Page 74 of Ruin Me, Daddy

If Braden was surprised by his response, it only showed in the slight lifting of his eyebrows before he gestured to the plush armchairs in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”

Dropping down into a chair that was thankfully as comfortable as it looked, Ice sighed. “Look, man. I’m really sorry about last night. I know you run a tight ship at the club and you’d never put your patrons in harm’s way. I just… lost my mind a bit when Beckett called to tell me Silver was there and who she was with.”

“Because you love her.” It wasn’t a question, but rather a simple statement of fact.

“Yeah.” Ice let out a bitter laugh, his hands trembling slightly as he ran them through his hair. “More than I realized, and I already knew I had it bad. She’s all I think about, Braden. Is she safe? Is she happy? Is she making good choices? All I want is to know she’s taken care of, even if I’m not the one taking care of her.”

“Why wouldn’t you be?”

Dropping his hands back to the arms of the chair, Ice glared at his friend. “You know why.”

“I know you value your friendship with Ace, and the band you’ve built together. What I don’t know is why you’re putting all of that above your woman’s needs.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Maybe. Or Maybe you’re making it more complicated than it needs to be, because deep down you’re fucking terrified. What if you risk everything for her, and in the end, she still breaks your heart?”

There was some truth to that, more than he cared to admit, so he ignored the question altogether. “She’s my best friend’s girl, Braden. You’re telling me you’d be able to take that leap without some serious consideration?”

“You’re asking that of the man who fell in love with his best friend’s daughter?” Braden asked, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

The reminder of Braden and Lottie’s history teased a laugh from Ice. “Touché.”

Sobering again, Braden leaned forward. “I’m not saying you don’t risk losing Ace, as a friend, a brother, a bandmate. But from what you’ve told me and from what Silver has told Lottie, it doesn’t sound like he deserved her. I can’t say for certain he abused her, but it certainly sounds like he abused her trust. She deserves someone better. She deserves you.”

It was everything he’d told himself for years. And because it was, because it sounded too good to be true, he shook his head. “That’s what every lonely, lovesick asshole tells himself. The internet is chock full of incels lamenting the fact that the woman they think they love chose an asshole over them.”

“There’s one very significant difference between you and them.”

“What’s that?”

The corner of Braden’s mouth kicked up in a smirk. “You’re not a nice guy.”

It took a moment for the insult-slash-compliment to fully land. When it did, Ice threw his head back and laughed. “Yeah, I guess you’ve got me there.”

“And there’s one other very important difference you’ve missed.”

“Enlighten me.”

“Unlike those pathetic keyboard commandos, the woman you love is very much in love with you back.”

Silver

She woke to an empty bed, which wasn’t all that surprising. Ice was usually up before her. What was unusual, however, was the note sitting on his pillow.

Sil,

Went to go talk to Braden, but I should be home before you get up. If I’m not, order yourself some breakfast and I’ll call when I’m on my way home. Don’t forget to drink your water, my beautiful, dehydrated goddess. See you when I get back.

Daddy

Clutching the note to her chest like a lovesick teenager, she rolled on her back and grinned up at the ceiling. Was this what romance was supposed to feel like? All butterflies and sweet little love notes?

One thing was for sure, what she felt with Ice couldn’t be more different from what she’d had with Ace. Although they’d fought, it hadn’t been nearly as explosive as her fights with Ace had always been. And she’d been forgiven, with practically the snap of her fingers, instead of the fight dragging on for hours or even days.

Weeks, in some cases.

But it wasn’t just the fights. She just felt different. Lighter. More at peace.

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