10. Gavin
Gavin
I’m sitting at the bar at Doolies, nursing a whiskey and feeling completely drained. I was up almost all night editing for Dani and Alexa, then still had to stay for the entire workday. I’d considered calling out sick, but it’s my first week, and I didn’t think Mr. White would’ve appreciated that.
I should be home sleeping. But with everything that’s been happening lately, especially having Dani back in my life, a drink feels necessary. Besides, there’s no alcohol at my new place yet, and I’m far too tired to make a stop at the store.
Keeping my head down, I run the last few days through my mind, when I sense someone sit on the stool next to me.
“Can I get a vodka tonic with extra limes, a dirty martini, and whatever stout you have on draft? Thanks,” the familiar voice says. The tone sends something through me, and it’s not a pleasant feeling.
I glance up to find Sam only a few inches from me. “Oh, come on,” I groan.
“What the hell are you doing here?” His face tightens with anger.
“You know this is a popular after-work spot for the station.”
“That’s not what I mean,” he sneers. “I mean here. In San Diego. As a journalist. In the job that should’ve gone to Dani.”
I hold my hands up. “Me being here is a massive coincidence. I had no idea she worked here.”
“I find it interesting that you were just a pathetic repairman before, and now all of a sudden you’re some big hotshot from New York, and her boss.” His eyes flick around the room before he leans in closer, breath sour against my ear. “You’re not trying to back out of our deal, are you?”
“Deal?” The word tastes bitter. “You call what we have a fucking deal?” I shift in my seat, nails digging into my palm as I force myself to breathe.
It’s the only thing keeping my fist from connecting with his face.
I look at him and feel nothing but revulsion.
“Does she even know the truth about you?”
“That’s all in the past.” He grins.
“Oh, is it? Then why does it matter if she finds out?”
Before he can answer, the bartender arrives with Sam’s drinks and places them in front of us. Sam hands him his credit card and opens a tab. “And his next drink is on me.” He gestures towards me.
Before I can refuse the offer, the bartender is gone.
Sam turns back to me, leaning in so close I can see the hatred burning in his eyes. “If you say anything to Dani about our little conversation from back then,” he says quietly, “don’t forget what will happen.”
Rage coils in my chest. I grip my glass until my knuckles ache, focusing on the pressure just to keep myself steady.
After all these years, I’d thought, maybe foolishly, that we were past this.
That the truth had already come out. That he’d finally come clean and Dani had just forgiven him.
But realistically I know that’s not the case.
If she’d learned the truth, she would have dumped his ass.
“Do you even love her?” I spit out.
“Of course I do.” His answer comes too easily. “Dani and I were always supposed to end up together. Once you were out of the picture, things finally fell into place, just like they were meant to.” He straightens, voice shifting back to casual. “Now help me with these drinks and come say hello.”
Every instinct in me screams to get away from him, to put as much distance between us as possible.
But walking away would mean leaving Dani alone with him, and that’s not something I can do.
Whether she knows it or not, I feel responsible for keeping an eye on her now, for protecting her from Sam in whatever small ways I still can.
So, I grab my whiskey and the martini glass in front of me and follow him to a booth in the back.
“Look who I found sitting at the bar by himself,” Sam says as he slips into the seat next to Dani.
He sets the gin and tonic in front of her and places a quick kiss on her cheek.
“Sam invited me to join you guys,” I say cautiously. “Hope that’s alright.”
“Yeah, of course,” Alexa answers. “Have a seat.”
I slide in next to her and place her martini on the table.
“You’re an angel,” she exclaims, taking a big sip.
“I aim to please.” I smile.
“Trying to take credit for my generosity, Baker?” Sam sniggers.
I grind my back molars, repeating in my head over and over not to punch him. Apparently, that’s my mantra of the evening. I hold my glass up towards him. “Thanks for the drinks, Sam.”
Everyone sits in silence for a few moments, sipping their drinks.
“I’ll take awkward encounters for one-thousand, Alex,” I mumble into my glass.
“What do you mean?” Alexa looks my way.
