"Matt Ritter, where are you?" exclaimed Dani as he answered his phone.
Just then there was a knock at the door as she kept scolding him.
"Dani Davis, I told you I'd be there." he responded laughing
"Everyone will be here in like an hour, and I needed your help in setting up, you're already 15mins late." she replied hitting him in the arm
"I'm sorry, but I got here as fast as I could" he said still laughing rubbing his arm. "So what would you like me to do?"
"How about hanging up the banner." she said as she handed it to him.
"Can I say someone's not having a good day?" he said looking at her.
"I'm sorry, it's just that I'm a little on edge about the whole situation with Kris and Laura." she said as she went over and grabbed the newspaper and handed it to him.
Matt put the banner down as he read it. "Oh boy," he responded looking over at Dani.
"Oh boy is right." she said. "Wait till my dad and Senator Nickels finds out. All hells going to break loose."
Matt shook his head. "What's Junior going to do? Has he even seen the paper?" he said throwing the newspaper down on the table.
"I don't know." she said hanging the balloons up.
"So, Laura and Bobby huh?" he asked picking up the banner again, referring to when Dani spilled the big news.
"Yeah, I know. I felt horrible for blurting it out that night, but she wasn't being honest with him. I've known for awhile, and I've waited for her to tell him the truth but I knew she wasn't going to do it. That's why I just exploded that night." she said shaking her head.
"It's not your fault. You were just looking out for Junior."
"So, what is it about "Bobby" that you girls love so much? He's just bad news."
"I don't know, I was young and naïve when I got mixed up with him. I actually have Kris to thank for helping me out one night when things got bad between us."
"What happened?" he asked.
"Oh Bobby and I got into an argument, and he got a little violent and I told him to get off me and I screamed. Kris came over and she pretty much beat the living day lights out of him and threw him on his car choking him." Dani said. "Then I thanked Kris and told her that we're still not friends." Dani laughed. "I never even gave her a chance, but look at us now though" she said laughing. "I love her like a sister."
Matt looked over at Dani. "You've changed and grown up a lot" he said smiling.
"Yeah, I think we all have. Leaving Davis Farms was the best thing for me. Hey I even learned how to be independent." she said laughing
"Who would have guessed, our very own Dani Davis little Miss princess, who got whatever she wanted, daddy spoiled her rotten would turn into a young beautiful woman who's now independent and has a mind of her own." he said laughing.
Dani's mouth dropped open. " I-I can't believe you said that. " she said laughing as she grabbed a pillow off the sofa and started hitting him with it. "Little Miss princess." she hit him once. "who got whatever I wanted" she hit him twice, "spoiled rotten." she hit him a third time.
"Aye, aye Dani" he said still laughing blocking her hits. He then grabbed the pillow as he tossed it back on the couch. He grabbed her by the wrists, pulled her closer and started tickling her.
They both fell on to the couch laughing. "Okay, okay Matt, you win" she said as he was semi hovered on top of her.
"We haven't laughed and hung out like this in so long" she said playfully hitting him trying to get up.
"I know" he said as he nodded still laughing. Just then, he felt a rush of flashbacks of their relationship. He remembered how Dani did love him at one point. He missed her smile, and her laugh and how much fun they had together, not to mention their love for horse racing. They laughed as they froze just starring at each other. He then leaned in and just kissed her with passion.
She was caught off guard, but she kissed him back with force. Once she realized what she was doing, she pulled back and just stared at him as he stared at her, both in shock.
"I-I'm sorry Dani, I-I don't know what just came over me." he said as they both sat up.
"Matt it's okay. I-I don't know what came over me either." she said. "Come on," she said as she playfully hit him smiling "Lets get to work, we've got 30mins left."
She got up and headed towards the kitchen to grab the burgers and hot dogs. She then walked out on the balcony leaving Matt there thinking. She couldn't help but smile as she was lost in thought. "Did we just really kiss?" she asked herself biting her bottom lip.
Matt just sat there dazed and confused. "What just happened here?" he asked himself shaking his head. "Did she feel it too?" he wondered. He couldn't help but smile as he thought back to it. It's been so long since he's kissed anyone.
Dani walked back in as Matt got up off the couch. "So where should I set up the tables?" he asked her.
"Outside on the balcony." she said pointing in that direction as she walked back towards the kitchen.
Before he moved the table, he grabbed the confetti that was sitting on it and threw it at her, which made her shriek and laugh. She grabbed some herself and threw it at him, which then lead to him grabbing her hand.
They stood there frozen breathing hard from laughing as Matt pulled her closer to him. He held her tightly against his body, and she put her arms around his neck. Their hearts were beating so fast from the nervousness. He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers, and she didn't refuse. It felt like old times, when they were together and happy.
