Lacey was beaming. She was positively blushing all down her neck. She hadn't been this happy since she was a little girl. Her and Jo shopped and ate ice cream at Little Lulu's Ice Cream Shoppe and gossiped well into the late afternoon.
"What's it like kissing him?" Jo asked as she and Lacey were finishing off a bowl of popcorn.
Lacey closed her eyes and pictured her and Danny kissing. "It's like fire!"
Both girls busted out laughing at the same time.
"No, seriously he's a great kisser. He's attentive and romantic and gracious. He's a quick learner too."
"Wow, I always knew he was going to be a great kisser one day. He just had those lips, ya know?"
Lacey nodded in agreement. "Oh, yes I remember."
Jo's phone went off again. She looked down at it and hit a button with disgust.
"Umm…who is that who keeps texting you and you keep ignoring them?"
Jo popped her lips. "It's Tyler. He wants to apologize for being an ass and helping Archie and Company with what happened at school yesterday. I told him it's too late for all of that."
"Well, well, well. I think Tyler likes himself some you," Lacey said grinning.
Jo gave a look of disgust. "I wouldn't give a person like Tyler the time of day. He just looks like he's used to getting whatever he wants and he could careless who's in his way as long as he's getting what he wants. No, thank you. A guy like that would leave a girl tragically heartbroken. A guy like that is dangerous."
Lacey whistled low. "Sounds like you have done your homework. But if he's willing to apologize then he can't be all bad, right? You might want to really hear him out and let him sincerely apologize to you and then make an informed decision on his character when you aren't too riled up."
Jo nodded finishing off the last of the popcorn. "I suppose you're right. I'll hear him out and then give his ass the boot!"
Karen eyed Danny with interest as he dug into his dinner. "I'm not ready to become a grandmother, Danny." Danny spit out the soda he had been drinking.
"Mother—what?" He sputtered out.
Karen smiled. "I know you have always liked Lacey. She grew into a very beautiful young lady and honestly I have no problem at all with the two of you seeing one another. But, I see how you look at her. It's that look. That look that caresses. You want to be with her all of the time and you want to get close. I know you are not a baby anymore and you having sex is inevitable. I just want you to please use precaution with anyone you're with. And please be careful."
Danny smiled. "Mother is this our version of a sex talk? Lacey and I haven't had sex." He wasn't sure how much to tell his mom but he didn't want her to become worried nor be overly attentive into his personal life.
"I thought Lacey was dating someone," Karen hedged. "I'm not trying to get all in your business but you are my son."
"They broke up, mom. Lacey deserved better anyway."
"Oh, I see. So, you don't think that's too soon for her to jump into a new relationship with you after she was just in one quite recently? I don't want you being the rebound guy."
Danny laughed. "Trust me mom, I'm not the rebound guy. Lacey and I are going to take is slow."
Karen sighed, smiling. She watched Danny get up and put his plate in the sink. He was growing into a man and she wanted Vikram there so that he could witness it with her. Danny's first foray into love. He had really been through so much in his seventeen years. She just didn't want this to be another thing that left him disappointed and dejected.
"Hey, let's do movie night and I'll fix some tacos. You can invite Lacey and Jo and whoever else you like."
Danny smiled. "Sounds like a plan. I'll ask everyone and see what they say. Thanks, mom."
He leaned over and kissed Karen on the cheek before walking out of the kitchen.
Lacey was beside herself with what to wear. Taco night wouldn't ordinarily garner this much reflection but she and Danny would officially be seen as a couple, at least outside of school and she wanted to make a good impression on Mrs. Desai and to properly thank her for allowing her to spend the night.
Great, she had to leave in 30 minutes and she hadn't picked an outfit yet. It was cool out so wearing a dress was out. She decided on a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a cream asymmetrical sweater. She put on a matching camisole underneath. She pulled on some black booties. She tousled her hair a bit and added some make-up. She grabbed the flowers she had bought for Karen and sniffed them.
"Well, you're looking fancy for just going out with some friends for movie night." Judy said coming into Lacey's bedroom. "Is Archie picking you up?"
Lacey hadn't told her mom that she and Archie were over. "No, mom. Archie isn't picking me up. I'm going over Danny's house."
Judy didn't hide being uncomfortable. "Oh. You were just over there. You two won't be alone, right? I mean, Jo will be there, right?
"Yes, mom Jo will be there and Rico and also Mrs. Desai. This is movie night like we used to have when we were kids."
Judy pursed her lips. "Lacey, I just don't want you getting overly involved with them. We do have appearances to keep up."
Lacey inwardly groaned. She hated these conversations with her mom. Judy was the resident Queen Bee at Green Grove. She was part of the Women's League and so appearances were everything. Lacey didn't feel like it was time to tell her mom about her and Danny.
