Archie had excused himself and almost sprinted back to the frat house and away from Danny's seemingly unavoidable drama. He had promised to catch up with him later at game time.
Danny, Lacey and Phoebe ended up on a conference call with the Syracuse police department, their parents and their lawyers shortly after.
With Jo's father being the chief of police of her hometown in Connecticut, Jo having no prior arrests or convictions and her lawyers arguing self-defense, the judge had ruled that Jo was not dangerous to others or a flight-risk and therefore could be released on $50,000 cash bail until her trial date.
The detectives detailed that while Jo was not under house arrest, she was required to stay in Syracuse until the date of her trial in February. She was barred from stepping foot on campus and had to stay at least one hundred yards away from all witnesses who had been subpoenaed to testify in her case. This included Lacey, Danny and Phoebe, plus just about everyone else on the football and spirit teams, the fraternity and the sorority members and some faculty members.
"A hundred yards." Lacey muttered, she couldn't believe this.
"We'll be monitoring her, she does have an ankle monitor on." One of the detectives tried to calm Lacey's fears.
"Yeah but we don't. You'll just know where she was when she kills one of us." Lacey snipped.
"One hundred yards is a football field. What happens when one of us runs into her closer than that?" Danny pushed further.
"Call 9-1-1 and an officer will respond immediately."
"So we just have to stay alive long enough until one of you gets there, great." Phoebe bitched at them.
"You and your lawyers have the info, call us any time." The detectives offered before dropping off the call along with their lawyers.
"I'm wondering if I should just stay home—" Phoebe said, Lacey and Danny still on the line.
"I refuse to allow Jo control one more day of my life." Danny proclaimed, "I've already lost an entire year plus a good friend. She can't have anything else."
Lacey rubbed Danny's back, "Same, honestly. She caused me so much grief, I will fuck that bitch up if I see her on the street." Lacey growled.
"You're right. Besides, if one of you is going down, I'm going down with you." Phoebe said with the kind of blind honesty that only she could, "I'll be back tomorrow, keep each other safe."
Danny hung up and set his phone down on his nightstand before he pulled Lacey back into his arms and covered them up. They laid like that for a long while, independently processing this bullshit.
"That was not how this morning was supposed to go." Danny sighed.
"No?"
Danny shook his head no, "I wanted to tell you that last night was the most erotic night of my life." Danny closed his eyes, obviously remembering the highlights.
Archie and Lacey hadn't slept together. Instead, they had taken 'Team Danny' to heart and made every single kiss, every single touch all about him. Like Danny had predicted, he was the center. He had never felt pleasure in the way that those two delivered it to him. Archie was not going to be part of their regular sex life, they had all agreed on that, so Danny considered last night like catching lightning in a bottle.
Now, on this chilly morning after, Lacey hugged him close, their naked bodies creating heat between them just from their memories of the night before. Lacey kissed Danny's shoulder, the part of him that was closest to her lips.
"What else?" Lacey asked, voice broken and tired.
"I wanted to spend the morning showing you how thankful I am for you—"
Lacey rolled further onto her side and threw a leg up over Danny's beautiful body. Danny reached down and held her leg against him.
"How did you plan on showing me that?" Lacey rolled her hips against him gently.
"Careful what you wish for—"
"Don't let this news ruin a perfectly good morning. Show me, please?" She begged gently.
Danny gripped her leg tighter, remembering her performance from the night before. The sound of her morning voice making his body begin to sizzle.
Danny rolled them so he was on top, his lips attaching to Lacey's neck. She smelled amazing, the third round of their threesome situation had led them all into Danny's shower around 3 AM and they had given each other a group scrub down.
"I've never—" Danny panted as he pushed himself inside of her, "Ever, had a night like last night."
"Mmnh—" Lacey moved to meet Danny's rocking motion.
"Thank you." Danny whispered.
Lacey knew he was thanking her for last night, for right now and for every day they would be a part of each other's lives hereafter. Lacey responded to his sincerity with a renewed desire to please him.
Danny flipped the blanket off of them and pushed his upper body into a plank position so he could watch her body work his just as much as he worked hers.
"Goddamn, Lacey—" He bowed his head and kissed her deep.
"That's it, show me." Lacey whispered, damn she was sexy.
Danny focused on his rhythm, working with her in the sweetest give and take. His eyes lolling as she squeezed the muscles inside of her with each of her reciprocating thrusts.
"I think you are the one showing me—" Danny smiled down at her.
Lacey was more than he could have ever imagined in a partner. He hadn't been sure of where this relationship would go, but he was happy with where they were right now. He'd never been in love before and if this was what it was like, he would do anything to keep her safe, happy and satisfied.
