“Eli sprained her ankle.” Danny handed the crutches to Shane. Then he leaned toward me, took my hand and wrapped his other hand around my back.
“Put your left foot on the ground,” Danny said in a soothing voice. I obeyed and received the approval of his warm smile. “Now Sweetheart, press on that foot and lean on me, all your weight, and try to stand.”
Standing was difficult. I feared accidentally leaning on my right foot. With caution, pressing as hard as I could on Danny, I righted myself.
“Good girl,” Danny said.
I hopped away from the car and retrieved the crutches from Shane. After a few tentative steps I couldn’t continue. The pain was increasing. Danny held me to his chest, and I cried.
“Eli, shh,” he said in a soothing voice. “I’ll get you upstairs and give you the meds.” Shane took the crutches and Danny lifted me into his arms.
“Good thing you weigh nothing.”
If I hadn’t been in such extreme pain I would have enjoyed the close contact. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on tightly as Danny placed one arm under my knees and the other around my back. Then he carried me to the elevator. Shane’s starring made me blush.
“Drugs,” I pleaded once we were in Danny’s room.
Danny clasped my waist, gently placing me upright as though I were a fragile piece of china. I wondered if holding me felt as cozy to Danny as it did to me.
Shane placed the crutches against Danny’s desk. He continued leering at me.
“Shane, why are you starring at me?” I scolded.
Shane exchanged sly smiles with Danny who hugged me. I winced from the pain.
“Sweetheart, you do realize that you’re wearing practically nothing.”
“Oh!” I gasped and pivoted to hide against Danny. Of course it made no difference. My tank leotard was low-cut in front, but it was high-cut at the thigh. The guys shared a good-natured laugh at my expense.
“Shane, get Eli an ice pack, please,” Danny ordered while trying not to laugh.
He sat me down on the double bed as Shane left. Danny went to his closet and removed an oxford shirt.
“Here, put this on before Shane returns.”
“I hurt so much,” I cried.
“I’ll get you a glass of water so you can take your meds.”
As Danny left I pushed the leotard off my shoulders and down to my waist. I slipped the shirt over my head and fastened all but two buttons. Then, exercising the utmost caution, I pulled the leotard off and let it drop to the floor.
“Much better,” Danny announced as he appraised my appearance upon returning. He came over and sat down beside me.
“Here.” Danny handed me the glass of water and shook a pill from the bottle. I took it and swallowed, washing it down with the water. I leaned my head against Danny, surrendering to the pain,. He lifted his arm and brought it around my shoulder.
“It’s going to be alright, Eli,” Danny told me as he tenderly stroked my arm.
All I could do was nod.
“Let’s get you more comfortable, Sweetheart.”
Sweetheart? I knew it didn’t mean anything, but maybe it did.
I smirked, imagining Juliette’s reaction if she walked in and found me sitting on Danny’s bed partially clad. How I wished that she would.
Shane returned with an ice pack as Danny propped plump, down pillows against the wall.
“Thanks, Shane. Show’s over,” Danny smiled.
Shane threw Danny the pack but otherwise ignored him.
“How’s the ankle?” Shane asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe a little better.” My words came out unexpectedly slurred. I rose from the bed and I giggled. Shane raised an eyebrow.
“Catch you later, Danny. You have your hands full today, buddy.”
“Bye, Shane,” I flirted.
Danny glanced over as I blew a kiss. Then I lost my balance.
“Elizabeth!!”
Danny caught me around my waist just as my right foot was about to hit the floor.
“You scared me! Eli, are you trying to hurt yourself worse?”
Danny was angry. He never got angry with me. My heart felt hollow. I didn’t like this sensation and I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing.
“You hate me!” I wailed. Danny spun me around so we were face-to-face.
“Eli, those drugs are messing with you. I could never hate you.”
I smiled, drunk, and then I wrapped my hands around Danny’s neck. Completely uninhibited, I pressed my lips against his face. It was soft and warm.
