Chapter 1: Anticipation
Even though I was extremely distracted, I called out, "Megan! I'm home!" as usual when I walked through my front door. And, as usual, my sweet cat took her sweet time emerging from under the couch to greet me.
I was nearly vibrating as I went through my day-end routine: stowing my messenger and lunch bags, feeding Megan her spoonful of tuna and a few treats, changing into my pajamas, and making a smoothie for myself. Today's flavor: strawberry-banana.
After checking to make sure everything was done, I finally allowed myself to pull my laptop out of my bag and powered it up after plugging it into the dock on my desk.
The cause for my excitement? Between a meeting with my thesis advisor and my last final, my phone played its "Teenage Dream" ringtone. This could only mean one thing: Darren Criss had sent me an email!
I was still trying to wrap my head around it...I knew THE Darren Criss personally...VERY personally! If you haven't already, you really should read the first part of my story, "Nothing Ever Happens." Go ahead, I'll wait...
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Unbelievable, right? But, it's all true!
So, there I was, sipping on my smoothie, petting my cat who was purring like a lawn mower, thinking back to the end of our beginning just a few weeks ago.
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I drove Darren back to his hotel after we had brunch at Perkins, another of my local favorites, where we both had Eggs Benedict at my suggestion. We did fit in a few bites of food between talking - we never seem to run out of topics to discuss - and mostly chaste kisses - it was fascinating how quickly I became accustomed to PDAs - but my phone alarm finally went off, indicating we had to leave.
I managed to stave off my inevitable crying until I parked in the hotel driveway, and we stared out the front windshield for a minute, not wanting to face what came next. We finally turned toward each other, both with wet cheeks.
Darren, ever the gentleman, tried to rub my tears away with his calloused thumb - how could I need his touch so much already? - and said, "Rhiannon. You know I'll..."
"Never say goodbye?" I broke in with a sob.
He smiled through his tears. "Absolutely! I only borrow Glee's best lines."
Then a look of concern crossed his face. "Will you be all right getting home? I should have called a cab..."
"No, Dare! I wanted to stay with you as long as possible..."
Now holding my hand - I had washed it since yesterday, but I was seriously considering not washing it again for a few days - Darren leaned over the console and I did the same, our lips meeting halfway. By silent agreement we kept this kiss PG, but when we finally separated, Darren leaned his forehead on mine.
"Every day, Rhi, I promise. We'll talk every day. We'll figure out the travel arrangements for you to meet the tour in Vegas and for visiting me in LA. Talk to Mrs. Donovan about watching Megan, and Laura about time off at the book store, and..."
"Dare..." I put my finger to his lips as there wasn't time to finish what the solution might start. "I'm a planner, remember? I'm going to get a list underway the minute I go home."
"How could I have forgotten?" Darren chuckled. Then he started back on us keeping in touch. "You put all your numbers and email in my phone, and you've got all my numbers and email in yours. I'll send you the rest of the tour schedule later today. Contact me if you need anything...or even if you don't," he finished with a grin.
"I promise, Darren. Now go, or you're going to be late. I don't want to be responsible for holding everyone up."
He stroked my cheek with his free hand, and gave me the most endearing smile, but didn't say another word. Climbing out of my car, he waved, then turned away and straightened his shoulders as if bracing himself for something, finally disappearing into the hotel...
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I shook my head, bringing myself back to the present. My hand had stilled on Megan's back while I revisited one of the worst moments of my life thus far, so I started petting her again as I opened my inbox...