Chapter 25 #2
His words rattled through her brain on repeat like a hamster on a wheel as she showered and dressed for the party. By the time she’d clipped artificial hair buns to the sides of her head, and slipped into the long white Princess Leia dress, she was even more confused.
Even if Danny was her soulmate, she might be too late. Emptying his office had sent a clear message.
Heading downstairs, the sound of laughter grew louder, accompanied by incessant chatter and raucous music.
The Romero family were in full party mode, drinking, dancing, and acting the fool.
Elena paused at the bottom of the stairs to absorb the sight.
It felt like a lifetime since the house had been filled with such happiness.
Sofia and Luisa were dancing together. Sofia was dressed as Morticia Addams, her long black dress accentuating her curves, her pouty red lips looking suitably sultry, and her long hair gleaming under the lights.
In contrast, Luisa was spinning around in her pink ballgown, waving her wand, and looking like Tinkerbell on speed.
It was great to see them so happy. Sofia had won her tribunal case and secured a job at the community centre, and Luisa was busy working on designs for redecorating the place. Both sisters were flourishing, and Elena couldn’t be more pleased for them. They deserved the world.
Luisa spotted her and pirouetted over, losing her balance, most probably due to the consumption of too much wine. ‘Elena, you look amazing. Come dance with us.’
The purple bruising on Luisa’s arms was the only evidence of her illness. She was having a good spell, and they needed to make the most of it.
Their energetic dancing was interrupted when Papi clapped his hands. ‘Miller is here. Let’s go, familia! It’s party time. Vamos!’ He ushered them into the hallway and opened the front door to wave at his mate. ‘Vamos, familia! Let’s go!’
The drive across town was thankfully short. Being squashed inside an SUV with Indiana Jones, Morticia Addams, Princess Fiona and The Good Witch of the North was a challenging test. Especially as everyone was talking and laughing and distracting poor Miller from driving.
As they exited the car at their destination, Luisa stepped on the back of Elena’s dress and nearly ripped the garment from her body. Thankfully, the seams held firm and she didn’t expose herself to the rest of the guests.
The party was in full swing, filled with people dressed in mostly recognisable film characters and determined to have a fun night.
Elena gasped when they entered the banqueting suite to find a giant circus tent had been erected.
The large doors were open, leading onto the terrace, where fire eaters created long flames that disappeared into the sky.
Jugglers circled the room, showing off their skills, and there was a man riding a unicycle.
How he managed to stay upright, she had no idea.
A stage had been erected at one end where a cast of dancers performed the theme tune from The Greatest Showman.
They were joined on stage by Hugh and James, who were both dressed as circus ringmasters, complete with red coats and top hats.
They welcomed everyone to the party and insisted a good time was to be had by all.
Smiling, Elena scanned the room, spotting Hugh’s parents, Virginia and Nigel, dressed as Bonnie and Clyde. Connor was with them. The moment he saw Sofia, his face lit up and he immediately headed over, his outfit of Gomez Addams a match for her Morticia.
His shyness only lasted a few seconds. All awkwardness disappeared when Sofia threw her arms around him and kissed him.
He grinned like he was the luckiest man on the planet.
And he was. They were so cute together, holding hands and staring at each other with soppy grins.
It made Elena so happy to see them together.
The room was filled with people Elena mostly didn’t know.
She tried keeping her expression neutral as she searched for Danny, hoping to see him.
Maybe Papi was right and it was time to stop overthinking and start paying attention to how she felt instead.
She missed him. She hated the idea of not having him in her life.
Maybe that was enough of a reason to let go of her resistance.
She was just wondering whether he’d decided not to attend when he appeared by her side, allaying her fears. She could stop panicking.
As she turned to look at him, she sucked in a sharp breath. He was dressed as Neo from The Matrix, and it was a look that hit her in all the right places. Who knew he’d look so good in black leather. His long coat almost touched the floor, and the addition of black sunglasses gave him a sexy edge.
It was a few seconds before he spoke. ‘Dramatic enough for you?’
She couldn’t help laughing.
‘Nice suit,’ she said, aiming for an air of nonchalance and not openly gawp. ‘A change from your usual style.’
‘Not sure how long the coat will last, I’m boiling up.’
She locked her hands, fighting the urge to touch him. ‘Keep it on for a bit longer.’
He smiled at that, seeming to pick up on the heat in her voice. She couldn’t see his eyes behind the dark glasses, but she could tell he was checking her out. ‘Nice buns,’ he said, nodding appreciatively.
She laughed. ‘Nice buns?’
‘I meant your hair.’ He pointed to her hair pieces. ‘What did you think I meant?’
She forced her gaze away from his flirtatious one, needing a moment to compose herself. ‘Cool party.’
He joined her in watching an acrobat climb a rope and swing above them. ‘Hugh certainly knows how to host an event. I thought you’d appreciate a chance to dress up.’ He nodded to the dance floor. ‘Your family seem to be having fun.’
Elena smiled as she watched Papi and Yulitza flailing about to a Dua Lipa song. Luisa was flirting with one of the acrobats, a topless man with impressive abs, and Sofia and Connor were huddled together away from prying eyes. ‘They don’t need much encouragement.’
There was a long pause before she felt him look at her. ‘How long do I have to make small talk for before we can clear the air?’
She smiled. ‘Not really a suitable place for a heart-to-heart. I can barely hear you above the music.’
‘I agree.’ Before she knew what was happening, he’d taken her hand and she was being led towards the exit.
Danny paused by the doorway and turned to wave at Hugh, who gave him a thumbs up. She had no idea what was going on.
‘Through here,’ he said, leading her into an adjacent room, partitioned off from the main hall. ‘It’s quieter in here.’
It was a dimly lit space filled with stacks of chairs and tables.