“I’m a little loopy. Is this what being drunk is like?” My speech was slurred.
“For you, probably.” Danny smiled an amused smile.
I might have to get drunk sometime. This was fun! I smiled at Danny and he smiled back, his sapphire eyes twinkling. Did he know how appealing he was?
“Let me ice your ankle,” Danny suggested.
“Okay,” I answered breathily, pressing myself against him.
I pulled Danny’s face to mine and pressed my lips against his. Danny’s lips were warm and soft. His hands firmly held my back. Our lips moved in concert. His tongue gently touched mine. This was heady. Danny Newman was kissing me!
Abruptly Danny broke apart from me.
“Eli, what are we doing?” He frowned.
I smiled. “I don’t know,” I shrugged, “But it sure feels good.”
“Eli! You’re worse than drunk. I’m not doing this.”
“Danny, you’re no fun!” I pouted.
“I’m lots of fun,” he laughed, “But not when you’re drugged.”
“I want to have fun, Danny. Please.” For emphasis I opened two buttons on my shirt, revealing my breasts. Danny gaped. His eyes lingered.
“Elizabeth,” he nervously laughed, “Not when you’re drugged.”
“Daniel…” I protested, and I pulled him to the bed, on top of me.
“Elizabeth!” he said uncomfortably. I grabbed Danny’s hand and placed it inside the shirt, pressing it against my bare breast. I flashed him a triumphant smile.
“This is so wrong, Elizabeth.”
“Not to me it isn’t. You feel so good.”
“You do too, but I won’t let this happen,” Danny said firmly.
He removed his hand and buttoned the shirt.
“Daniel!” I pouted, disappointed.
“The nurse never said anything about those meds making you horny,” he laughed.
I glared. How could Danny not want me? Tears welled in my eyes.
“Shit!” Then Danny tenderly wrapped his arm around me, “If we do this now, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. I won’t do that, Eli. You’re too important to me.”
“Danny,” I protested.
“Elizabeth, you want love and romance, not drug-induced horniness.”
Danny lifted me up and placed me in a sitting position against the pillows.
“Let’s ice that ankle and we’ll forget this ever happened.”
I still pouted. I wanted to win, but Danny was right.
With utmost care, Danny placed my foot on a small decorative Los Angeles Dodgers’ pillow. He then removed my tights and the brace. Danny’s smile faded to a grimace.
“Eli, your ankle’s the size of an orange and it’s all black and blue.”
He reached for the ice pack from the desk. I sat straight up and tried to see, but Danny already applying the ice, obscured my view.
The cold sent a new wave of pain through me. I gritted my teeth and gripped the comforter, trying not to scream. “Ow, ow, ow!” I cried. “It hurts so much.”
Danny lay propped on his elbow facing me. His left hand skimmed my cheek. “I’m sorry, Sweetheart. I hate when you hurt.”
“It’s passing now.”
Danny smiled, relieved. “Is there anything I can get you? Do you want lunch?”
I hadn’t thought about food, but now that Danny mentioned it, “Lunch would be good. And a change of
clothes.”
“Clothes,” Danny laughed, “Good idea. It’ll keep you out of trouble.”
CHAPTER 12 - DANIEL
Remembering that we were missing political science, I called Professor Dennison, assuming I’d get his voice mail. Instead he answered. By the end of the conversation the professor was telling me to take good care of my girlfriend.
If Professor Dennison assumed Eli was my girlfriend, did others as well?
At the dining hall I was forced to endure Shane asking, “How’s your new girlfriend?” followed by filing Rachel, Chloe and Cam in on every detail.
What was it with everyone today? Normally nobody bothered me about my friendship with Eli. Just because she was injured and needed help, didn’t change anything. They knew I was with Juliette. I hurried back to the dorm with sandwiches.
