Chapter 52 Dani
DANI
So, I drove up to Nolan this afternoon, sporting the jeans with the little rips and the top with the deep V-neck.
“And make sure you pair that with your black leather jacket. You know the one I love?” Tobin had instructed me.
When he spots me coming, he lets out a squealing cheer. “Yes, girl!” Running over, he picks me up, spinning me around and kissing my lips once before taking me in.
“You did everything I told you to. And your hair!” He makes me turn so he can get a decent look at the soft locs I got done.
It took a few hours and cost a ton, but they should last me around six weeks, and I really love the new look.
It makes me feel like a new woman, and I really needed to do something different after saying goodbye to Atlas.
Holding my cheeks, Tobin gives them a little pat and bats his eyes at me. “Daddy’s so proud.”
I laugh. “Thank you,” I say, then reach up to hug Jed.
“How you doin’, girl?” he softly asks when he releases me.
“Yeah, I’m great.” I tug at the back of my jeans and look between them.
Their frowns are so skeptical that I have to blow out a huffing breath. “What? I am. I’m doing really well.”
“You seem on edge.” Tobin rubs my arm, sharing a concerned frown with Jed.
“What do you expect me to be?” I swallow and scratch the side of my nose. “I mean… is he here?”
Please be here. Please be here!
“Not yet.” Jed glances around as if Tyrell might suddenly materialize.
I can’t help following his gaze, my heart in my throat… until I see Nix skipping toward me with a bright smile.
“Hey, you.” I laugh, pulling her into a hug. Oh my gosh, I had no idea how much I’d been missing her!
Squeezing her tight against me, I make her hug me for a few more seconds than she wants before letting go.
“How are you?” I smile at her, and she gives me a little smirk.
“I’m doing good.” She throws a thumb over her shoulder. “In spite of having to live with this tree over here.”
I glance up at the man standing behind her. He is tall and very handsome, his smile lopsided as he throws an arm around her shoulders.
“Don’t listen to her. She’s secretly in love with me. Can’t get enough of climbing trees, this girl.” He winks as Nix elbows him in the stomach, and he makes a big show of pretending that it hurts.
Nix rolls her eyes and introduces us in a droll tone.
“My peeps, this is Darian, who should not be living at Basketball Base, but his dumb ass failed one of his papers last year, so he’s been catching up in summer school.
Meaning… that six-bedroom mansion I was supposed to be enjoying all to myself has been overcrowded. ”
Darian frowns and points to himself. “It’s my place. And my sister never should have agreed to let you live there without discussing it with everyone first.”
“None of you were supposed to be there!” she argues back, flinging her arms wide, and that’s when I see it.
That spark. The way she’s trying to fight a smile as she argues with this guy.
Wait. Darian. That name is familiar now that I think about it. Is he the one whose eyebrow she shaved off?
My lips part and I gape at her for a second, narrowing my eyes as I try to see if one of his eyebrows looks uneven.
They’re both oblivious to me staring at them, too busy bickering with each other.
Tobin sidles up beside me, watching in bemused interest. “I think our fairy might have found herself a place to call home.”
“You think?” I glance at them and wince. There’s no way I’d want to be in a relationship like that, snipping at each other the whole time.
“Can’t you feel the sexual tension?” He bulges his eyes at me.
Jed rounds my other side, getting in on the conversation. “Fairies do live in trees, you know.”
“They’re totally doing it,” Tobin quips.
“You sure?” I cross my arms, still watching them and then having to bite my lips against a laugh when he takes her wrists, spinning her around and pulling her back against his torso. He leans down to whisper something in her ear, and she can’t fight her grin.
“Oh yeah, they are definitely boinking,” Jed agrees with his boyfriend, who gets the giggles.
“Boinking. Baby, I love you.”
“I love you too.” He reaches for Tobin’s hand and pulls him close, and I remain on my own, trying not to notice how cold it is with nobody beside me.
My eyes scan the milling crowds around us, desperately seeking out the man I couldn’t handle being with.
The thought of seeing him makes my stomach trill.
I wasn’t ready two and a half months ago. That’s why I walked away.
But I’ve had time.
Time to work on myself.
Time to let go of what happened to Atlas. To forgive myself for the part I played in it. To forgive him for what he allowed to happen to his body.
I’m feeling stronger and more secure than I ever have.
Yet this ache still beats inside me.
I’m whole on my own, but I’m not complete. And I’m pretty sure there’s only one person who can fill that space. Or at least one person who I want to fill that space.
And he’s not here.
“I don’t know if he’ll make it,” Tobin warns me softly. “I really tried to get him here, but…” He shrugs. “Sorry, Dani Girl.”
“That’s okay.” I shake my head and walk beside him toward the growing line waiting to get into the stadium. “It was my choice to break up with him. He doesn’t owe me anything.”
Jed’s arm comes around me, and he gives me a squeeze. “You’re gonna be all right. You’re strong. You’re tough. You can handle anything.”
I nod, forcing myself to agree with him.