"All right, then, y'all have it worked out," Tess said. She hugged me. "Love you, sister. Have fun."
"Thank you, love you," I said.
She stepped toward Daniel. "Do you know how to get back to the hotel?" she asked.
"Oh, yeah, that's no problem," he said.
They hugged each other.
We spent another few seconds saying goodbye to Billy and Marvin, and then the three of them took off.
We stayed there for another hour or so, talking, meeting new people, and listening to music. Teddy came up to our group a little while after they left. He had a huge personality, and he stopped to talk to each of us, like a politician.
"James, James, Sergeant James from Ohio. That's my card-dealin' man right here," he said, nodding and shaking James's hand. "We gonna get you a game set up down there in the basement in a little while, my brother. My boys Chester and Big Lou over there both wanna get in on that."
"Yes sir," James said, "I'll deal anytime you're ready."
"All right, all right how about you, who do we have here?"
"I'm Darren Rutledge."
"Sergeant?"
"General, technically, but I go by Chaplain."
"Chaplain, huh?" Teddy bowed and made the gesture that was the sign of the cross. "Bless you," Teddy said.
"Bless you, too," Darren returned easily with a smile and nod.
"Welcome to my home. I hope y'all have been finding everything you need here."
I wasn't really paying attention to the conversation that was happening around me. I heard them talking, but I was mostly concentrating on Daniel's fingers, which had been roaming gently over the small of my back.
I looked back at him when he stopped moving, but he was lost in thought.
"I'm Michael Elliot," Michael said, speaking loudly over the rock song that was playing.
He and Laney had come to stand right beside us, so Teddy stepped our way, basically standing right in front of me.
"Are you from Texas, Michael?"
"Yes sir."
"So, you're not Sergeant or General?"
"No sir. I'm in the restaurant business."
"All right, all right, that's pretty good. What kind of restaurant?"
"Seafood, sir. Since we're right there on the water."
"Are you successful, Michael."
"Yes sir."
Teddy smiled. "I'll have to get with Michael later, too. I've been wanting to get in the restaurant business."
Daniel stayed still. I wondered if he had gotten nervous, thinking that we would be next in line to talk to Teddy. But I knew that wasn't the case. Daniel had been talking to people all night. He was a well-spoken, friendly guy. I think I had even seen him talking to Teddy earlier.
Michael continued saying something about his father's restaurant, but I turned and focused my attention on Daniel. The first thing I noticed was that little muscle flexing at his temple and in front of his ear as he gritted his teeth. He was staring into space, which was not like him at all.
"Daniel," I said his name softly and waited, but he didn't respond.
My heart pounded. They were still talking beside us, but I couldn’t hear them. All heard was the rock rhythm of the song and the lyrics
The drummer relaxes,
and waits between shows,
for his cinnamon girl.
"I have to go," Daniel said stiffly.
"That's my brother and his wife." I heard Laney say it only because she patted me on the back.
"I met Daniel." Teddy said. He laughed. "Though I didn't know he was an American hero when I met him. I heard you earned the Congressional Medal, my brother. You didn't tell me that when we—"
Teddy stopped talking abruptly when I stood between him and my husband, smiling sheepishly.
Chapter 18
"I'm so sorry, but I just remembered I left my glasses, and my pocketbook—all of my, personal items in your ladies' room just now. Oh my goodness. So sorry you guys, we'll be right back."
I acted just flustered and overwhelmed enough that everyone's attention was on me. They were all looking at me and not Daniel as I turned and scrambled away, pulling Daniel with me. I had him tightly by the hand, and I blazed a trail through the groups of people.
I had gone this way to use the restroom earlier. There were a few bathrooms around, and most of them were closer, but I went directly to the one I had found earlier. It was on the other side of the kitchen. I knew you couldn't hear the music from in there. I had noticed it earlier because one of my favorite songs was playing and I was sad when I went inside and couldn’t hear it.
