Chapter 11
Alex
Acouple of days after the pub gig, Mum and I are in the kitchen wrapping presents.
She seems cagey and weird. I’m wondering if I should ask her advice about Dane, but she’s acting so distracted and restless there’s not much point.
She’s barely listening to anything I say and she keeps glancing at the clock.
I haven’t been in touch with Dane since his performance at the pub.
I didn’t know what to say about it. He hasn’t gotten in contact with me, either.
It was like something from a movie. So unlike his usual style.
Olivia must’ve had a hand in the plan. Singing in public?
He stepped so far out of his comfort zone he almost fell off the cliff.
I was worried he would actually faint in front of the crowd.
He did it all just for me. I’d have to be made of stone to be untouched by that.
Even so, I’m not sure how to feel about it.
I get what he was going for. He was trying to show up for me after leaving me in the lurch after his exhibition match.
Still, is one big gesture really enough?
If he wants to be together, we’re going to have to go for it at some point without him running away all the time.
I’ve been turning it over and over in my mind.
The possible enormity of his message. That song choice.
Sure, he wanted to say sorry, but there’s more to the song than sorry.
What have I got to do to make you love me?
He wants me to love him?
“Sounds like there’s someone outside,” Mum says, as the loud honk of a car horn splits the air.
It sounds like an obnoxious person, considering how they’re leaning on the horn. For some reason Mum doesn’t seem annoyed. Actually, there’s a smile on her face as she heads for the door. A sneaky smile.
“What’s going on?” I say, following her.
She opens the door. Dane’s car sits in the driveway.
He jumps out and looks at me awkwardly, like he’s unsure of his welcome.
Despite everything my heart jumps at the sight of him.
His blond hair is tousled like he’s been running his hands through it with nerves.
He’s wearing jeans and a fancier than usual sweater, which is probably his idea of dressing up for me.
The black fabric stretches across his broad shoulders and hugs his slim waist.
“Got his bag?” he says, but he’s not talking to me.
“Got it,” Mum says. She goes back into the house and comes back with my backpack in her hand, and my winter parka.
“What’s going on?” I say. “You packed a bag for me?”
“I’m kidnapping you,” Dane says.
“What? Why?”
“I’ll explain in the car. Our flight leaves in a few hours.”
“Flight?”
No one is listening to me. Dane and Mum are both ushering me to the passenger seat. This explains her cagey behavior earlier. They must’ve cooked this up between them.
“I’ve packed your ID and plenty of warm clothes,” Mum says, confirming it.
After Dane serenaded me at the pub, I realized he’s more romantic than I ever thought. But being whisked off on a surprise trip is another level. My heart starts beating harder, getting carried away with the drama of it all even as my cautious side nags at me to hold back.
“Where are we going?” I say.
“It’s a surprise,” Dane says. “Get in.”
He opens the passenger door for me, all chivalrous.
He also drops his voice to a low authoritative tone that I find myself obeying, even though my mind is racing with confusion.
He waits until I’m inside and closes the door gently on me.
He throws my backpack and coat in the back, then jumps into the driver’s seat.
I wind down the window, still feeling dazed.
“Have fun,” Mum says.
She has a big smile on her face. Why the sudden change of heart about Dane? I guess his horrible singing won her over too. Or at least what it represents.
“Have him home before Christmas,” Mum says to Dane. “And look after him.”
Dane gulps, looking a bit scared. “I will.”
He starts down the driveway and we’re on our way, apparently. My heart hammers with excitement, but I don’t want to look too carried away. Though I suppose it would match his energy after he sang for me when he can’t even sing.
“I can’t believe you just kidnapped me,” I say.
“Yep. I’m hard-hearted like that.” Dane drums his fingers on the steering wheel complacently.
“I feel like you’re taking advantage of my frail physical state.”
He laughs. “The ankle? It seems fine to me.” He gives me a sidelong look. “You could’ve put up more of a fight. If you wanted to.”
He’s getting pretty cocky. I feel myself blushing.
“Well, maybe I want to get out of the country too,” I counter. “You almost ruined my band’s reputation with that honking… I mean singing.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. And who said we’re going out of the country?”
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Not telling you.”
“Can I guess?”
His gloating grin makes him look half hot, half punchable. He knows he’s safe from that because he’s driving. His blue eyes glint at me with the arrogance turned up to eleven. He changes gear, making me look at the muscles of his forearm under his pushed-up sleeve.
“You can guess, but I’m still not going to answer,” he says.
He’s enjoying this power way too much. I give up and fall silent to process everything.
I still can’t believe this is actually happening.
A few days ago he was jumping in terror at the idea of being caught with me.
Now he wants to go on a trip together. I’m still hurt at the way he treated me.
His song melted my heart quite a lot… but not completely.
I had to save him from public humiliation otherwise I never would’ve forgiven myself, but that doesn’t mean I’m over everything.
Seven years later, I can still remember exactly how I felt when he let me down at school.
He left me alone under the mistletoe to be attacked by that bully.
I can still feel the Coke trickling down my face and hear the laughter.
I was mad at him for years about that. Probably too long, if I’m honest. Now I’m older and wiser, I don’t blame him so much for freezing up.
It was a terrible idea to attempt to kiss him in public.
In school, of all places. I wasn’t trying to put him in an impossible position.
I was just… fourteen years old and not thinking.
I just wanted our moment under the mistletoe like everyone else.
I was a bit of a teen crusader, I guess.
But I should’ve at least asked him first. I know that now.
The trouble is, he’s still so wary to be seen with me even now we’re adults.
He proved that with his embarrassed silence in the changing room after the exhibition match.
It’s his right to be guarded, of course, but it still hurts.
I need to protect my heart in case Dane decides to stomp all over it again.
I know he doesn’t mean to stomp. Doesn’t mean to play with me.
He has his own issues to deal with. But even if he doesn’t mean to, he has the power to hurt me.
Am I letting him off too easy by going along with this?
We’re barely even friends. And now he’s taking me away on a surprise trip like we’re a real couple. And I’m just letting him.
“So…” he says, breaking the silence and looking a bit nervous. Maybe he isn’t as cocky as I thought. “Can I take it that this means you accept my apology?”
“What apology?” I play dumb.
“The song at the gig. There was a… subtext.”
He looks so earnest as he explains it, I have to laugh.
“Yes, I got that it was supposed to be an apology,” I say. “As subtle as the subtext was.”
He scowls. The crease between his eyebrows looks weirdly hot. “I thought I’d speak to you in your language. Music.”
“Sure. Music,” I tease.
He makes a face at me. We don’t say any more until we get onto the M1. He merges super carefully, maybe remembering that he told Mum he’d look after me. Once we overtake a bright yellow Liam Connolly lorry in the inside lane, he glances sideways again.
“I-I shouldn’t have gone weird on you in the changing rooms like that,” he says. “Do you forgive me?”
I copy his trademark gloating grin. “It’s a surprise. I’ll tell you later when we get to wherever you’re taking me.”