Danny turned to her, his movements animated. ‘Can I go first?’
Seeing as she was clueless as to what was happening, her answer was easy. ‘Sure.’
He tucked his sunglasses inside his coat pocket, before positioning himself in front of her. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t make the decision to withdraw from Sofia’s tribunal case earlier. I should’ve done, and I’m sorry for the distress my actions caused.’
She waited, his raised hand an indication he wasn’t done.
‘I’m also sorry I accused you of telling Sofia about Connor’s past. I jumped to the wrong conclusion, and I acted impulsively.
It was wrong of me, and I feel bad about the things I said to you.
I should’ve known you’d never betray my trust, and on reflection, I think it was born out of panic.
A way of sabotaging any chance of a relationship with you, because I was scared shitless of the way I felt about you.
I’ve had time to analyse this and I realise my mistake.
I’m sorry. Please can you forgive me?’ He was staring at her intently.
She nodded. ‘Yes.’
He tilted his head, as if he expected more. ‘Yes? That’s it? That’s all it took?’
‘That’s all it took.’ She gave a little shrug. ‘Why, is there more?’
‘Well … yes, there is, actually.’ He began pacing, clearly building up the courage to say something else.
‘You’ve accused me on several occasions of being a boring suit, and that’s not something I’m going to apologise for.
I am a boring suit. I can’t change who I am.
I’m not demonstrative, or a risk-taker, and maybe that’s a turn-off for you.
’ His voice wavered a little and he coughed to clear it.
‘But being a suit also makes me dependable, trustworthy, and honest. I’m committed to making a decent career, not because it’s the most important thing in my life, but because it allows me to provide for Connor, who is the most important thing in my life.
Stability and security, and consistency, are essential values to have, and I won’t apologise for that.
’ His expression turned almost steely. ‘So, if that’s not what you want, and you don’t find those qualities attractive, then maybe you’re right, we shouldn’t be together, because I’m not about to change who I am. ’
God, she wanted to kiss him. ‘Good.’
His eyebrows lifted. ‘Good?’
‘I agree with everything you’ve just said.
You are all those things. They make you the man you are, and you shouldn’t have to change that for anyone, least of all me.
’ She took a breath, allowing her gut instinct to take control of her next words.
‘I’ve also had time to reflect. And like you, I was trying to protect myself.
Telling myself you weren’t the right man for me was safer than admitting how I truly felt. ’
She watched his Adam’s apple bob. ‘I thought you were supposed to be the brave one.’
‘Not in this instance. So, I’m also sorry. I’m sorry for being mean to you, and for accusing you of being a boring suit, when in truth, you’re …’ she trailed off, searching for the right word.
He looked worried. ‘I’m what?’
‘Quite edgy, actually.’ Her eyes scanned his leather outfit. ‘Especially dressed like that.’
He cleared his throat. ‘So how do you feel? You know, about me?’
‘I’m not sure it’s relevant anymore.’
He looked crushed. ‘Why would you say that?’
‘Because you’re leaving.’ She felt the weight of her words, heavy and morose. ‘Left, in fact. Your office is empty. I took that as a sign that you were done with me. You’d had enough and moved out.’
‘I’m not done with you, Elena. Are you kidding me?
’ He took her by the shoulders. ‘I’m crazy about you.
Why else would I have spent today with Hugh lugging furniture up to his office so you could move your clinic downstairs.
I even used the damned bloody elevator. Several times.
It was torture. That’s how much I love you. I used a sodding elevator.’
Her heart sped up. ‘You moved offices for me?’
‘Yes.’
She blinked several times. ‘You love me?’
‘It would appear so.’ His eyes dipped to her mouth. ‘Any more questions?’
‘Just the one.’ She slid her arms around his waist. ‘How long is your outfit on hire for?’
He grinned. ‘All night.’
‘And do you have a room booked?’
‘I do.’
She was about to kiss him when his phone pinged.
‘Hold that thought.’ He tapped a reply, before pocketing his phone. When he was done, his eyes returned to hers, filled with the promise of what was to come. ‘So, can we go on that date now?’
She reached up on tiptoes. ‘I think we can skip dating and jump to the good stuff.’
Maybe it was the dimly lit space, or the clandestine hideaway, or the effect of his leather outfit, but the kiss hit the jackpot first time of asking.
She couldn’t get enough of this man, and she was determined to let him know that.
There was nothing holding her back now, all doubt had vanished.
He was her planet, and she wanted to spin in his orbit for eternity, or whatever the metaphor was that Papi had confused her with.
The kiss deepened and became slightly frantic, filled with relief and wanting and unspoken apologies.
Maybe they communicated better when they weren’t actually talking.
Whatever the reason, it was a kiss that stripped away any lasting barriers.
Who knew where the kiss may have led, if the partition doors hadn’t slid open.
Loud screaming and applause hit Elena like a tornado. It was enough to break the kiss, dragging her away from Danny and to the sight of the entire party facing them and cheering. Above was a lit-up neon sign that said, Danny & Elena are dating!
She turned to Danny. ‘Seriously? You planned this?’
His expression was deadpan. ‘Dramatic enough for you?’
She burst out laughing.
And then she kissed him again. It seemed fitting.
So much for being a boring suit. Daniel J Jackson was anything but.
‘And just so you know,’ she said, breaking the kiss and holding his adorable face in her hands. ‘I love you too.’
His smile was breath-taking. ‘You know, something tells me my luck might be about to change.’
She matched his smile. ‘You’d better believe it.’
At which point they were rugby tackled by her entire family, including Virginia and Nigel, Hugh and James, and the shirtless acrobat.
This was her new life. Her new family.
Well, apart from the shirtless acrobat.
Although, judging by the way Luisa was looking at him, maybe she was wrong about that.