I headed straight for that bathroom because, somehow, in the middle of all that commotion with Teddy, it registered that Daniel needed to leave because of the song that was playing. I was almost sure I was right about it because he had stopped moving right when it came on.
I could still hear it as I headed to the small half-bath on the far side of Teddy's kitchen. No one was around. I went straight into the bathroom and pulled Daniel in with me.
It was so small that I leaned against the lavatory to make room for him to come in. I tugged him inside and then I closed and locked the door behind us. It was quiet in there, but I flipped the switch that turned on the vent, making sure to drown out any remnants of the song.
Daniel took a long, deep breath.
He was standing in the only open space in the bathroom. It was so packed in there that I sprang up and sat on the edge of the sink to make room for him. It made me a couple of inches taller to sit on that counter, which put me closer to Daniel. I pulled him in, and my eyes met his. His eyes had been watering, and they were still shiny from it. He stared at me.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered stiffly.
I pulled him in, wrapping my legs and my arms around him, locking him in, like I was a koala.
"Why in the world would you be sorry?" I asked, snuggling him. "I was scared of talking to Teddy. I was wanting to run off."
"Why would you be scared of talking to Teddy?" he asked.
I shrugged. "I don't know. He was talking to all of you guys about your awards and playing cards and everything, and I'm just a teacher."
I loved being a teacher. This whole conversation was a diversion. And it seemed to be working. Daniel's breathing had slowed considerably. I sat there and hugged him. And then, out of nowhere, I sang.
Hello, I love you,
Won't you tell me your name?
Hello, I love you,
Let me jump in your game.
I wasn't a terrible singer, but I was impersonating Jim Morrison and being a little dramatic and silly. Also, I was trying to get another song in his head.
"You better not be singing any Doors songs," he said dryly.
"Why not?' I asked, wondering if they had an effect on him also.
"Because you had a big crush on Jim Morrison."
"Jim Morrison has nothing on my husband," I said with certainty.
"Well, I am still alive," Daniel said. "I've got that going for me."
"Yes, you are," I said. "You're very much alive."
I pulled back to look at him. He was somehow still the boy I remembered meeting years ago and also the most masculine, handsome man I had ever seen. And he was my one and only. I wanted to care for him. I wanted to help him.
There were several washcloths stacked in a neat pyramid near the sink, and I reached over and got one off the top. I turned awkwardly to get some cold water on it. Daniel had sweat on his forehead, and I ran the folded, damp washcloth over it. He closed his eyes, and I carefully wiped his face.
"Was it the song?" I asked.
He nodded, his eyes still closed. I finished wiping and stashed the damp washcloth on the edge of the counter. I blew gently on his face. I wasn't really the blow-on-a-guy's-face type, but it seemed like a good time to do it. The corner of his mouth rose just enough that I knew he enjoyed it.
"You smell like lemonade."
"I just drank lemonade," I sai
d. "I taste like lemonade, too," I added.
My legs were still wrapped loosely around him, and I flexed them when I said it.
He opened his eyes. He took a deep breath in and then let it out, all while staring at me. I had no idea what he was thinking. "When I first came in here, I thought I might lose it, Abby. I thought I might explode or, at the very least, get sick. But not, now." His expression was serious and his eyes roamed over my face slowly.
I bit the inside of my bottom lip as I stared up at him. "What do you feel like now?" I asked.
My heart raced as I waited for his answer. He had been touching me lightly all night—touching me discreetly but in ways that made me know he had plans once we were alone.
"Now, I'm just feeling like being next to you." He leaned closer to me crowding my space.
I took an uneven breath, staring at him. There was not room for the both of us in this bathroom, and I absolutely loved being crammed up against the vanity with Daniel leaning into me. His big, hulking form was so imposing that I was breathless.
"I want you next to me," I said, being gentle with him.
"Thank you," he said.
I blinked up at him. He came closer. Our faces were only inches apart now.
