"Those fries are so good. Johnny Cakes is seriously the shit." Phoebe commented around a full mouth of perfectly seasoned cajun fries.
"I'm not sure I'm fitting into my dress now."
Lacey rubbed her bloated belly, not sorry she just ate the best cheeseburger she ever had, just sad that nature had other plans for her body. The greasy food didn't put her in the best mood and thoughts of Danny and their time together the night before came circling around again.
"What's that look, I know that look. Please tell me you're not backing out again?" Phoebe pleaded as she perfected her makeup.
Lacey sighed and stretched out on her bed.
"I need to get my focus back on school, Phoebs."
"So do it. Danny can fuck off!" Phoebe asserted, not happy that this cocky guy had obviously hurt her friend.
"Don't be mad at me, okay? I don't think I'm going tonight."
"Fine, okay." Phoebe finished with her mascara and grabbed her hair curler, "Can you still curl my hair?!"
"Sure."
A half hour later, Danny showed up at Lacey's dorm, suit in hand. Phoebe reluctantly opened the door a crack after Danny's insistence from the other side.
"Why are you here, moron?"
"Phoebe, that's not very nice."
Phoebe squinted at him in disgust before moving to shut the door. Danny was ready and wedged his foot in the corner before it could close.
"Danny move your goddamn foot before I freak out!" Phoebe whisper-growled through the crack in the door.
Danny leaned in close, "I'm coming in now, I suggest you move so you don't get hurt." He replied calmly.
Phoebe jumped back just as Danny pushed the door open forcefully.
"Get out of here, Danny!" Lacey groaned from under her covers.
"Phoebe, leave." Danny pointed to the door.
"Um, no. Fuck you, asshole. I live here. You leave before I call the police!"
Danny opened the door to their room and physically moved Phoebe out into the hallway, hair curler and all, before walking back in and locking the door.
"What is it you think you're doing exactly? You can't force me to talk to you." Lacey scooted into a seated position on her bed.
"You're saying a lot for not speaking to me." Danny challenged.
"Screw you."
Danny moved toward the bed, no indication he was going to stop.
"Danny—"
Lacey was caught off guard when Danny moved right into her personal space for a kiss. She kissed him back, mad at herself for not being able to resist him. Lacey pushed him away violently, only to realize he was so fucking strong and he hadn't budged. She was a little nervous now.
"Lacey that kiss?" Danny pointed to her mouth, "It's all I ever think about. All day, every day. Don't you think about it too?"
Lacey sat there, mouth open in shock and objection. When she didn't respond, Danny's nostrils flared and his jaw flexed.
"You and I both know that is not true."
Lacey was furious. This guy had made her feel every imaginable feeling in the last two weeks, she was exhausted.
"I don't need this."
"You've made that clear—"
"Yet you're still here, taking up my valuable time! You're the one who has all these friends to fill up your ego, but you keep coming back to me because you're mad I won't play along!" Lacey was screaming.
Danny never had to deal with anything like this before, but in his experience, it was honesty that would set him free. He backed away from Lacey and blew out in frustration. He ran his hands through his hair and held them there while he tried to think about what to say next.
"Just get out of here, Danny—"
"Please talk to me?" His heart hurt, such a strange feeling.
"We can't keep doing this—"
He sat back down on her bed and tugged at the tag on her blanket until he could get his thoughts straight.
"I—I'm not trying to do anything—" He took a deep breath, "The whole off-limits thing was a stupid Freshman code the guys and I had. It's lame and not really a thing. I'm in a different place this year."
"Things should be organic, Danny. You stopping people from interacting with me before I've even met them, that's manipulative and I refuse to let you keep doing that to me."
"I'm telling you, I'm making changes."
"In the last twenty four hours."
"Yes."
"What do you want from me, Danny?"
"You're different. I'm the one chasing you for this connection. I'm not used to that. You've kinda turned my world upside down."
"What. Do. You. Want?" She clapped, trying to get him to get to the point.
"The physical side of me wants you." Danny said gently, "Just you."
"Sure I'm enough? You had sex what, like at least three times yesterday, plus a bonus blow job. There is no way I could make all that happen for you everyday."
"First of all, you have no idea how many times I had sex yesterday. Second, you're more than enough."
Danny leaned over and kissed her then, slow and passionate. Lacey responded, wrapping her arms around Danny's back. Why were they like this?
"I want you." Danny whispered.
Lacey managed to reel in Danny's budding feelings. She reminded him that they had only known each other for two weeks and she knew Danny's football schedule would have him all over the east coast for days at a time, with the entire spirit squad in tow.
"You just spent days trying to convince me of what you're all about. I saw you as open, free. Not exclusive—"
"I was telling you the truth, but I never expected to meet someone like you, to have you satisfy me so completely."
Danny thought about Lacey's reasoning.
