CHAPTER 9
"So, are you going to tell us who's been putting that big smile on your face?"
The girls were curled up in Mary's living room, sipping margaritas and catching up. It had been almost two weeks since she and Danny had started seeing each other and so far they had been able to keep their relationship just between the two of them.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Sam."
"Oh, whatever, Mary. We know you've got a new man so fess up—who is it?"
"Why do you think it's a man?" Mary couldn't help but tease her friends. She found it highly amusing that while Sam and Delinda knew she was seeing someone they had absolutely no clue that it was Danny.
"Omigod, you finally switched teams?"
Delinda's sudden comment caused Mary to laugh. "NO! I meant why can't I just be happy? I've got a great job, great friends, great new place to live…"
"Because, my dear girl, you have the look of a woman who is being thoroughly satisfied…on a regular basis," Sam piped up as she reached for her drink.
Delinda finished off the last bit of liquid in her glass before responding in a wistful tone, "Yeah, I haven't had that look for awhile…probably not since Danny."
Mary was sent into a fit of coughs as she almost choked on her drink. Sam gave Delinda a menacing glare before reaching across to pat Mary on the back.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Sure…it just went down the wrong way," Mary assured them as she finally settled down. At one point in time that comment might have upset her, but she felt secure in her relationship with Danny and it only served to amuse her even more. "If Delinda only knew…," she thought to herself.
"Geez, Dee, have a little sensitivity."
"What? It's not like she's still seeing him. She's obviously got someone new," Delinda defended herself to Sam before turning to her other friend, "You're over him, right Mary?"
"Ummm…"
"Delinda, she'll never be over him. Even after she marries someone else, there will always be that little part of her that wonders 'what if'."
Completely uncomfortable with the turn the conversation had taken, Mary got up to refill their drinks.
"But I dated Danny too," Delinda whined before lowering her voice to a volume that only Sam could hear, "…and he still has feelings for me. Am I just never allowed to talk about that part of my life?"
"Did he actually tell you that?" Sam whispered back.
"It was implied," Delinda stated emphatically, evoking an eye roll from Sam.
"Look, I'm not saying you can't talk about Danny. I'm just saying you need to practice a little bit of sensitivity. I know it's a new concept for you."
"You're going to lecture me about sensitivity, you…you …," Delinda spat at her incredulously before she was interrupted by Mary.
"Okay, that's enough. Look, it's okay. I'm not upset. Let's just talk about something other than the state of my love life."
"Fine," Delinda responded coolly while Sam just stuck out her tongue.
Mary quickly sat down again, placing herself between the two girls in hope of avoiding World War III.
"So, did you check out that new guy in security?" Sam finally asked her two best friends.
"You mean Mark?" Mary had seen him a couple of times when she'd dropped by Danny's office, but she hadn't had a chance to introduce herself yet.
"Oh yeah," Delinda replied. "He is smokin' hot."
---
"This is what it's all about, my man--good beer, good friends, and the ultimate in sports entertainment."
Danny and Mike were currently seated in the ESPN Zone watching no less than six different sporting events on the big screens across the far wall. Danny tipped his beer in acknowledgement of his buddy's statement before turning his attention back to the Spurs/Lakers game.
"So, what'd you have to do to get the little lady to let you off the leash?"
"Huh?"
"Come on, man. This is me you're talkin' too. You've been 'busy' every night for the last two weeks."
A sly smile crossed Danny's face as he thought about what he'd been doing all those nights. This would be his first night without Mary since they'd started seeing each other again and despite the fun he was having with Mike, he was not looking forward to going home to an empty bed. If he'd had it his way he would have spent every waking and non-waking moment with her, but Mary had decided that they needed an evening apart. She'd set up a party night with the girls and had encouraged him to do a little bit of male bonding with Mike.
When Danny did not respond, Mike nodded his head in acknowledgement, "Alright, it's cool--still keepin' it quiet. I get that. But again…"
"I promise, Mike," Danny assured him with a chuckle. "You're my first call."
---
"Open your door."
"Huh?" Mary tried to clear the haze of sleep and tequila from her mind as she listened to the voice on the phone.
"I'm outside. Come let me in."
Finally recognizing that it was Danny she pulled herself out of bed and stumbled to the front door. She glanced through the peephole just to make sure and then unlatched the chain.
"You're drunk," Danny stated as he took in her appearance.
"Just a little bit," Mary told him, trying to emphasize her point by creating a small space between her thumb and index finger—a task made extremely difficult by her inebriated state.
Danny couldn't help but grin as he moved past her into the apartment.
"So, I guess you and the girls had a good time."
"Very good. Lots of margaritas."
"Lots and lots of margaritas from the looks of it."
"What about you? Did you have fun with…with…," Mary trailed off as the name of their friend failed to materialize in her mind.
"Mike," Danny spoke slowly as if he was talking to a small child. "Yes, I had fun with Mike." He chuckled as Mary unsteadily made her way towards the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. Seeing her struggling with the cap, Danny quickly removed the offending piece of plastic before handing the bottle back to her and watching as she downed the liquid in several long gulps.
Her thirst finally quenched, Mary leaned her head against Danny as he gently stroked her hair.
"I know we were supposed to spend tonight apart, but I decided I'm not okay with that plan."
"Yeah, that was a stupid plan," she mumbled into his shirt. "Who came up with that?"
"You did," Danny smiled.
"I did? Why on earth would I want to do something like that?"
"Something about getting tired of each other…I don't know. I wasn't really listening."
He didn't get the opportunity very often, but Danny loved teasing her when she was like this.
"Okay, good."
They stayed that way for a few moments, Mary wrapped in Danny's arms, her head securely against his chest while he rubbed soft, soothing circles on her back.
"Danny?"
"Yeah, baby?"
"Can we go to sleep now?"
"Sure." The word had barely left his mouth when he felt her body go completely limp. Danny caught her around the waist before she could fall and lifted her into his arms.
After getting Mary settled, Danny showered and changed into his pajama bottoms—hidden in the top drawer of Mary's dresser—and joined her in bed. Danny had definitely had something else in mind when he'd decided to come over, but snuggled up behind Mary as she snored softly in her sleep, he knew he wouldn't trade this moment for anything in the world.