They pulled apart and just smiled at one another. "D-Dani, what does this mean?" Matt began saying still smiling down at her.
Just then there was a knock at the door.
"Matt, let's talk about this after the party." she said as she kissed his nose.
"Okay," he nodded as they kissed one last time before she went to get the door.
He didn't know why, but it was a good feeling.
…
"You ready to go?" Junior asked Kris as he came back from checking out with the nurses. He then put out his hand for her to grab.
"You bet I am." she replied as she took his hand. "Let's go" she said as she smiled.
Junior and Kris walked hand and hand towards his car.
"What's wrong Kris, why so quiet?" he asked her after awhile of driving.
"It's nothing really, I just miss wildfire." she said sadly.
"Baby don't worry, you'll see him again." he said as he smiled at her. He then grabbed her hand and kissed it.
They pulled up to the condo within minutes. Junior opened the front door for her.
As she walked in her mouth dropped open.
"WELCOME HOME!" yelled Dani, Matt, Gillian, and Kalvin as they made their way towards her.
Kris was so surprised and shocked to see everyone there. She looked around and had a big smile on her face as she saw a big "Welcome home" banner hung up in the living room, with balloons and streamers everywhere.
"Awww, you guys are the greatest" she said as she hugged and thanked everyone.
Junior couldn't keep his eyes off Kris. He saw how her face lit up when she saw everyone there. He couldn't help but smile as she looked over towards him. "God she's so beautiful" he thought. He then took her stuff and put it in her room.
Matt came over and handed her a drink. "How's it to be home?" he asked her.
"Great! You don't even know." she replied. "I can't wait to get back to my life." she said smiling.
"You didn't bring Todd?" Kris asked him.
Matt couldn't keep his eyes off Dani who was laughing at something Kalvin said. "God, she's beautiful." he thought to himself.
"Matt? Matt? Hello?" she said laughing trying to get his attention. Her eyes then glanced to what he was looking at.
Kalvin and Gillian were in a conversation out on the balcony, but she couldn't help herself from thinking about Matt. Her eyes searched the room for him as she sees him talking to Kris over in the corner. She thought that Matt would be excited to have some alone time with Kris, but as she tuned Kalvin out, her eyes glanced to where Matt's were. "Why was he not giving her his full attention?" she thought. "and why does he keep looking at Dani? Huh?" she thought to herself. She turned her attention back to Kalvin who was smiling at her.
"Oh, I'm sorry Kris. What were you saying." he said now giving her his full attention.
She laughed as she noticed he couldn't keep his eyes off Dani "No Todd?" she repeated.
"No, I left so fast, didn't even get a chance to tell Todd about everything that's happened. He misses you though." he said.
"I miss him too." she replied
"Lets eat guys." Dani said as she lead them out towards the balcony.
Matt and Kris followed her out.
Kalvin was grilling some burgers and hot dogs.
"Hmmm smells good out here." said Matt
Gillian grabbed the plates as she passed them around, glancing between Matt and Dani who just happened to have locked eyes. "Here you go Matt" she said as they broke eye contact.
"Thanks Gillian." he replied as he took it from her hands. "So how's business?" he asked her trying to make conversation.
"Oh you know, good. I'm going to be leaving in a few days, on a business trip but I'll be back at the end of the week." she replied.
"That's great" he replied smiling at her.
Kris couldn't help but smile as she looked around at these people she loved. "Where's Junior?" she thought not seeing him. She went back inside heading down the hallway, not paying any attention as she turned the corner.
At the same time, Junior was leaving her room, heading down the hallway as he turned the corner. She walked right into Junior's arms as he startled her.
"Looking for me beautiful?" he asked her as he had his hands around her waist, with them standing face to face.
"Junior, you scared me." she said as she looked into his eyes. "I was looking for you" she replied. "I wanted to give you this" she said as she pulled him in for a long passionate kiss. "Thank you for being so wonderful" she said as they embraced in a hug. When they broke apart they just stared into each others eyes. "I'm starving, let's go" she said as she lead him by the hand.
"Now?" be cried.
"Yes, lets go. We don't want the others to suspect something." she replied.
He nodded as they walked out towards the balcony and joined the others.
"What's up Buddy" said Junior as he, Matt and Kalvin did their guy handshake. The guys had beers and the girls drank champange as they talked, laughed and shared stories.
It was getting late and everyone was parting ways.
"You want some help cleaning up?" asked Gillian, looking at Dani.
"No, its okay. We'll just make Junior do it." replied Dani
"Ha Ha Dani" he said smirking at her.
"No, really we could stay and help" responded Matt as he started picking up cups looking for the trash.
"No, seriously that's okay" said Dani "We'll just leave it tonight and clean up tomorrow. It's saturday, we'll be home all day long. You guys go, get some rest." she said grabbing it from Matt's hands. "Thanks for helping me set up." she said as she gave him a hug.