I lift an eyebrow, giving her a look that clearly says you can’t be serious. “Obviously Dani told you about our past.”
“Wait, what past?” Alexa is not good at playing dumb.
“Really, Alexa? You honestly expect me to believe Dani didn’t tell you about me the minute I walked into the newsroom? You can’t possibly think I’m that stupid.”
“Yeah…” Alexa hesitates. “I wasn’t going to be able to sell that for very long. Worth a shot.” She takes a sip of her martini. “But hold on. How did Sam know who you were at the bar?”
I look at Dani, who’s obviously trying to avoid eye contact with me.
“You didn’t tell her?” I ask her.
“It’s been kind of the week from hell. I was getting there.”
Alexa tilts her head in confusion. “Dani? What don’t I know?”
Dani closes her eyes, bracing herself. “Sam, Gavin, and I used to all hang out together back when Gavin and I were together.”
I notice Sam’s jaw clench when she mentions Dani and I being together. I love it.
“Oh my God!” Alexa squeals. “Was this like a threesome thing? Danielle, I didn’t know you had it in you, you dirty bird.”
“Alexa!” Dani yelps, burying her face in her hands.
At the same time, Sam screams, “Fuck no,” while I cut in, “Not on his life.”
Everyone takes a large swig of their drinks.
“No, no, no,” Dani practically begs. “Nothing like that. You know Sam was my best friend before we started dating. He came to visit a lot when Gavin and I lived together and would crash on the couch. They didn’t exactly get along, as much as I wished they did.
When Gavin and I broke up…” Hearing those words still sends a sharp pain through my chest. “Sam was there for me.”
“Oh. Well, that’s awkward,” Alexa says.
“Tell me about it,” Sam grumbles. “But she ended up with the right guy in the end.”
Don’t punch him. Don’t punch him. Don’t punch him.
“Listen. Yes, Dani and I dated. But it was years ago.” The next words physically hurt as they come out of my mouth.
“She’s obviously in a great thing with Sam and I can see how much they care about each other.
The fact we’re working together is a huge coincidence and there was no evil scheme to get back in her life.
” I turn to make eye contact with Dani, so she really hears my words.
“Am I glad you’re back in it, hell yeah.
Because I’m really happy to have my friend back.
” I smile. Then turn back towards Sam. “So, we good?”
“I won’t say we’re good, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. The fact is, Dani is going to need all the friends she can while I’m gone, and if that’s going to include you…” He rolls his eyes. “Then I need to figure out a way to trust you.”
“Gone?” I question. “What’s going on?”
“You didn’t tell them?” Sam turns to Dani.
“Alexa was the only one I told,” she whispers.
Sam looks to me. “I’m deploying in a couple days. Eight months. Iraq. While I’m gone, I need both of you”—his gaze shifts between Alexa and me—“to watch out for Dani for me.”
“Babe, I can take care of myself,” she chimes in.
“I know you can. But it’s good to have your friends standing by just in case,” Sam replies.
“I’ve always been there for her, Sam. You would know that if you weren’t always off doing something else instead of coming home at night,” Alexa hisses.
“Alexa!” Dani snaps.
“I know you don’t like me very much, Alexa, and that’s fine. As long as you’re there for Dani, then I can deal with it.”
“Hey, something we both finally agree on.” She downs the rest of her drink.
“Sam,” I say, grabbing his attention and looking him right in the eyes. “We’ve got Dani.”
“Thank you.” He nods.
“Well. Now that we’ve established that I need babysitters for the next several months, who needs another round?” Dani asks.
“You practically still have a full glass,” Alexa laughs.
Dani snatches the short glass and chugs the clear liquid, her cheeks flushed. She smacks her lips and smirks. “You were saying?”
She nudges Sam to move out of the way so she can get out of the booth. “I’m gonna use the restroom and then hit the bar. Same drinks for everyone?”
We all nod and I watch her head towards the hallway with the restroom sign.
“Actually, I need to make a call really fast. Be right back.”
