Page 149 of Endgame

I held my hands up in defeat. “Fair enough.”

“I can’t believe you called her Britt,” Daryl announced a few minutes later with a sudden burst of laughter. “You’re such a dumbass.”

“I’m not proud of myself for it.”

“You shouldn’t be,” he agreed. “You’re the happiest I’ve seen you in years with that girl, and you go and call her Britt?” Daryl snorted and shook his head. “It’s like you have a self-sabotage button, dude.”

Didn’t I know it.

“You need to apologize,” Daryl added in a serious tone.

I blew out a breath. “If I apologize then it means I’m guilty of something.” I turned my attention to Daryl. “Six will think I’m guilty.” And I wasn’t.

“And if you don’t apologize, you’ll be an asshole.”

“So, this is one of those, I’m damned if I do, and I’m damned if I don’t situations?” I asked, tone weary.

“Exactly,” Daryl replied with a grin. “Good luck with that by the way. If you live to see the other side, tell me how you did it.” Shrugging, he added, “You know, in case I ever fuck up and call the girl I love the wrong name.

“That’s exactly it,” I hissed with an eager nod. “Why would I even think about anyone else when I’m in…fuck!”

Daryl grinned. “Go on.”

“I love her.” I looked at him, eyes widened. “I love her?”

He nodded. “Yeah, you do!”

No. I didn’t. When I told Six I loved her tonight, I hadn’t even thought about it. She looked so scared and worried that I’d just wanted to put her at ease. I didn’t even think about saying it; it just came out. When she’d asked me about it afterwards, I had panicked and rambled on about something or other to change the subject. I didn’t love her though.

What I felt for her was a combination of lust and fondness; friendship and the pleasure of her company. I liked being around her. Okay, I loved being around her, but that didn’t mean I wasin love. Six was funny and kind and beautiful and she made me laugh. Any guy would feel the same. This tightening pain in my chest wasn’t love. No way. It couldn’t – “Jesus Christ, I’m in love with her.” Awareness hit me like a freight train and I turned and looked at my friend, reeling to my fucking core. “Fuck, I’min lovewith her, Daryl.”

Daryl winked. “I know.”

“Youknow?”

“Hell fucking yes, I know,” he said, laughing his ass off. “Everyone knows. We’ve been waiting on you to get with the program for a while now.”

“What the hell am I supposed to do with this?” Fear trickled through me. “I don’t want this, man.”

“You don’t get a choice, I’m afraid,” he shot back with a smile. “When that special girl comes knocking, your balls start dropping.”

“I love her,” I whispered, more to myself than anyone else, as I desperately tried to rationalize this in my mind. I couldn’t though, because it was true. I was in love with Six and it was the strongest, most intense emotion I’d ever experienced. Reaching for one of the glasses of whiskey and coke, I knocked it back and, ignoring the burn, quickly chased it with a second glass.

“And FYI?” Daryl offered with a smirk, watching me attempt to drown my feelings. “She loves you too, bro.”

What? “Did she say something to Molly?”

Daryl shook his head. “She didn’t need to,” he explained with a knowing smile. “It’s written all over her face every time she looks at you, Rourke. The girl is head over heels in love with you.”

Well shit…

“Come on,” I ordered, jerking to my feet. “Let’s go.”

“And where exactly are we going?” Daryl asked, but he stood up anyway. It didn’t matter where I told him we were going; he would have come with me anywhere. It’s the kind of friendship we had.

I didn’t bother replying; I figured the direction I was striding off in was answer enough. Shoving past groups of kids from school, I stalked onto the dancefloor with only one thing on my mind.

Six.

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