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 to

insisted,

her off. "Not

since last night, and now skipping lunch was a

hungry,

ignored her,

say more, but Serena stood

to him. We can

of

dicking out Dailey's favorite

Serena

"I'm quite conscious of my figure, so

with Serena, though she worried that her slende frame might

childbearing. Content belonver

"You should eat more."

skinny

smiled politely but didn't take more, carrying

had locked his

the persistent

Linden picked the

in, he quickly replaced the lock and closed the

strangers invading

perfume was another thing he didn't