Crash and Burn (Daddy's Girls 0.5) Read Online Free PDF

gotten serious and yet I haven’t really spent much time with him. What a friend I’ve been. I know so little of Brayden, other than he has a roommate named Ryder and he makes Maggie happy.
    Knowing Maggie and Michael aren’t overly friendly with one another, I purposely don’t tell him about dinner with Brayden. I’m tense as I arrive at the restaurant. It’s been so long since I’ve casually hung out with anyone other than Maggie or Michael. Settling in, I quickly find myself relaxing. Brayden is great and Maggie is the happiest I’ve ever seen her.
    We finish our meal. Dessert is coming, when my body instantly seems to ignite. Looking around I see the most gorgeous man walking toward us. He has a girl with him, but I’m so drawn to him, I don’t notice her at first.
    He strides directly to our table and fist pounded Brayden. He looks right at me, "Well, hello beautiful, you must be Maggie’s roommate, Dina. I am Ryder Davenport."
     
    I stick out my hand to shake his, "Yes, I am Dina Fowler."
     
    Before I could say anything else, I feel cold fear run through my veins. The next moment, Michael has his hands wrapped in my very long hair and is yanking me out of my chair.
     
    Ryder steps in, Maggie jumps up and before they could make a scene I say, "It’s okay, we have to leave."
     
    Michael releases my hair but is now holding, painfully tight, to my wrist, half dragging me away as I stumble to gain solid footing.
     
    As we walk out, I hear Ryder yell, "Dina, don't go with him!"
     
    I can hear Maggie crying but I can't stop myself, I want away from it all.
     
    Michael drives me home, all the while screaming obscenities at me. He’s saying I am a whore and cheating on him. I deserve to be alone. I should have told him where I was going. I did go behind his back, knowing he doesn’t particularly care for Maggie. I deserve his anger.
     
    Confined to the car, in close proximity, I have nowhere to escape his rage. Suddenly, he hits me in the face. Surprise, shock, and humiliation consume me. He continues to back hand me repeatedly, causing a black eye, a busted lip, and bloody nose. As quickly as he began, he stops and leaves, kicking me out of the car, saying nothing further. I reach my apartment and crumple to the floor in agony. Does this mean it’s over? Is he leaving me for good? What the hell happened? He’s never done this before.
     
    I know things haven’t been perfect, but I love him. My selfish need to feel like I’m a part of Maggie’s life caused this. Michael was right, she’s moving on with her life. She’s got a good thing with Brayden, I see the love they share in their eyes. Michael is all I have left. Now, I messed up and he’s angry. Can he forgive me? I won’t do it again, if I can find a way to fix things with him. These thoughts swirl on a continuous loop in my head. I caused this, my selfish wants, my lack of honesty. I deserve this. Michael was right when he screamed at me all the way home.
     
    Brayden and Maggie arrive home, not far behind us. Since someone had to pay our dinner check, they were a few minutes behind, giving Michael the time he needed to escape. Michael left. He was long gone now, but that didn't stop Brayden from looking. He took one look at me, told Mags to lock the door and not open it for anyone. He bolts, taking off looking for Michael.
     
    Maggie cleans me up and holds me silently while I cry. What can I say to her? She’s happy and in love, she won’t understand my relationship with Michael. Our love is special; he’s my everything. Maggie is beautiful, full of life. She can get any guy she wants. Never having dealt with the loss I’ve had, she doesn’t understand that Michael brought me out of the dark. He’s my safe place from the loneliness that once engulfed me.
    Every relationship has problems, ours is no different. I hope I’m given the opportunity to fix this. Maggie is crying beside me, snapping me out of my lost thoughts.
    “Dina, what