Uncontrollable

➳ chapter seventeen

The temperatures had risen that morning, and the sun shone down on Cardinal Park, its warm rays illuminating the lake and resting on their shoulders. This time, there were no food trucks to be seen, though the park itself was just as busy as usual. A bag of Dunkin Donuts sat in front of them, its contents already consumed, and Astrid stared at Daisy from the other side of the picnic table.

She'd missed her. Even if they lived in the same house, their paths found it difficult to cross when they both were busy in their own ways, trying their best to discover a solution to save Nik. She'd spent so much time with Aaron lately that she'd neglected spending time with Daisy. It showed, and right now, she needed Daisy's shoulder the most—along with her good-hearted advice.

"Hey," Daisy murmured, drawing her out of her reverie. She was aware that her mind was elsewhere, and Daisy knew it too. "I know you have a lot on your plate at the moment, but I'm here if you need to unload some of it."

Astrid smiled. "I know. And thank you. I mean it. I've missed you."

She tidied the rest of their trash together and pushed it all back into the brown Dunkin Donuts bag, ensuring it would be simple to discard later on. "I've missed you too," she said. "I'm sorry for being so busy. It's just that every time Vince tells me something new, I have to adjust any plans that we have or try to find another way out, and frankly, it's exhausting."

She could see that. Daisy looked like she hadn't slept properly in days, shadows underlining her eyes while frown lines had started appearing.

"Are you okay?" Astrid asking, reaching for her hand over the table, laying hers over Daisy's. "Are you overworking yourself?"

"I'm fine," Daisy said with a gummy smile. "I promise. I might be tired, but I know my limits."

"Okay." She pushed down her worry, even though it had become a constant lately. She couldn't help it. Every spare thought she had brought her back to Jack Roberts, and another wave of anger would wash over her as she remembered Vincent's bruises—and that pain that lived in his eyes. She never wanted to see him hurt like that again. She didn't want anyone she cared about to hurt like that—and that included Daisy. "As long as you're sure. If you ever need my help..."

That stirred a laugh out of Daisy. "You in front of a computer? That would definitely be a treat. Maybe another time, though?"

Astrid chuckled. "At least I offered."

Her laughter slowed before she said, "And thank you. I appreciate it, but I got this. I've got a good feeling." She straightened in her seat with a beam. "I don't think we'll be waiting too much longer to break Nik out."

Astrid splayed her hands flat on the table. "How do you know? Have you figured something out?"

"No," Daisy said with a light laugh. "It's just a gut feeling. I don't know. I think we're close though, even if we don't know it yet."

Their conversation stalled at the sight of Aaron sauntering into the park. Once he noticed them seated at the picnic table, he headed in their direction and slid into the seat beside Daisy. Daisy raised her eyebrows but said nothing as an amused smile flitted across her lips. That was Aaron for you: often helplessly clueless and oblivious.

"Hey," he greeted them, his smile a little brighter that day than it had been after paying Colin Rivers a visit. "How are you two?"

"Good," Daisy said, humoring him. "Sorry we didn't think to pick you up any breakfast."

"It's okay. I made myself eggs this morning."

Astrid snorted. "I'm surprised you didn't burn your apartment down."