Summer Love
Chapter 7: Comprehension
Lindsay's brown eyes darted to Don's blue ones.
He was saddened when he saw panic and guilt flash through them.
In the dark corners of his mind, he'd hoped that by doing what they'd done, they'd moved past the Danny issue.
Apparently not.
He pulled his jeans on, leaving his shirt on the ground.
"I meant what I said Linds. This isn't something I take lightly." He told her quietly before he vacated the room, allowing her to answer the phone.
She took a deep breath, finding it slightly harder to breathe, and tapped the green button.
"Hello?"
Danny's face broke into a grin the moment he heard her voice. It had taken him a good amount of time to get his phone back from his controlling mother, but the moment he had it, she was the first person he called.
"Hey Montana." He greeted warmly.
Guilt swelled up inside her. He sounded so happy to talk to her, she felt awful. Her glance fell on the bed where she and Flack had just spent a very hot night together.
She turned away.
"Hey yourself. How's Miami?" She asked, struggling to keep her voice neutral and even.
"It's great. Would be better if you were down here prancing around in a bikini." He flirted. It felt so great to hear her voice again. It was literally music to his ears.
She forced a giggle. "Well, I'm here. It's hot and sweaty and it smells." She reported dutifully.
On his end, Danny frowned a bit. Normally, she'd have a comeback to such a blatant advance.
"Well don't worry, I convinced Ma that I was rested enough to come back early, I'll be home next Thursday evening."
That news should have been music to her ears, and a month ago, it probably would have been. But instead of joy bubbling up inside her, it was something else…
Dread, it's dread. I'm dreading his return. How did that happen?
"Danny, that's just so great. I'm glad you're coming back. Everyone misses you. You'll have to fill us in when you get back in the office." She told him, attempting to muster up some genuine enthusiasm.
At this, his whole face changed. Something was definitely up. "I was hoping maybe you'd want to pick me up at the airport? Then maybe we could grab dinner, catch up…." He tried, hoping to get some sort of real reaction out of her.
"I dunno Danny, I might have to work, but I'll get back to you. But listen, I gotta go, only day off, tons of things to do. I'll get back to you about Thursday. Bye!" She finished quickly before snapping the phone shut.
She found someone else.
Danny wanted to throw his phone. He was upset, not at her, but at himself, at his mother, at the injuries he'd sustained. He couldn't blame her… He couldn't.
She pulled on a tank top and an old pair of soft grey shorts. After taking a quick look in the mirror, she made her way out to the living room.
Flack was propped up on the couch, his feet resting on the coffee table, bowl of cereal in hand, ESPN on the TV. He looked comfortable, he looked like he belonged there.
"That was quick." He remarked, keeping his tone even and his eyes on the program in front of him.
She sat down next to him.
"He's coming back early, next Thursday to be exact. He wants me to pick him up and then go out." Lindsay said, her eyes on Don.
Don silently picked up the remote, turned the TV off and set down his bowl of cereal.
"What did you tell him?" Don questioned, his gaze meeting hers.
"I kind of blew him off." She admitted.
He did a silent victory dance in his head, making sure to keep his expression neutral.
"Why?" He pressed.
"Because.... Don…. I… I didn't… I don't…. I…. He left, and I didn't get to talk to him, see him, any of that. And you were here and you made me forget. And I want to keep forgetting, selfish as that seems, and now he's coming back and I can't forget anymore. So I panicked…. I had to buy myself some time…" She sputtered out.
His face was the epitome of confusion.
"Time for what exactly?"
"To figure out you. I'm not going to go on a date with another man when I'm sleeping with his best friend. I….We need to figure this out." She explained.
"Linds, I think you're not understanding what I told you before. When I said I don't take this sort of thing lightly, I meant I have feelings for you. I care about you. I want to be with you. I've wanted to be with you for some time now. I don't need to figure anything out. And I guess I thought you didn't need to either. Was I wrong?"
She was completely taken aback by his blatant admission. She'd been fully prepared to sit down, hash this out and go forward.
Shit.
And there you go, another chapter. I'm going to try to be less absent… I PROMISE.