"Well, we have to go shopping this week to get your Fall Fest gown. I think you should wear red this year. You look awesome in that color."
Lacey rolled her eyes. "Mom, I really don't want to go."
"What? I'm the Chairwoman this year and not having my own daughter going would be favorable. You're going and you will look your best with Archie. I have picked out the most beautiful Armani suit for him. You guys will look wonderful together."
Lacey really didn't have time to bicker with her mom. This wasn't the time to bust her bubble and put a dent into her plans. "I have to go. I'll see you later."
Danny was nervous. He was pulling apart lettuce to put into a bowl for the tacos. He really wanted everything to go over well tonight. Move/taco night was he and Lacey's couple debut. He smiled thinking of her. He was thinking about the softness of her lips when Jo walked into the kitchen.
"Wow, someone's in loveeeeeeeeeeeee! That smile speaks a thousand words," Jo remarked popping a chip into her mouth.
Danny turned around, flipping his hair over with a nonchalant gesture. "Whatever! I was…."
"What time is Lacey getting here?" Jo interrupted, her mouth crunching around another chip.
"She should be here in a few minutes."
"I'm so happy for you guys. My two best friends are finally together. This couldn't get much better. I swear your babies are going to be gorgeous and I'm going to need you to name at least one of your kids after me, please."
Danny laughed. "Well, we're trying to take it slow. No babies right now for a while anyway. Where's Rico?"
"He's on his way. He had to stop at the library to return some books. He'll be here a little later."
"Jo! Hi, you look great!" Karen came into the kitchen and hugged Jo. "Let me look at you? So beautiful. You look so much like Tess."
"Oh, thank you Mrs. Desai. Thank you for inviting me over tonight. I have so missed movie and taco nights."
"Well, I'm going to try to keep them up as a tradition. I miss seeing you guys here on Friday nights."
They were interrupted by the doorbell.
"Oh, let me get it," Danny announced, assuming it was Lacey at the door.
"Hey, Danny," Rico said stepping into the foyer. "My mom baked some homemade cookies." Rico handed Danny a wrapped tray.
"Oh, thanks man. I appreciate that."
"Hi, Rico. I'm Karen, Danny's mom," Karen walked into the room and hugged Rico who was tongue tied. He had no idea that Mrs. Desai was such a pretty woman. He blushed visibly.
"Hey, Rico! What did your mom bake?" Jo said strolling into the living room.
"Oh, she made blondies and chocolate chip and walnut cookies."
"Mmm…my favorities," Jo said stealing one from the tray. "So goodddddddddddddd!"
Rico looked at Jo's face as she bit into the cookie. She moaned with obvious pleasure and Rico felt warmth slide down his neck. He wished he was the reason for Jo making that noise.
"So what movies are we watching?"
"I think we have the Die Hard marathon going on," Danny offered just as he saw a shadow on his porch.
Before Lacey could ring the doorbell, Danny was at the door opening it.
"Hey," he said embracing her tightly.
"Hey, you" Lacey replied hugging him back.
"Flowers for me? You shouldn't have," Danny said grinning.
"I didn't. These are for your mom."
"Oh," Danny pretended to be hurt.
Lacey smiled, dimples showing. She grabbed him by the hem of his shirt and dragged him out of the hallway.
Danny put the flowers down on a side table and followed. Lacey pulled him into the den.
"I brought you this." As soon as Danny had the door closed, she was on him. Pushing him up against the door, her mouth found his quickly. She had her arms around his neck as he gripped her tightly around her waist.
His hands found their way to her backside and they slid lower as he picked her up and turned with towards the desk chair. Danny sat down with Lacey straddling him. He was kissing down the side of her neck and pushing her sweater up so he could feel underneath.
"We have to stop," Lacey moaned pulling back slightly. "Everyone is in the other room."
"You smell good," Danny said still kissing her neck gently and then he went to her cheeks, cupping her face in his hands. "You look extraordinary too."
"Awww, you're so sweet. You look beautiful if I do say so myself," Lacey said back pecking him lightly on the nose.
"I missed you," Lacey whispered, pressing her forehead to Danny's.
"I missed you too," Danny replied kissing her slowly. They pulled apart realizing that they had been gone too long.
Lacey stood up slowly from Danny's lap watching him watching her the entire time. He let his arms slide slowly from around her waist, to her thighs, then her calves.
"Don't look at me like that," Danny uttered breathing a little unsteady.
"Look at you like what?" Lacey said licking her lips.
He closed his eyes. "Stop."
Lacey backed away slowly towards the door. "What if I don't…stop that is?"
Danny smirked then looked at the desk. "I think I'll have you on this desk next if we don't get out of here."