"I am so in love with you." Danny gushed as he came, Lacey right behind him this time.
Lacey hugged Danny's collapsed body and kissed the top of his head.
"You're a big sap. I love you, too."
"We okay?" Danny muffled into his pillow, one arm draped possessively around her.
"Beyond."
Lacey eventually drifted off, Danny slipping away for another shower and to pull his shit together for his big afternoon game.
Lacey woke to the smell of coffee. YES, she thought to herself as she quickly dressed in her clothes from the night before. She knew Danny had to be almost ready to head out and bolted down the stairs. There it was, two coffees prepared in travel mugs and an insulated lunch bag that she suspected contained many treats inside.
"Hey, love." Danny met her with a quick kiss and hauled his gym bag onto his shoulder, "Sorry we didn't do breakfast together, but I packed you up some leftovers, coffee—"
Lacey smiled at her thoughtful boyfriend, "Thank you."
"I'd like to walk you back to your place, I just want to make sure—" Danny paused his anxiety-filled rant, he obviously had a lot on his mind.
"You want to make sure I get back safe." Lacey nodded.
"I just—like, I know you're not some helpless princess or something—"
Lacey's eyes grew, "I'm not a princess?" She giggled at him.
"Well, you're a queen actually, I'm just—" Danny swirled his hand around in space next to him while he searched for the right words to say, "Can I please walk you back?"
"I'd like that."
They headed out, Danny insisting she layer her outfit with one of his hoodies before they left. Both of them looked around suspiciously for half of their journey back to Lacey's dorm.
"Are you sure you don't want me to walk you to the stadium instead?" Lacey smiled.
"I'm honestly so freaked." Danny admitted.
"Okay, listen. I'm nervous too, but it's game day. ESPN is here, everyone on campus knows her. There's no way she'd be stupid enough to be here this weekend."
Danny nodded, "You're right." He sighed.
"Hey did you talk to Cole about, you know, our porn career?"
"Yes I did. He definitely saw it."
"Uhh, okay, and?"
"He said that the footage is digital and files archive for six months before they're dumped."
"Six months? Jesus."
"He said that it was pretty dark and grainy. He only knew it was us because of the light from the studio that filtered in when the door was open."
They made it to the front of Lacey's dorm, Danny walking in with her and placating Sarita with the movie passes he finally remembered to bring.
"You're coming right to the door?"
"The last time Jo messed with you, she busted your door in and caused a lot of grief, so yes, I want to make sure you're good."
Lacey's door was just fine. She unlocked it and everything inside was just as she had left it the day before.
"Thank you." Lacey hugged Danny tight, more relieved than she expected to be, "You need to get out of here before you're late for warm-ups."
"Coming to the game?"
"I want to say yes, but I'm not sure—"
"There's a ticket for you always, you know that. I won't be upset if you're not there though, okay? I get it."
"I do want to see you again before you're off for your stretch of away games next week."
"Definitely." Danny pulled her close again, "Maybe I can keep you in my bed all day Sunday—" He kissed her rough.
"Oh my god, you need to leave." Lacey smiled against his mouth.
"Text me later." Danny winked and left her in a puddle in the center of her room.
Lacey went to the game. SU won and the home crowd was nuts with energy. All of that happiness flowed through Lacey and pooled at her feet, her face remaining stoic, frustrated. She was angry that even doing something as simple as watching her boyfriend's football game was affected by Jo's release. Jo was free, but now they were not.
The team was headed to frat row to celebrate as always. Lacey texted Danny that she wasn't up for it and headed home for her last night with her dorm room to herself. As she walked, flanked by the crowd that trickled out of the dome along side of her, her paranoia about running into Jo climaxed.
Lacey's eyes darted everywhere, she felt dizzy. There were so many people around her. So many witnesses, safety in numbers and all that, yet she still felt like a target, completely exposed.
Danny: Sarita's right behind you, you're okay
Lacey turned around to see Sarita and a group of girls from her dorm walking behind her. She took a deep breath.
Lacey: Thanks. How'd you know?
Danny: I asked her to make sure you made it back safe
Lacey: I thought I wasn't a princess?
Danny: The look on your face for the last two hours, you're definitely a princess today
Lacey: Hey now
Danny: It's going to be okay
Lacey: Be a prince tonight, D. Chivalrous and shit.
Danny: Always
Lacey couldn't even show proper cute girlfriend jealousy because her mind was so far removed from current events. Danny tried his best to convince her anyway.
Danny: I'm yours, Lace. Text me if you need anything okay?
Lacey: Have a good time
They texted all day Saturday. It wasn't that Lacey was scared to leave her dorm, it was more that she was trying to psych herself up to leave campus later that afternoon to start a new job downtown in a popular spot that she worried Jo might try to attend. She really wanted to talk to Phoebe and get some of her signature no-bullshit advice.
