yeah,” she sighed. “Great party.”
Before I could say anything else, Saoirse called my name. Daisy backed up a step, until we were no longer touching. I turned to Saoirse, cocking a brow.
“Luca and I are heading out. Want a ride back to your car?”
“Oh, uh…” I checked back with Daisy. “You need help cleaning up?”
She shook her head. “Not at all. It’s almost done. Besides, it’s your party—you don’t clean.”
“All right.” I rocked back on my heels. “I think I’m gonna head out with them. Thank you again, Daisy-daze. I’ll always remember this.”
“I hope you remember all the people who showed up for you, Miles. You don’t have to go it alone anymore.” She pushed up on her toes and kissed my jaw, and it took all my willpower not to grab her and bring that kiss where I really wanted it.
Instead, I backed away from her, just as I’d been doing for weeks. “Goodnight.”
Her eyes searched mine then settled. “Goodnight, Miles.”
Chapter Thirty-two
Miles
