Thanks for the reviews!
I have a few ideas for the next couple of chapters so hopefully I can post those over the next few days
Santana POV
Bailey and I had just picked up our Sunday breakfast and walked back in to our building when I saw Dani again. If I'm honest, I haven't stopped thinking about her since last night and finding out what I did at the engagement party was only part of it.
She hadn't noticed us and was pulling a bunch of junk mail out of her letter box. She was wearing a running outfit and my excellent detective skills deduced she had just came back from a run.
"Den!" Bailey yelled, causing her to turn toward us.
"Hey guys"
I was more prepared this morning than when she first made contact with me so I managed to make a full sentence.
"Morning Dani, how are you?"
"I'm good, except I didn't realise how much junk gets delivered in New York City" she said, gesturing to the rubbish in her hand.
"Yeah, everyone has something to sell you in this city. You just need to get one of those stickers for your mailbox and most of it should stop"
"Oh yeah, smart, thanks"
She threw everything in the garbage and we started towards the elevator.
"So, out running on a Sunday morning? You're keen."
"I was up early, I thought I'd take advantage. What about you?"
"Bailey and I have a very strict Sunday routine which starts with bagels from Harry's down the street" I gestured to the bag I was holding.
We had arrived on our floor and were suddenly already standing in front of my door.
"That's cute. How was your party?"
"It was good actually. Do you wanna come in? There's plenty to share" I held up the bag again.
I don't know where that came from but she didn't seem shocked by the invitation so I'm guessing it wasn't the wrong thing to do.
"That would be great, but I'm all sweaty"
"I don't mind if you don't" I smiled at her then unlocked my front door.
After setting Bailey up with his bagel at the end of the table, I moved to prepare coffee for Dani and I.
"So tell me more about your party" she said while setting the rest of the bagels up for us on the table.
"As I said, it was good. I don't really get to dress up like that often so it's fun when I do. Bailey spent the entire night charming all of my cousin's friends with his dance moves."
She laughed and then looked at my son "I can totally see that." She hesitated a bit before continuing. "Don't take this the wrong way but your husband must have super strong genes, he doesn't really look like you"
"Uh.. I don't.." I looked at Bailey with his blonde hair and fair skin. "I'm not married"
She looked like a deer caught in headlights. "Sorry, I didn't meant to assume. I tend to speak before I think sometimes and end up in awkward situations like this one"
"It's okay, really. Bailey isn't biologically mine" I said while still looking at my son.
"Sorry again. You don't have to tell me. Let's talk about something else." She said then went quiet. I handed her a coffee and moved to sit at the table.
"Okay. What about you? According to my niece, you're a bit of a big deal."
"What? What do you mean?" She looked even more terrified now than when she thought she offended me asking about my non-existent husband.
"Relax, I didn't tell her I knew you. Bailey wouldn't shut up last night about 'Den' and my niece asked what he was talking about. I have to admit, I was a little confused after seeing that mounted album in your apartment but I just mentioned that we saw an interview with Dani Taylor and he had been saying 'Den' ever since."
"Why didn't you just say you have a new neighbour named Dani?" She asked, looking confused.
I raised my eyebrow then laughed at myself. "That would have made more sense. I guess I was curious about you. I knew that if anyone knew anything about you it would be my niece. She's pretty in to her music."
She laughed with me which was a relief as I realised how stupid I sounded. "So you're not in to music?"
"No I am. Well, I was. I don't have a lot of time to catch up on current stuff" I admitted sheepishly.
"That's not necessarily a bad thing." She grinned.
"Mama!" Bailey yelled. He had been enjoying his conversation with himself while eating but was clearly done with his bagel.
"You done kiddo?"
"Yup! Movies?" He asked.
"Why don't you go and pick some while Dani and I finish eating."
He climbed off his seat and ran out of the room.
I looked at Dani who had gone quiet again.
"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable talking about my niece and your job. I swear she has no idea that I know you, she just gushed about how talented you are and how big you've gotten over the last couple of years. It just shocked me that you live in a 12th floor apartment building when you could probably buy the entire building. And you were out running this morning alone. It just doesn't make sense that you're her. Dani Taylor." I realise I'm rambling and quickly shut up looking down at the table. I'm digging myself a deeper hole.
I chance a glance back at Dani, hoping she isn't looking at me like the complete idiot I feel like right now.
I'm surprised to see her with a small smile watching me.
"At this point, the paps think I'm still staying at the hotel I was at for the past few weeks. That's why I went running this morning. I probably could buy a building, but what would I do with it? I'm just one person. I give it maybe a week or two before I start getting hassled again. New York seems to be easier than LA to get lost in. It took less than 24 hours before they were waiting outside the house I bought in Malibu."
"How long have you been in New York?"
"About 6 weeks. I came here for some press a few months back and decided I wanted to try living here for a while. I don't have much going on at the moment besides recording for my new album which I can do anywhere so.. here I am"
"Definitely not what I expected when I saw you in the hall yesterday."
She laughed at this. "Are you trying to say my moving clothes are not becoming of a pop star?"
It was this moment that Bailey came back in with his DVDs. He bypassed me and went straight to Dani.
