Lost Me Gained Regret

As Dailey reached the last two steps, Linden let go of him.

He flexed his wrist, which had been twisted earlier, and turned to head upstairs.

Linden blocked the staircase, his smile unwavering. "Sir, your date is already here. If I drag you there, you'll lose face."

Dailey paused for a moment, then turned back down the last two steps and into the living room.

His father was absent, but his grandparents sat on the loveseat, while his mother occupied the long couch, flanked by three people whom Dailey didn't bother to look at closely.

He didn't feel like sitting on the single chair, so he leaned against the staircase instead.

Jayne, with an apologetic smile, got up and pulled Dailey over, seating him beside a young woman.

"This is Serena Sinclair, your grandfather's old friend's granddaughter. You two used to set off fireworks together as kids."

Dailey didn't spare her a glance. "We set off fireworks with all the neighborhood kids."

"And you all wore the same school uniform. What, were you all paired up?"

Jayne lightly slapped Dailey's shoulder. "Serena has been abroad for a while and just got back. After lunch, why don't you take her around the neighborhood and reminisce a bit?"

Dailey's face remained impassive. "Mom, if you let me out that door, I'm not coming back."

He had a history with Christine that Jayne preferred not to discuss, especially in front of the Sinclairs. Even potential in-laws required maintaining appearances.

"Where would you go if not home? Don't joke around."

more and stood up

first," Jayne insisted, grabbing

shook her

teeth. He hadn't eaten since last

if you're not hungry, sit at

her,

more, but Serena

him. We can have a

course, of

dicking out Dailey's favorite

asking Serena

of my

though she worried that her slende frame might not

childbearing. Content belonver

"You should eat more."

skinny

didn't take more, carrying the

locked his

the

Linden picked the

quickly replaced the

invading his personal

another thing he didn't