"Thank me?" I whispered, innocently. "Thank me for winding up in here like this? Why, you're welcome, Daniel. It's entirely my pleasure." I let my outstretched fingertips roam over his back and sides.
I pulled him closer with my arms and my legs, and that was it. Daniel ravished me. He kissed me in a way I had never been kissed before. Our mouths opened, and Daniel kissed me hard. He did it so wholeheartedly that it was almost as if he wanted to create enough passion and emotion to overwhelm and overcome the other, unwanted emotions.
He pressed against me, holding the back of my head, gripping my hair. For a few seconds there, Daniel wasn't so gentle. He wasn't hurting me, it felt amazing, honestly, but it was more physical than he had been. He had some adrenaline to get out, and I was a willing participant in helping him with that. He asked for full control, and I gave it to him, doing my best to react in ways that let him know I wanted to be his everything. I wanted to be the one to stand beside him and be prim and proper when needed, but I also wanted to be the one he could take into the bathroom and kiss senseless if he needed to.
We were in that tiny bathroom for way longer than it took for the song to end. By the time Daniel finished what he needed to do in there, our mouths were pink and swollen. We laughed at ourselves, and ended up taking a minute and using that cool, damp washcloth to make our faces go back to normal before we went back out there. I even powered my nose.
Daniel kissed me several more times during all of this resituating, but they were all fast and playful, extremely gentle. I moaned when he finally pulled back far enough for me to hop down off of the edge of the sink. He smiled and leaned in to give me one last quick kiss. I wanted to stay in there forever and never go back out to the party, but Daniel took a hold of the door handle after he broke that last kiss.
"Okay my baby, I guess we have to go back out there," he said before he opened the door.
"You're my baby too," I said, hopping to my feet.
"I know I am," he said. "Don't you forget it."
"I won't," I said, widening my eyes at him, flirting with him.
He gave me a challenging expression. "I'll just put you in the car and take you back to the hotel if you want to look at me like that."
"I would go back to that hotel with you in a split-second," I said.
His eyes widened as he nodded. "Let's go."
"You guys already said you're playing cards," I said. "We can go back later."
"I didn't say I was playing any cards," Daniel said. "I don't care about that. James and them can stay all night if they want. The others will be fine, too. Michael's got Laney. I'm not worried about them."
"We have already been here a few hours," I said.
"So, are you taking me back to the hotel?" he asked, staring at me.
I grinned and nodded. "I was staying for you."
He shrugged. "If it's up to me, then, let's go."
The next thing I knew, Daniel opened the door, and headed out of the bathroom. He pulled me behind him in much the same way I had pulled him toward the bathroom earlier. We went through rooms with crowds of people until we reached the place where most of our group was standing.
Laney was standing near the edge, and so was James. Music was playing loudly, a groovy Bill Withers song I recognized.
"Abby and I are taking off," was the very first thing out of Daniel's mouth.
"Is everything okay?" Laney asked, shooting me a concerned expression.
"Yeah, we're just ready to get back," Daniel said. "Does anyone want to ride with us?"
"We drove," Laney said. "But you might want to ask Quentin and Barb. They rode with us."
Daniel looked into the living room where Quentin and his girlfriend were dancing in a group of people. "I think they're fine," Daniel said. "I'm taking my wife back to the hotel."
"Oh, is that what this is about?" Laney asked, almost seeming relieved.
"Yeah," Daniel said, not being shy at all. "It's been fun," he said, hugging his sister. "Y'all have fun and be safe tonight," he added, giving James a pat on the shoulder.
We said goodbye to a few others on our way out, but within minutes, we had found our way to his truck. I sat right next to him even though there was no one else in the seat with us.
Chapter 19
Daniel
The following evening
Blue corner locker room
Billy was in the zone. The title was his to defend. It was just another day at the office—at least that was what Dizzy kept saying. Daniel was in the locker room with Billy, Dizzy, and Marvin as they warmed up and got ready for the match.
