Page 151 of Dare to Love Me

Instead, he dismissed it like it was irrelevant, and that stings.

So when my phone buzzes with Lizzie’s text—At ClubX! Get your arse down here NOW x—it feels like the universe throwing me a lifeline.

I can be in London in an hour if I grab a cab to the train station right now. I need to blow off some steam.

Edward hasn’t even glanced my way since Charlie’s comment, just carried on like nothing happened, smooth as ever, as if he didn’t just gut-punch me with five careless words.

We’ve just finished some dainty dessert I was too angry to taste. A couple of the more sensible guests have already made their escape. This is my chance.

“Sophia, love, do you mind if I head off?”

“Of course not, darling. Thank you so much for coming.” Her warmth only twists the knife deeper—why can’t her brother sound like that?

Edward’s eyes meet mine. “Are you staying at your mother’s or going back to London?” His tone is casual. His gaze is not.

“London,” I say, airy as anything, grabbing my bag. “Meeting Lizzie at a club.”

His jaw tightens, a flicker of something sharp and unamused in his gaze. “It’s ten o’clock. By the time you get there, it’ll be eleven.”

“Good thing the club doesn’t close until four then.”

His voice drops. “Are you serious?”

Sophia’s eyes dart between us.

“Yes,” I say sweetly, playing up the nonchalance even as my pulse thrums. I turn to Sophia, deliberately ignoring the heat of Edward’s stare burning into me.

“You go and have fun,” she says, pulling me into a hug. She throws Edward a look. “Don’t listen to that big grump, you’re a free woman.”

Edward’s chair scrapes back so fast it nearly topples. “I’ll drive you back to London if that’s where you want to go.”

I freeze for half a second. “That won’t be necessary. I’m perfectly fine.”

“No, you’re not,” he says flatly. “You’ve had an entire bottle of wine.”

“So?” I cross my arms, feeling about twelve years old but too wine-brave to care.

“You’re not getting in a cab to the station alone at this hour,drunk.”

Sophia shifts uncomfortably beside me, her eyes flicking between us. “Thanks, Edward. That’s very kind of you.”

Except I don’t see him as being kind to me right now. I don’t want a lift anywhere. I just want him to make me feel like I matter.

“Where you heading, Daisy?” Hugo pipes up, oblivious or maybe just bored.

I smile. “A club to join my mate, Lizzie, you fancy it?”

He shrugs, easy as ever. “Sure thing. Sounds like a laugh.”

Edward goes still. His eyes catch mine and hold. “Daisy.”

It’s said as a warning. I ignore it.

I snatch my wineglass and down the dregs in one defiant gulp, the rebel in me roaring to life. “Great. It’s settled then.”

Edward makes a noise—a sharp exhale, like he’s biting back a reaction. His hand goes to his collar, tugging aggressively. “Actually, I need to discuss something with Daisy before she leaves.”

Oh,hellno. He doesn’t get to boss me around, not after treating me like an afterthought all night.