Phoebe had originally planned to be back on campus by noon Saturday, but her family had been in no rush to drop her back off now that Jo was out there walking free.
Phoebe had to promise her family that she would remain on campus and communicate with them any time she was going to leave for any reason. By the time Phoebe had made it back to their room, Lacey had already left.
Phoebe knew how nervous Lacey was, starting her first college job a day after a murderer with a likely vendetta against her was not ideal. Phoebe and Danny planned to surprise Lacey during her first shift, to give her some familiar faces in her new crowd and hopefully ease her mind a bit.
Heading to a 21+ hookah lounge off campus to see Lacey at work was never going to be approved by Phoebe's family so she didn't tell them.
"'Ello—" Danny said in a British accent as Phoebe opened the door to her room.
Phoebe stared back at him stone faced. Danny smirked and gave her outfit a once over.
"Ready?" Danny tried to gauge Phoebe's temperament, assuming she was just as nervous as he was.
"Why didn't we insist she quit this job?
"I know the bouncer there, he won't let Jo in."
Phoebe hadn't even registered Danny's response.
"I mean, what time did she leave here today?!" Phoebe threw her hands up, unsure of the answer.
"Phoebe—" Danny stepped up closer and tried to snap her out of her panic.
"Did—did she text you when she got there?!"
"Hey, hey—" Danny pulled Phoebe in for a hug.
"You're good at this." Phoebe muffled into Danny's shoulder, the two exhausted from the mental energy that Jo was sucking out of them.
"Let's go see our girl." He pulled away and didn't offer her anything comforting because he had nothing left to give.
This whole situation was a nightmare, words wouldn't fix anything. All Danny could do was literally show that he would be there for his friends. They were in this together.
The lounge was slamming busy. Fresh off of the SU football win on the last weekend the team would be in town for a home game, downtown Syracuse was bustling with hundreds of visitors.
Phoebe and Danny nudged their way inside, Danny's number nineteen helping them to bypass the line. Danny spotted Lacey first. She was smiling, radiant, as always.
Lacey was wearing the SU football t-shirt she had purchased for herself, the one with DESAI on the back. She knotted it up to the side, exposing a strip of her belly above a tight black skirt, a half apron and ankle boots.
"There she is!" Phoebe cheered with a level of relief.
The girls saw each other before Lacey saw Danny. He watched as Phoebe happily danced her way through the crowd to meet her. He stayed put, watching Lacey recognize her friend and then search for him. When their eyes finally connected, her whole face lit up and Danny's heart bloomed. He hadn't seen her since Friday's game and hadn't seen her smile in even longer.
Danny gave her a tiny wave and headed toward the bar to grab drinks.
"Danny! Welcome back—"
"Hey Tim." Danny gave the owner a fist bump.
"Lacey's raking it in tonight, might be the shirt." Tim chuckled, "What'll ya have?"
"Two porters, please."
Danny took the beers and navigated the sea of lurching intoxicated people, muscling his way by Phoebe's side.
"Aww, thanks Danny!" Phoebe accepted the drink and tapped her cup against his before taking a long sip.
"Hi." Danny smiled at his stunning girlfriend.
"Hi." She smiled back.
"You two are so adorable." Phoebe giggled and knocked back the rest of her beer in one gulp.
"You two have fun, I've gotta keep moving." Lacey said as she side-swiped Danny and smacked a kiss to his cheek. It made Danny feel claimed, he liked that.
"Smoke?" Phoebe asked Danny, almost awkwardly.
"Hell yes." Danny said as if there were no other choices.
They sat and smoked, people-watching in silence for a long time. It was always so amusing to watch much more intoxicated people than yourself try to interact and function properly.
Danny kept his eyes on Lacey for most of the time, watching her give a shit about something with the same level of energy she gave to all her other shit. His mind wandered to what that might be like if they stayed together long term, thoughts that Danny had never had before. Ever.
He watched her interact with assholes and nice people, get manhandled and respected in a matter of seconds by all different people. As she worked the back corner, Danny watched some dude give her a great big sloppy hug, it was Jack.
Phoebe cringed when she realized what Danny was looking at.
"That." Danny tipped his chin up at Lacey's mystery hugging buddy, "That is the art director for the Syracuse Art Gallery and Collective." Danny took a long drag, "He's the one who will sell her paintings next month."
"Of course it is."
Phoebe soaked in Jack's details, deciding that he was fucking handsome and now she was dying to get the tea from Lacey. She picked up on Danny's frustration, he was jealous and Phoebe found that endearing coming from such a free-spirited playboy that Danny had been for so long.
