Chapter 8 Danny
DANNY
Matt was right. Showing up early was exactly the good idea I needed, and it led me to exactly what I want. The volunteers would be walking in soon, but this was the only place I was going to get her alone. Feel her out, see if what I know is true for both of us.
It is.
In an exasperated tone, she asks, “Why are you trying to fight with me?”
“I know it's been a while, but this isn’t how fights start.”
“It is when you goad me. You’re trying to make me lose my cool, trying to make me the bad guy, but you’re the reason I lose it.”
“Consider it foreplay.”
Her breath catches in her throat, and I wait. The room is so quiet that I can hear her heart thumping. I close the distance slightly.
“You gonna tell me I’m wrong?”
Sadie opens her mouth, then shuts it again. She doesn’t move when I brush her curls away from her face, holding onto one before letting it drop. “I love your hair like this.”
“This is a bad idea,” she breathes out.
“Probably.”
“But you’re still not backing up.”
“Neither are you.”
I still have her arm raised with the mistletoe above us as I realize we’ve moved closer to each other—closer than we have any right to be anymore.
She leans in first, head tilted back the slightest, and her eyes drop to my lips as my tongue sneaks out to wet my bottom lip.
I stay perfectly still; I want her to come to me. I need her to come to me.
Her eyes flick back to mine, and she sways the slightest bit, closer, closer, and then–
“What in the mistletoe is going on in here?”
Kylie.
Sadie practically leaps backward into the folding chairs, mistletoe balls dropping and rolling around the floor. I chuckle at her look of panic, and when she shoots me a nasty look, I give her a wink.
“Just trying to see how high we need to hang these balls.”
“I’d say pretty high if you’re going to survive the night,” Kylie snarks out with a laugh.
I exhale a laugh with her, rubbing the back of my neck. The silence is a little awkward but more funny than anything. I fight the urge not to laugh because I’m sure Sadie would punch me if I did, thinking it’s all a joke as usual.
“Know what? I’m going to run to my car real quick. I’ll be right back and pretend I didn’t just walk in on an almost-Hallmark-movie make-out.”
“Nothing happened,” Sadie snaps.
“Sure. I’m just going to leap outside. Be right back.” I roll my lips in as I see Sadie shoot her sister a glare and Kylie blow a kiss back as she walks out the door.
“You sure that was nothing?”
Sadie doesn’t look at me; instead, she rolls the ribbon back on the holder like her life depends on it. “I’m not sure of anything right now.”
I nod, even though she isn't looking at me. “Same,” is all I can get out as I walk to the back of the auditorium. “I’m going to grab some coffee for everyone. They’ll be here any minute.”
I walk out the back door, leaving her with her ribbon and her “nothing happened,” pulling my phone out along the way.
Matt answers on the first ring.
“Let me guess. Sadie. Mistletoe and an empty auditorium.”
I bark a laugh, wishing I had grabbed my coat as the chill hits me. “Damn, I almost forgot how fast the gossip train moves around here.”
He chuckles, and I hear bottles clinking in the background. “I’m on speed dial for all the latest news. Now, tell me.”
“There were balls. And leaning involved.”
He gasps. “Balls and leaning! That’s halfway to a lifetime commitment in this town.”
I groan at his sarcasm. “Can you listen for one damn minute!” I scrub my face and balance the phone between my shoulder and ear while getting my keys from my pocket.
“You started it. And what's there to listen to? I’m sure you were picking a fight, and she responded. Am I right?”
I open the door, climb in, and sit, letting the moment of what just happened wash over me. “I mean, yes and no. I took your advice and went early to–”
“You actually went early?” He whistles. “You were definitely trying to stir some shit.”
“It was your idea!”
“I didn’t think you’d listen!”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “Anyway, I went early because I genuinely wanted to help. I do want this gala to go well for the town. But then she walked in, and I just couldn’t help myself. It’s fun to tease her, and it’s fun to get her to yell at me.”
He laughs at me. “You’re whining.”
“I know, but it felt good. We were talking, then she was looking at me like—
“Like she used to?”
“Yeah.”
“Like she still does?”
I close my eyes and say, “Yeah.”
“And then what?”
“Then your girl walked in and killed the mood.”
He laughs. “That's my girl. Mood-killer.”
I laugh. “You're a damn liar, and if she hears you say that, she'll cut your dick off. Hang on. I’m starting my truck, and Bluetooth will pick it up.” I start the engine, buckle my seatbelt, and pull out, heading toward the bakery. “You there?”
“Yeah. You still in love with her or what?”
“Jesus,” I say, exasperated, and he just chuckles. I’m silent for a moment, my mind spinning with all kinds of answers, and I blurt the first one to come to mind. “I don’t think I ever stopped.”
“Then, don’t waste this second shot. Because if she looked at you like you say she did and leaned in?” He whistles and says, “She didn’t stop either.”