I use the excuse to make my way down the same hallway Dani just went, and wait for her to leave the restroom. She comes out a few minutes later, nearly running into me.
“We have to stop meeting like this.” I grin.
“What’s with you meeting me in hallways outside bathrooms?” She chuckles.
“If I remember correctly, you crashed into me the first time. I was just an innocent bystander.”
“Yeah, not my proudest moment.” Dani smiles. I forgot how beautiful it was. It can light up an entire room, and fill you with joy, even on your darkest day.
“I’m sorry about Sam,” she says.
“You don’t have to apologize. I get it. But I meant what I said. I’m really glad you’re back in my life.”
“I know I fought it at first, but honestly, me too. I’m not saying we’re back to best friends, but at least now I don’t feel like I want to punch you in the nuts anytime I see you,” she giggles. “So, progress?”
“I would definitely call that a win.” I take a huge chance, and lean down, wrapping Dani into a hug.
Her arms stay by her side. I don’t expect her to respond, and that’s fine.
I’m enjoying whatever contact I can, and the fact she isn’t pushing me off is a win in my book.
A few moments later, my torso is enveloped by two small arms, with Dani’s head resting against my chest. I take my hand and stroke the back of her head, causing her to squeeze me tighter.
The closeness makes my cock twitch. I shift slightly so she doesn’t catch on to what’s happening.
All I want is to stay here for as long as possible, but it’s only a matter of time before someone comes looking for us, and knowing our luck, it’ll be Sam.
“We better get back.” I pull away.
“Uh yeah. Good idea.” Her cheeks are red. Her breath ragged.
We walk in silence back to the booth, leaving behind our perfect little moment.
It’s Friday night, and more people than I expected took me up on my offer to watch the special in the station’s conference room.
The table is lined with pizza, soda, chips, and various kinds of candy. I figure if they work hard for me all week, the least I can do is treat them to dinner.
Nearly a dozen people file in just before the eight o’clock showtime, including our guests of honor. Dani and Alexa settle into seats in the back of the room, both of them looking beyond worried. I grab two plates and walk over, handing one to each of them.
“You both look like you could use some comfort food,” I say with a smile.
“Thanks,” Alexa murmurs.
I glance between them, then lean closer to Dani. “Uh, is she okay? I don’t think I’ve ever heard that volume come out of her mouth.”
“Just nervous.” Dani shifts in her seat. “This is the biggest story either of us has ever done. And with the last-minute addition, Tate is not going to be happy.”
Alexa got a call last night while we were at the bar from an anonymous source.
They claimed they were willing to go on camera, as long as their face and voice were distorted, with hard proof showing Tate bribed them for their vote.
Alexa scrambled to set up the interview first thing this morning, while Dani verified that the evidence was legitimate.
I helped them weave it all into the special, and we got the final cut to Master Control barely an hour before airtime. To say we’re tired is an understatement.
“Tate is a slimeball who did a really bad thing,” I say. “He needs to be exposed. Hopefully it’s enough for the DA to finally press charges.”
“We’ll see,” Dani sighs.
All I want to do is pull Dani into my arms and make the worry disappear, even if only for a moment. But I don’t. I can’t. We’re friends, and whatever happened at the bar came dangerously close to crossing a line. Not physically, but emotionally, which somehow feels worse.
I’m already pushing my luck just being allowed back into her life at all. Dani taking a chance on us being friends again feels fragile—like something that could shatter if I’m not careful. I won’t risk losing that by letting myself fall any deeper than I already have over the last ten years.
“I’m sorry Sam couldn’t come watch tonight.”
I’m totally not.
“Thanks.” She smiles warmly. “Last-minute deployment prep stuff.”
Our eyes connect and suddenly it feels like there’s no one else in the room. I try to pull my gaze away, but for some reason, I’m physically incapable.
“It’s starting!” Alexa squeals, causing Dani to break the connection.
I rub the palm of my hand over my chest, trying to get my heart to calm down. How does something as simple as her eyes have this kind of effect on me?
We all turn to the mounted television, and for the next hour, I’m pretty sure no one in the room breathes.