"You think I can't go a couple of days without having sex?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying." Lacey shrugged, "I also don't trust you, not really." She admitted.
"You don't trust me or you don't trust my other friends?" Danny was hoping to clarify that it was the latter.
"Oh definitely both—" Lacey huffed an irritated laugh, "You're going to end up hurting me. I'm not down."
Danny sighed, "Damn it."
"Danny, you opened my eyes to the benefits of your current situation. Why in the world would you trade that for something designed to fail?"
"I wouldn't cheat on you."
Lacey shook her head, "No."
"Okay fine, for what it's worth, I'm sorry about Archie and the guys. I'll talk to them, tell them to do whatever they want."
"Thanks." Lacey nodded, "Last night was amazing by the way, I agree with you."
"You read the texts I sent earlier?"
"I did."
"Can you unblock me now then? I'd really like to stay friends—"
Lacey watched Danny's perfect face as he pulled out his phone and scrolled through his messages, hopeful she'd just give him the time of day again. She wanted to know him, but she knew their connection was deeper than either of them was ready for.
"I don't want to be just one of your friends."
"Oh."
Lacey shook her head and unblocked him, the pair searching each other's faces for how to balance this never ending ache between them.
"Last night, that was the best sex I've ever had." Lacey smiled, wanting him to know she didn't take their connection lightly.
Danny smirked, "Oh that was all you—and, honestly it was for me too. Your body and lack of a condom will do that I guess." He gave a husky giggle.
"Yeah." Lacey licked her lips, that could be the way things were for them all the time if she could just let it happen.
"I've had pregnancy scares before, comes with the territory I guess. Are you—I mean, are we—"
"I'm covered. Honestly, I don't want children."
Danny relaxed further beside her, "Like, ever?"
Lacey shook her head no, "Never. I'm a little nervous about your volume though, if you haven't caught something yet, you will."
"I wasn't lying before, I've had a lot of sex, but I've always been safe."
"Do you even know how many people?"
"Of course. You?"
"Uh, yeah." Lacey emphasized, insinuating that it was normal not to have hundreds of partners, "You're number three."
"I told you none of that matters—"
Lacey shrugged, "So what's your number then?"
Danny chuckled at her and shook his head.
Lacey just waited.
"You are my most recent new partner."
"That's it?" Lacey smiled at him.
"That's it."
"It must be a pretty big number if you're not saying."
"I'd like to stop counting." Danny admitted.
"What's stopping you?"
"Look, I've never wanted to be exclusive before. It would be amazing to know it's just you and I. I am telling you that I am aware that it's an absolute privilege to only be with you."
"What about all those other parts of you that need fulfilling that you talk about so much?"
"I'm only talking about the sex. Like I said, most of my friends have other needs. I can still help them."
"How would I know the difference? You never discuss what you're up to."
"I'll tell you if you ask, as long as you promise it'll stay between us. You can trust me, Lacey. I know you know that." Danny's hope was back and blooming, was she reconsidering?
"If we tried this,"
"Oh my god—"
Lacey held her hands out to try and calm him down. He sucked in a breath.
"What would you say to your regular hookups when they contact you?"
"Simple. Sex is off the table. It might take a little while to touch base with everyone at first. They're used to jumping all over me when they see me so I just ask for your patience and understanding with it. I'll get them all on board. God Lacey, please, let's do this."
"So it's not a relationship, it's just like, an exclusive sexual partnership." Lacey wanted to confirm.
"That's what I'd love to try, if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. I promise though, I won't cross that line with anyone else before we talk about it first, I'm not about to hurt you, again."
Lacey bit her lip, god she did want that. Sex with Danny was so good. If they could actually work this out it might help her get the good vitamin D she wanted so she could refocus her energy back into her schoolwork.
"I don't have a lot of time—" The cons on Lacey's list started cropping back up.
"It's worth it." Danny was so sincere, "I know you agree. We'll get creative." He smiled.
"I'm not going to lie, I would love to try it."
Danny beamed, "Are you serious right now?!"
"One more thing though, or no deal."
"What's that?"
"Seriously, drop this bullshit with Archie and the rest of the guys not being able to pursue your 'friends' or I'm out."
"Done."
"I mean it. Like, immediately. I'm going to ask Archie and a bunch of the guys to dance tonight and I don't want problems."
"Dance all you want, that shit's mine." He gave her his biggest cocky smile, eyes dropping all over her body, "Does this mean you'll still go to the dance with me then? I brought my suit, I'm going to head to Archie's to change and then I'll be back for you in an hour."
"Phoebe is going to kill me."
"Lacey, please?"
"What do I get if I say yes?"
"I will destroy you." He fucking winked.
"Promise?" Lacey challenged him.
Danny pushed a kiss against the side of her head, "You're mine after this stupid dance. I hope you're ready—"
Lacey shuddered, this was going to be an amazing year she thought.
"See you in an hour."