I sipped from my glass, taking the time to process his tone. Not angry, but not playful. We both had things to be angry about. We both had things to apologize for too.
“I know you’re old, but there’s this thing called text messaging nowadays. All the young kids are doing it.”
Daniel rolled his head to the side with a deadpanned glare. “You’re a fucking jokester.”
“You know how I get when I drink.”
“Well, let me get on your level. Jackson, pass that bottle this way.”
Jackson sat the bottle and a glass in front of Daniel. He also placed two waters with a cocked brow. “No fighting. I just cleaned.”
And then it was just the two of us. We both stared forward, sipping from our glasses, neither of us speaking. The silence wasn’t terrible. Daniel and I had sat in enough silences, it did most of the arguing for us. There was no need to talk.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you,” he finally said. He poured another shot and tossed it back, filling his glass again before turning to face me. I turned my head and met his serious stare. “I’m sorry I thought the worst. That was a bullshit thing to do because I know you better than I know myself and know that is the last thing that would ever happen. I was shocked, and my brain shut down. I’m the most sorry about that.”
“I know.” I didn’t want to drag it out. Yes, it hurt my feelings and was a heavy blow to handle, but it’s not like I’m the definition of level-headed either. We’ve both had our moments. “I understand. Doesn’t mean it didn’t suck hearing all that shit, but I get it.”
He slapped his hand on my shoulder and went back to facing forward. “How’s your head? Obviously, I held back on your face because you’re barely bruised.”
“Nice lump back there, and you might have cracked a rib. I guess I’m thankful you’re too weak to hurt my face.”
“Fuck you,” he laughed.
Another silence. Another drink.
It was my turn.
“I’m not going to apologize for being with Olivia because I’ve never been happier than when I’m with her. But I am sorry for how you found out. I should have told you.”
“But you didn’t, for her.”
“I love her.” I couldn’t meet his eyes when I said it. What if he didn’t believe me? What if he thought this was another fling for me and was only there to warn me off his niece? I couldn’t take seeing it on his face, so instead, I kept my eyes glued to my glass.
“I know you do.”
That had me jerking his way, but he was staring into his own glass.
“I’ve seen you changing these past few months, calming down a little from your usually rowdy ways. I’ve seen you wanting to settle down in one spot.”
“You have a problem with how rowdy I’ve been all our lives?”
“Hell, no, but I have to admit, we’re getting old, and I’m getting a little tired. And I don’t hate the idea of you being here more than you’re not.”
Laughing, I shook my head. “I never thought I’d see the day where you wanted to settle down.”
“Listen,” he said, cocking a brow. “I didn’t say anything about settling down. I still want to enjoy the variety the world has to offer. I just wouldn’t mind doing it at a slower pace.”
I tapped my glass to his, then switched out the bottle for the glass of water.
“Did you talk to her?”
I knew the answer from his heavy sigh before he spoke. “She got away too quick, and she’s nowhere to be found. Actually, I know where she is, but Oaklyn has threatened bodily harm if I showed up at their house.”
“Do you know if she’s okay, at least?”
“Oaklyn assured me she’s taking care of her. I let her know she had a couple more days before I would happily fight her to get to Olivia.”
“Let me know when you do that because I’d love to watch you get your ass kicked by a little girl.”
He glared but laughed a little too.
“What are you going to do? We can’t leave her this way. She needs you.”
“I know.” He worked his jaw back and forth. “Family dinner is this weekend, and I’m working with Oaklyn to make sure Olivia is there. She can’t avoid me forever.”
“Good. Will you—” the lump that had been buried in my throat the past few days tried to make its way back up, choking off my words. “Will you let me know she’s okay?”
He nodded, rolling his lips between his teeth. “Was I the only thing standing between you two being together?”
“I think it was the main reason Olivia held back, but I think deep down she was scared to give in completely. I know she’s been hurt once, and she didn’t want to put herself out there again.” I gave Daniel a side-eye. “Must run in the family.”