Page 14 of Dagger

I pull on a hoodie and some leggings, then head across the backyard to her sliding glass door. It’s after eight, so I know she’s awake by now, probably working on her school stuff. She’s been busting her ass to become a doctor, and honestly, I can’t wait to see her make it.

I tap on the glass, and sure enough, she looks up from where she’s sitting at the kitchen island, her face lighting up. She waves me in, smiling.

“Hey, you got some coffee?” I grumble, still half-asleep as I walk over to hug her.

“For you? Always,” she says with a grin.

“Awesome.” I shuffle to the fridge, grab my favorite creamer, and pour myself a cup of coffee. Sitting down beside her, I take a long sip, letting the caffeine work its magic.

I stare straight ahead, avoiding her curious gaze. My heart’s pounding, but I know there’s no point beating around the bush. “Dagger and I had sex at your wedding,” I say flatly.

“What?” she gasps, her eyes going wide.

I nod, still not looking at her. “Yeah.”

“And you’re just telling me about this now... because?” she asks, her tone incredulous.

I shrug, not really sure how to explain myself. “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t know how to bring it up.” My brows knit together, and I see the shift in her expression as she pieces things together. “Do you think he left because of me? Like, am I the reason he’s not coming home?”

She shakes her head immediately, but then tilts it to the side and makes a face. “Shit, Chlo. He did leave right after thewedding. What happened between you two? Did you fight or something?”

I smirk despite myself. “There was definitely no fighting.”

She smacks my arm with the back of her hand. “Then what? Spill!”

I let out a long breath, trying to put it into words. “I don’t know. It was... amazing. The best night of my life. I thought things were going to be different, you know? I woke up ready to go at it again, rolled over, and he was gone. No note, nothing. I figured maybe he went to the bathroom or got called away for club business or something. But then... nothing. I haven’t seen or heard from him since.”

Sophie stares at me for a long moment, her lips pressing into a thin line. “So, let me get this straight,” she says slowly. “You and Dagger had thebest night of your lifeat my wedding, and then he just... vanished? Like, poof, gone?”

“Exactly,” I say, staring into my coffee.

She leans back in her chair, shaking her head. “Goddamn it, Dagger,” she mutters under her breath, and I can’t help but wonder what she’s thinking—and what the hell Dagger is running from.

"I don't know Dagger super well," Sophie says, her voice thoughtful, "but I can’t imagine he stays gone forever."

“True,” I nod, stirring my coffee absently.

She leans forward, resting her chin in her hand. “Whenever he comes back, you can talk to him. But in the meantime, live your life, Chlo. You’re young, and you’ve got your whole damn life ahead of you.” She pauses, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Have you thought anymore about going to school? You got your GED now.”

I shift uncomfortably, looking away. The idea of college feels... distant, like it belongs to someone else’s life. “Before they took me, that was my dream,” I admit quietly. “I was going to gooff to college, get some fancy degree, and have a good job so I could take care of myself better than my mom ever did.”

Sophie stays quiet, letting me get the words out.

“Now? I have no idea what I want,” I continue, my voice barely above a whisper. “It’s like... everything I thought I wanted doesn’t make sense anymore.”

She reaches over placing a hand over mine. “Honey, it’s okay. If you’re happy waitressing and bartending, keep doing that. There’s no rule that says you have to have everything figured out right now. You’ll figure it out when the time’s right.”

I smile at her, feeling the familiar warmth of her presence. She’s more than my best friend—she’s my family, the big sister I never had but always needed. “I love you, Soph.”

She squeezes my hand, her smile just as warm. “I love you too, Chlo.”

Maybe she’s right. Maybe it’s okay not to have all the answers just yet.

SIX

DAGGER

Lifeon the road is shit.

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