"You're welcome" said Matt "Anytime." Just then, as they're standing there in an embrace, they both felt a little spark once again.
"How about lunch tomorrow?" he asked. "So we can talk."
"That sounds perfect" she responded, since they both knew tonight was impossible.
Gillian stood there as she watched Matt and Dani bond with a little sadness. "What's going on? Why can't they keep their eyes off each other" she thought to herself.
"So Gillian, how about lunch with me tomorrow?" asked Kalvin seeing her a little down.
Gillian was caught off guard. "With me?" she asked
"Yes with you" said Kalvin with a smile. "What do you say, we could get to know one another?" he asked.
"That sounds lovely" she responded in her british accent.
Junior turned to Kris. "Well it seems like everyone here but us has a lunch date. What do you say, join me for lunch?" he asked her.
"That sounds like a plan" she replied with a smile.
Once everyone was gone, Kris went to grab a bag to clean up.
"What do you think you're doing?" asked Dani
"Cleaning up" she replied.
"No, just leave it, we'll do it tomorrow." she said.
"So tell me Dani, what was that between you and Matt that I saw?" she asked eagerly.
Dani sighed as she sat down.
Kris walked over and sat down next to her.
"Come on, give me the details."
"Well, I-I don't know to be honest. He asked me the same thing. See, we were setting up for your welcome home party this afternoon and we were laughing, joking, you know playing around… then one thing led to the next we kissed." Dani replied as she covered her face with her hands.
"Shut up!" exclaimed Kris excitedly "Dani that's great." she said as she hugged her.
"But I don't know if he's doing it out of spite, because he still has feelings for you and he suspects something's going on between you and Junior or"
"Or maybe he's actually following his heart." Kris replied cutting her off. "Matt doesn't suspect anything, because Junior and I haven't made it obvious. The only other person who knows is Gillian, since we talked about it." she replied. "Oh no, Gillian!" Kris thought to herself.
"Well, we will find out tomorrow at lunch. Matt and I are going to talk. All my feelings I had for him, that I thought was locked away and gone, just came back tonight." she said smiling. "I don't know Kris!" said Dani as she grabbed a pillow and covered her face.
"Go get some rest, talk to Matt and figure it out. Maybe the love of your life is right in front of your eyes."
Kris said as she pushed into Dani's shoulder with hers.
They both stood up and embraced into a hug. "I'm so glad you're home roomie."
"Me too." replied Kris. She then started to clean up a little more once Dani turned the corner.
"Oh no you don't" said Junior coming around the hallway as he grabbed it out of her hands.
…
Gillian unlocked her door as she went in. She sighed and threw her keys on the table. Tears came down her face as she thought back to when she first got back into town. "Matt doesn't love me anymore. Why am I trying so hard?" She thought to herself. She then thought back to tonight. She couldn't help but wonder if there was something going on between Dani and Matt. "I thought he was in love with Kris?" she said sadly.
"But I don't understand though" she said out loud"why was it that when Matt and Kris were talking, he couldn't keep his eye off of Dani? Is it possible that he's moved on from Kris to Dani? Oh I don't know." she said. "I can't think about this right now. I need a bubble bath to relieve my headache." she said as she headed towards her bathroom.
…
Junior put down the bag as he came up behind Kris and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Do you know how much I missed you today?" he asked her.
Kris turned around and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Not as much as I missed you" she said as they both leaned in for a kiss.
"Come on, lets go to bed." he said as he shook his eye brows at her.
He lead her down the hall towards her room. As they reached her room, he opened the door for her to go in.
When she walked in her mouth dropped open. There were rose pedals everywhere she looked, from the doorway to the bed. Candles were lit and there was a vase filled with red roses sitting on her dresser. Tears streamed down her face as she turned around and jumped into his arms. "J-Junior it's beautiful. Thank you thank you." she said as she kissed him a few times on the lips until they kissed passionately. They headed towards the bed as he laid her down. He kissed her forehead, down to her nose, down to her lips, down her chin and down to her neck.
"I love you Kris" he said still kissing her.
"I love you Junior" she responded still kissing him as she took off his sweater, belt and pants.
He then removed her shirt and jeans as they ended up making passionate love.
Kris laid there with Junior's arms around her waist, feeling so protected. She turned around and faced him as she kissed his nose, to his lips, to his chin, down his neck, as she nuzzled his ear. She made her way back to his lips where they continued kissing passionately. "I love you so much Junior Davis" she said with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Junior smiled as he wiped away the tears in her eyes. "Kris, I love you more than life its self." he responded as he leaned in and kissed her softly at first, but then turned into a passionate one that had them gasping for air. Once again that lead them to making love once more.