I hope everyone's who has been reading this story is enjoying it. There's a little action in this part of the story. Happy reading!
Till the morning comes, it'll do you fine.
Till the morning comes, like a highway sign,
Showing you the way, leaving no doubt,
Of the way on in or the way back out.
Sam was enjoying the hell of the hotel room they'd been able to afford, thanks to a small donation by Nick and Daniel. On her portable tape player, the Dead were rocking and in the room the three girls were getting ready for the show. Andy, Nick and Daniel had gotten ready earlier and were out picking up supplies.
"He'd better not bring back Coors," Kim yelled out from the bathroom,"that's all I'm saying."
"Yeah," Sam agreed,"that beer is so weak. Doesn't have a kick.
"Come on, guys," Lindsay laughed,"they're from Detroit. No way are they bringing back that crap. Hey Kim?"
"Are you mad that Daniel's here?"
She sighed into the mirror as she applied her eyeliner. "Not mad exactly. More like surprised. It's the first time we've seen each other since we, well you know."
"Broke up?"
"Right. Tonight I was planning on hooking up with Tim and having my ex around just feels weird."
"Who's Tim?"
"One of those guys from SoCal? Remember? We met them three weeks ago in Oklahoma."
"Have we been there?" Sam asked,"I didn't think we had."
"Well, whatever," Kim replied,"It sure as hell looked like Oklahoma anyway. I need some air and some smokes. Catch you girls later."
Lindsay and Sam shared a look of amusement as Kim grabbed her bag and walked out the door. Sam tied the back of Lindsay's halter top for her as Lindsay quickly applied some lip gloss.
"Lindsay, can I ask you a question?" she inquired,"but don't get mad."
"No promises, but ask away."
"You like that guy, don't you?"
Don't think about what you left behind
The way you came or the way you go
Let your tracks be lost in the dark and snow""Nick and I used to be together, but we're just good friends now, Sam. There's nothing going on."
"I wasn't talking about Nick."
"Oh. Uh, well, uh Daniel," she stammered,"he's like a friend too."
"What's 'like a friend' mean?"
Lindsay couldn't think of a reply so she changed the topic instead. "I think I'm ready. It gets cold in the desert but I'm not sure if it'll be cold enough to take a jacket. Maybe just that sweater."
"Linds," Sam said gently,"no judgment, okay? I think you like him a lot more than you want to admit. And he definitely likes you."
"No, no you're wrong. He's just a friend, that's all. Daniel's just worried about me."
"Okay, Lindsay," Sam replied, not convinced,"if that's what you need to tell yourself. Don't waste any time though."
"What do you mean?"
"Life's too short to build up regret for what you could have done. To deny feelings and stuff like that. It's either make a move or let others move on."
"Sam, I-"
"No, it's OK," she said cheerily,"don't say anything else. Tonight's gonna be a great show. I think I'll catch up with Kim and get some smokes. See you at La Puerta in an hour, Ok?"
"Yeah," Lindsay replied, her mind racing,"and thanks."
"Sure," Sam said as she walked out the door."
Lindsay grabbed her sweater and tied it around her waist. She took a quick look at her herself in the mirror, fidgeting with her ponytail for a few seconds. Deciding she didn't need to lug her bag around all night, she put some money and the hotel key in her jean pocket and prepared to head out the door.
As she was turning towards the door, the knob turned and Daniel walked in the room. They stared at each other for a moment.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey yourself," she replied,"I was just about to head out."
"Cool," Daniel replied with a nod,"Nick and Andy met up with some people and said they'd see us there."
"Kim and Sam went for smokes and said the same thing."
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence shared between the two of them. Daniel stared at the floor as if his life depended on it. He was afraid of what he'd do if he really looked at Lindsay. The only thing he really wanted to do was the one thing he was stopping himself from doing.
"Daniel," she began to ask.
"Yeah?"
"About what you said earlier-"
"I meant it," he said quietly,"Every word of it. But I'm not a fool, Lindsay."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"That I don't expect anything. Look, I know I'm not good enough for you. I've always known that, but still-"
"But still, what?"
"I've missed you, OK? Being with you in any way is good enough for me. Seeing you, talking to you. Small stuff like that keeps me in your life. Not having that was.....killing me."
Lindsay could not keep herself from walking closer to him. "Daniel, I'm sorry for just running off like I did-"
"Don't Lindsay," he slurred, finally meeting her eyes with his own. "You've got to move on. I know it. This is part of that and if it makes you happy, I'm Ok with it."
"I've missed you, too," she admitted,"very much."
He bridged the distance between them, bringing his lips down to her for a passionate kiss. Lindsay could barely breathe as she laced her hands behind his neck and felt his hands on her naked back. All of the pent-up frustration of denying what they felt for each other exploded as she pushed him up against the wall and reciprocated his passion. He turned so that her back was up against the wall and she laced her legs around his thighs.
Daniel began kissing her neck as Lindsay lifted his shirt and removed it.
"Do you have the key?" he asked.
"Yeah. Who has the other one?"
"I do," he raggedly replied,"Do you really want to-"
"Yes, I do," Lindsay breathed, her hands going down his jeans,"but Daniel?"
"What?"
"I don't have.....anything," she admitted, blushing."
"Don't worry," he said, lustfully smiling," I do."
"Good," she laughed.
"I can't believe this is happening," he confessed,"God, I love you so much, Lindsay."
She kissed him as he removed her top, cupping her breasts in his hands as she began removing the belt from his jeans, slowly making their way towards one of the beds......