Billy made conversation with all of them while Dizzy wrapped his hands. That was how it was in the locker room. Billy set the tone. Sometimes they were quiet, and sometimes they spoke, but it was never rowdy and the conversation in the room was always slow and easy, like his name.
Easy Billy Castro.
It was embroidered on the back of the shirt Daniel was wearing. He, along with Marvin and Dizzy would be in Billy's corner tonight. It was an honor for Daniel to be let in on that. Billy was the two-time world welterweight champion, and tonight he was looking to defend his title again.
Daniel hadn't physically been around to go to many of the fights that led Billy to this point. But the two were good friends, and they had kept in touch and encouraged each other through the years.
It had been a long time since Daniel trained regularly at a boxing gym, but he was big and strong enough that his stature and past experience made him a good training partner for Billy.
He was invited to the locker room so that he could hold pads during Billy's pre-match workout. Dizzy was delighted to pass that responsibility to Daniel for the night, and he said more than once that Daniel should just be part of the fight team from then on. It was yet another thing that made Daniel feel like he wasn't going to reenlist this summer.
Abby was open to it, but he knew that if he stayed in the military, he would have to ask for a transfer. He ran into Kelly on a fairly regular basis and he saw her father all the time. He managed to keep it professional, but things hadn't been quite the same since the breakup. That was understandable, though. Love was known for making things messy.
Kelly had fallen head over heels for Daniel, and she made it known that she still had feelings if he ever wanted to come back to her. She didn't cross any lines, but Daniel knew better than to make a home in Fort Benning with Abby. If moving wasn't an option, or Daniel had family there, he might feel differently. But as it stood, he had no ties to Fort Benning and he thought it was best for them to move somewhere else in the fall. He was thinking about that while they were in the locker room.
"Quentin stayed at Teddy's till two o'clock in the morning," Dizzy said, drawing Daniel from his
thoughts.
"James and them stayed late, too," Daniel added.
"Quentin said Frank Wells was there," Billy added.
(Frank Wells was Billy's opponent tonight.)
"I wasn't going to say anything about that," Daniel said. "But that's what I heard, too."
"I told Billy he was gonna show up there last night," Marvin said. "That's why we left early. I bet Teddy set that up so he could get photos of them exchanging words."
"I was doing good staying out as long as I did," Billy said. "I've got a baby. I'm on a strict schedule."
"It's better than staying out," Marvin said. "You can't do that the night before a match."
"I heard he was there till after midnight," Dizzy said.
"That's why he's getting ready to lose," Marvin said.
"How does it feel to be a married man?" Billy asked, glancing at Daniel with a mischievous grin. "I remember us eating lunch on that very first day. I was trying to take Tess out, and you two tagged along. You were telling her jokes, trying to impress her, your voice cracking all over the place."
"My voice was not cracking." Daniel insisted, and Billy laughed.
"It wasn't settled, I'll tell you that. 'Gee-golly, Abigail, should we go with them to lunch'?" He imitated Daniel's voice, but made it crack.
Daniel was easy going and confident enough to just laugh. He also knew it was pretty much the truth.
Daniel's mind raced with hopeful thoughts of how capable and prepared Billy was. The truth was, he was nervous. He had been to a few of his fights, but he had never been in his corner. Someone came in and gave them a five-minute warning, and then he came in again and warned them when there was only one minute till walk-out.
Marvin moved to stand in front of Billy at that point. "Listen, Billy. Some men paint pictures, some men write books. Some men make music, and others build houses and cars. But some of us, Billy, some of us were just created to be warriors. For some of us, our bones want to fight other bones. We were built for it. That's just how it is."
Daniel thought of his mom who had cried when she heard that he and his dad were going to take lessons at a boxing gym. Now that she knew these athletes personally and what a passion they had for the sport, she felt differently. She was in the audience at this very moment.
The Trouble with Crushes: A Romance (Bank Street Stories Book 2) Page 12