"Den, which one first?" He had brought in The Lion King, A Bug's Life and Cars.
"Uhmmmm.. I don't know bud, which one is your favourite?"
"Cars!" He said and pointed at the DVD.
"Okay why don't you watch that one" she said.
He nodded then grabbed her hand trying to pull her in to the living area.
"I'm thinking he wants you to watch his movies with him" I laugh at the look on her face.
I address my son, not wanting to put Dani in a situation where she has to tell him no.
"Mijo, why don't you go and get comfy and I will come in and put your movie on in a minute"
He looked sceptical but let go of Dani's hand and headed back the way he came with his DVDs.
"Don't feel like you have to stay, I'm sure you have a bunch of stuff to do." I said even though a part of me wanted her to stay.
"I'm just catching up with some friends for lunch at 1 so I'm fine to hang out, if it's okay with you. I would just really like to have a shower and get out of this gear" she pointed to herself.
I had completely forgotten I had forced her to come eat breakfast after her run and she was still in her sweaty clothes.
"Oh. Right. Well why don't I clean this up and stall him while you go home and grab a shower"
"That sounds good, just give me 15 minutes" She said as she jumped up from her chair.
I turned towards the sink with our dishes. "I've never met a girl that showers that quick so I'll give you 30" I threw over my shoulder.
"Very funny, I'll see you in 15!" I heard before my front door slammed behind her.
10 minutes later, I had finished the dishes and was trying to convince Bailey that Dani had just gone home to shower and hadn't completely left him hanging. He was starting to get a bit grumpy and I knew this was coming after being out so late last night. The front door interrupted his tantrum and he ran over to answer it. Besides the fact we live in New York, the only problem with this is that he can't actually reach the handle. I walked over behind him and opened the door for Dani. Bailey put his hands up straight away wanting her to pick him up, which she did. I guess he's got a new favourite.
We walked back to the living room and Dani sat on the couch with Bailey in her lap. I went about putting the movie on and sat down beside them on the couch. Bailey was talking animatedly to Dani and it was clear by her face that she was only understanding half of what he was saying. He was normally pretty good with words but when he got excited it was full on babble.
The music started to play for the movie and Dani looked at me in confusion.
"I thought we were watching Cars?"
"Oh I probably should have told you. You can't trust Bailey's favourites. We do movies every Sunday and the one he picks at breakfast is never the first movie we end up watching. We've watched The Lion King first every week for the last month though so I guess that's something."
She laughed and then went back to watching the movie with Bailey. I tried to focus on the movie instead of the pretty girl beside me. It was not easy.
It took about 30 minutes before I heard Bailey's tiny snores. What surprised me though was that Dani looked as though she had fallen asleep as well. I decided to just leave the movie on and let myself get lost in my thoughts. This was the most bizarre situation.
Before I knew it, the credits were rolling. I checked the clock behind the tv, noticing it was 1130. Dani mentioned having plans at 1 so as much as I hated to do it, I knew I should wake her up.
I kneeled down in front of the couch intending to move Bailey to his bed before waking her up but as soon as I started to pull him away from her, she opened her eyes and looked straight at me.
"Hey"
"Hey"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep"
"It's fine, stay there, I'm just moving Bailey to his room" I said, then picked him up, leaving her on my couch.
I had just finished tucking him in to his bed when I noticed her standing in the doorway. Her eyes were on the framed picture above Bailey's bed.
"That's Bailey's mom, Brittany"
"Oh, are you guys...?"
"She died" I interrupted her.
"Oh, I'm sorry" She looked sad for both of us.
"She was my best friend, she died during childbirth. I was meant to be his godmother and then.. " I could feel tears start to well up in my eyes. "Now I'm his mom"
"What about his dad?"
"He was a deadbeat. He disappeared when he found out Britt was pregnant. Probably a good move, he was a jerk."
I didn't talk about this much. Most of the people in my life knew the story so I never had to explain. I was starting to get a bit upset.
Dani looked as though she was gonna move towards me and say something else when I interrupted her.
"I know you said you had plans for 1 so I thought I should wake you up."
She looked like she wanted to continue the previous conversation before thinking better of it.
"Uh yeah. Thanks. I should probably go. Getting ready to actually leave the house takes longer than 15 minutes" she smiled and I could tell she was trying to break the tension that had crept in to the room.
I smiled back. "I'll walk you out"
We got to the door and she turned back to me.
"Thanks for breakfast. And for letting me hang out with you and Bailey."
"No problem. We do the same thing every Sunday, so feel free to join us anytime"
"I might just do that. I'll see you around."
"Bye"
I was about to close the door when her hand came back through the gap. I pulled the door back quickly.
"Whoah! I almost crushed your hand"
She laughed at me again. "That could cause issues when playing my guitar"
I was still in shock at nearly smashing her hand so I didn't say anything, I just looked at her.
"I was just wondering if I could get your number? You know, in case I need anymore help while settling in to the building"
I wasn't buying her reason but I couldn't bring myself to say no.
She pulled out her phone and I recited the number for her.
"Awesome! Thanks! I'll text you my number" And she was off again.
What just happened?