8. Dani #2
Alexa and I drag ourselves to our cars, exchanging quick, tired goodbyes. My stomach twists at the thought of the conversation waiting for me at home with Sam. Apparently, this is becoming a regular thing, and the weight of it is starting to settle in.
When I pull into my parking spot, the first thing I notice is Sam’s missing motorcycle.
My chest tightens at the empty place where his bike should be.
I step inside, calling out his name, my voice sounding too small in the quiet apartment.
No answer. Fingers trembling slightly, I pull out my phone, hesitating before typing a text.
ME:
Just got home. Where are you?
While I wait for a response, I strip off my clothes and decide I desperately need to wash off the last forty-eight hours. Holy shit. Has it really only been two days since my life turned upside down?
Just as I’m about to get into the warm water waiting for me, I hear my phone ding from the bathroom counter.
SAM:
Figured you were working late so went out with the boys. Went up to Pendleton so crashing up here. Be back tomorrow.
Of course. It’s not like we have an extremely important conversation waiting to happen or anything.
Seeing the text sets my blood boiling. It’s not even worth replying.
I step into the shower, hoping the hot water will wash away the weight of everything.
But it doesn’t. All I feel is anger. Angry at Sam for lying.
Angry at Gavin for disappearing years ago, only to show up now and snatch away my dream job.
I turn off the faucet, pull on my pajamas, and crawl into bed. I’ll take advantage of what Gavin said and sleep in tomorrow. My body and mind are so drained that I don’t even notice the darkness claiming me.
I can’t remember the last time I didn’t wake up to the sound of an alarm. Years probably. I roll over and grab my phone to see what time it is: 10:04 a.m. appears on the screen. I don’t think I’ve ever slept this late before. Instinctively, I reach for Sam, but he isn’t there.
Right. He was out last night. I guess I should get used to mornings without him.
I swing my legs out of bed and get ready on autopilot: jeans, camisole, cardigan, my trusty Converse, and my hair piled into a messy bun.
Without really thinking, I race out the door, and before I know it, I’m on my way to the station.
Gavin said not to come in until eleven, but what’s he going to do? Fire me for being a little early?
As I walk down the hall towards the editing area, I hear our Tate special playing and then being rewound. Alexa must already be in there working. When I turn the corner to enter the suite, I stop dead in my tracks. It’s not Alexa at the computer, but Gavin.
“What are you doing?” I scream. “Get off of there!”
I quickly pull his rolling chair away from the computer and check to see what he’s doing.
“Are you insane? Alexa and I had this exactly how we need it. What the hell are you doing with it?” I can’t hide the anger in my voice.
“Dani,” he says calmly. “I didn’t change a thing. I just started cleaning it for you. Promise.”
“What gives you the right to do anything with this? We’ve been up for practically two days straight working on it. You have no idea what we had planned for it,” I hiss.
“Actually, your layout is very specific on what your plans are. You showed it to me, remember? Before you continue to freak out, just watch what I did. I pretty much finished it already.”
I want to keep yelling, but nothing is coming out of my mouth. My brain is trying to process if this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, or the absolute dumbest.
“I’ll take your silence as your willingness to watch,” Gavin laughs.
Just as he’s about to hit play, Alexa walks in. “Hey, Gavin. What are you doing here? D and I don’t have anything final to show you yet.”
“I wanted to surprise you guys. I cleaned the special for you. It’s done,” Gavin says with the biggest grin.
“You did what?” Alexa yells.
Glad I wasn’t overreacting.
“How could you do that?” She keeps going. “You have no idea what we were planning! You just ruined two days of work!”
“You know, it’s no wonder you and Dani are best friends. You both have serious trust issues. I followed your layout to the letter. Now fucking sit down and watch. Damn. This is the last time I do something nice for you two.”
Alexa sits down next to me in a huff, and Gavin hits play.
As we watch, I can feel the tension in my body start to slowly melt away.
He’s right. He followed our layout exactly.
The special is good. Actually, it’s really good.
I hate to admit it, but it’s probably better than either of us could have edited it.
When it’s over, Alexa and I just look at each other and then slowly turn towards Gavin.
“You don’t need to say it.” Gavin smiles. “Your faces are already apology enough. And I forgive you for being so hotheaded.”
“No. We need to say it,” I sigh. “That was incredible. We’re really sorry. Where did you learn to edit like that?”
“My minor in college was video editing.” He smirks.
“Wait, what?”
“Editing is just fixing things. Dani, you of all people know I’m good at fixing things. So when it came time to declare a minor, I figured it would be the easiest thing for me to pick up. Turns out, I was a natural.”
I slump my shoulders. “I had no idea.”
“You don’t know all my secrets.” Gavin winks.
Understatement of the year.
“Listen,” he continues, “I just wanted to help. You guys have been kicking ass with this. I literally just took your amazing work and gave it a spit shine. It’s ready for air now. Which means, you guys get to take the day off and relax.”
Alexa shoots up from her chair. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
“There’s got to be something we still need to do for this?” I ask.
“Nope!” Gavin says. “It’s rendering now, and I’ll send it over to Master Control for air. You guys go home and enjoy your day off. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Gavin. This was—” I pause trying to find the words.
“This was really nice of you. And we’re sorry again for freaking out on you.
” A smile escapes. I don’t know if it was the genuineness of the act, or the fact I’m mad at Sam, but a gut-turning sensation hits my stomach.
Shit. Are those butterflies again? Why do they only show up when I’m around Gavin?
“Anything for you,” he says softly.
I catch him staring into my eyes, as if he’s seeing me for the first time.
I can’t look away, drawn in by the intensity.
It takes a moment for it to hit me. Alexa is still in the room.
My pulse quickens, and the air suddenly feels heavier.
Gavin notices, too, and quickly breaks the gaze, his voice steady as he continues. “Both of you.”
Alexa just laughs. “Uh-huh. Nice save, Gavin. Come on, Dani. Let’s get out of here.” She grabs my arm and pulls me out of the editing suite, out of sight of Gavin.