"I'm going to get some more drinks." Danny sighed and headed back toward the bar.
The wait for drinks was much longer than before. Tim was still the only bartender on a night when the lounge was at capacity and it truly limited almost everyone's ability to continue the pursuit of their buzz.
"Manny, right?"
Danny turned around to the sound of a familiar voice. Jack.
"Danny, actually. Hi Jack." Neither of them moved to shake hands.
"Service here sucks."
Danny didn't respond, turning back to face the bar.
"So, what's it feel like?" Jack spoke up a little louder to pull Danny's attention back to him.
Danny didn't like wherever this was going. He turned politely to address a tipsy Jack for a second time.
"I'm sorry—" Danny opted for playing dumb and hoped Jack would just give up, "It's so loud in here—" He swirled a finger by his ear and shrugged, hoping it would be enough to shut him down.
"I said—" Jack had moved to Danny's side and spoke even louder, "What does it feel like?"
Danny squinted, "I don't have time for vagueness, Jack."
Jack smiled, "That's true, your time must be limited seeing as how you're on date with another woman while Lacey makes some cash. She pay you after each shift? You're one of those, what do they call it—PIMP! Oh my god, you're a pimp…." Jack trailed off.
Danny discreetly turned into Jack's space, crowding him, his eyes going dark.
"You're drunk and I get that, so I'm not going to smash your teeth in right now." Danny fumed.
"Aww, thanks, pal. You gonna answer my question now?" Jack weaved side to side a little, obviously smashed.
"No."
"I just want to know."
Danny knew better than to continue engaging this nonsense, but he truly didn't want to make a scene out of respect for Lacey. She deserved the opportunity this piece of shit could give her and he didn't want to be the one to fuck it up.
"What do you want to know?" Danny asked reluctantly.
"What does it feel like?" Jack smiled.
"What does what feel like?" Danny took the bait and shifted uncomfortably.
"To kill someone." Jack replied, salivating as we watched for Danny's reaction.
Danny nodded and grinned politely, "I see you've done some homework on me."
"Just a little background that's all, I protect my investments.
"I see."
"I found some very interesting news about you that the SU crowd obviously doesn't know yet."
"I respect the reasons behind your effort, but I promise you, Lacey's work is a sound investment. You won't have any trouble from me."
"I'm not convinced that's true after what I've read—"
"There's a lot of speculation out there from over the years, but you're wrong about some details." Danny noted.
"How's that?"
"Well first of all, Manny? That's not really a good sign of the quality of your research. Secondly, I've never murdered anyone."
"Funny, I didn't mention murder. I simply asked what it felt like to kill someone—" Jack smiled bigger.
Danny's chin dropped lower, his eyes intense and darker than before. His nostrils flared a bit as he sucked a quick breath in through his nose.
"What are you trying to do here, Jack?"
"Like I said, I protect my investments."
Danny stepped in closer, "Who's the pimp now?"
"College was your escape. Big time athlete running from a big time scandal. Must be such a burden to keep those parallel. It would be a shame if word got out—"
"Agreed, but as you've read, you have no idea what I'm capable of—" Danny muttered, taking another step toward Jack.
"Does Lacey?"
"Danny! Hey, back for another round?" Tim chimed in happily from somewhere behind him, "Hey Jack."
"Tim." Jack gave Tim a nod.
"What can I get you, Danny?" Tim tried again.
"For Danny?" Jack reared his head back and looked between the two of them in shock, "Danny's not old enough to drink, are ya bud?" Jack gave Danny a single too-hard pat on his back.
Tim's smile fell, disappointment spreading across his face, "What's he talking about?"
Danny licked his lips but didn't say anything.
"And Lacey's roommate?" Tim pointed to Phoebe who was now flanked by two men in their hookah corner.
Danny shook his head no, feeling like a puppy who had just soiled the carpet.
"You two have to leave."
"Tim—" Danny tried to object, "I won't drink, I'm—"
"Right now." Tim pointed to the door, his eyes traveling to Danny's number nineteen and signaling for him to assist.
The bouncer responded immediately, "'Sup?"
"Did you check his ID?"
"I lied about my age." Danny tried to help his friend.
"Did you check his ID?" Tim ignored Danny completely.
"No."
Tim sighed and shook his head. They were so short-handed, but there was no way he was going to risk losing his liquor license in a college town because he had a bouncer making some sort of back door deals.
"You're fired."
"Tim—"
"The three of you need to leave. You, Danny and her." Tim pointed to Phoebe, "Out."
Jack leaned on the bar and smiled smugly at Danny, "I'll keep my eye on Lacey for you, man. No worries." Jack winked.