Last stop, Elizabeth’s crammed closet. Like a life-sized Barbie doll, she owned an outfit for every possible occasion. I pulled out an apricot colored short-sleeved polo shirt dress, perfect for Indian summer. I also grabbed light blue cotton yoga pants and a royal blue tank top for her to sleep in tonight.
Eli didn’t know it, but with those drugs playing with her mind, she was sleeping with me. Otherwise I wouldn’t sleep for worrying. My full-sized bed had room.
After taking a few more items including underwear, I returned to my suite. On the walk down, I reflected that for a girl who, as far as I knew, had never let anyone see her underwear, Elizabeth owned the prettiest, sexiest sets. Every piece came as a matched set in the softest, silkiest fabrics. There was a color to match every mood.
I didn’t know the mood Elizabeth would be in. The white lace set would remind me of her virgin state and how I’d better keep her that way.
When Elizabeth flirted earlier, it was the painkillers. There was no excuse for the desire I had felt. I was completely sober.
Before entering my room I made the phone call I dreaded, but needed to make, telling Juliette that Elizabeth was convalescing in my room.
Eli didn’t like Juliette. She felt we had nothing in common. Eli was almost right. Juliette and I had enough in common to keep seeing each other. But Juliette didn’t know that she was not a keeper. Our relationship was casual enough that if it ended tomorrow, I wouldn’t miss her.
Juliette answered on the second ring. I got right to the point.
“Dan,” she finally said in a clipped voice, “I’ve had all I’m going to take of you and Elizabeth. Every time I see you, you’re with her. Something is going on but you deny it by saying you’re just old friends. But it’s there Dan, and I’ve had enough.”
“Juliette,” I protested. Was she ending our relationship? That never happened to me.
“Dan, please,” she answered more forcefully that I thought she was capable of doing. “Sunday, I arrived at The Cellar and you were holding her in your arms dancing. It was a love song, Dan!”
“It was?” I had been paying attention only to Eli. I hadn’t noticed the music.
“Yes. And that was my regular shift. Everyone working at The Cellar knows I’m seeing you. It was humiliating.”
“I’m sorry. I enjoy dancing, and you weren’t there. It was innocent dancing.” Had Juliette seen me kiss Elizabeth?
“It was far from innocent.” Juliette’s ire was rising. “Dan, it wasn’t just that you were holding her in your arms, but the way you were looking at each other. Dan, she loves you.”
“Elizabeth always has,” I answered.
“Since childhood. So you’ve said,” responded an exasperated Juliette. “Now you tell me she’s sleeping in your bed. Even I’ve never slept in your bed! Do you expect me to believe that’s innocent too?”
“I expect you to believe me. I’m being honest. I’ve never lied to you. Juliette, I can’t date a woman who doesn’t trust me and refuses to understand my complicated relationship with Eli.”
“It looks as though you’ve made your choice. Elizabeth wins, Dan.”
“Juliette…” I knew I had lost, but perhaps I had instead won.
“No woman is going to understand your ‘complicated relationship’ with Elizabeth. So admit to it already. You will never be happy with any girl until you do.”
And so I, Daniel Newman, was single once more. Well, not really. I did have Eli. She was a more satisfying companion than ten girlfriends put together. What I was lacking was a sex partner.
I tip-toed into my room replaying the conversation. Juliette might be right. I had dropped everything when Eli called. I didn’t hesitate for a moment. Eli needed me; of course I came running.
Elizabeth lay sleeping, the ice pack on her ankle. Ten perfect, pedicured toes greeted me when I gently removed it. Not a chip of magenta polish was missing.
Curled up on her side, Elizabeth’s silken auburn hair falling across her face, I couldn’t help but smile. I carefully smoothed her hair back. So beautiful. So peaceful.
I sat down on the bed next to Eli and propped myself against the wall. I opened the assigned film history book and glanced at her before beginning.
My eyes flitted between the book and Elizabeth. When I realized I was reading the same paragraph for the fifth time, I gave up. All I could do was stare at Eli and watch her breathe.
Could they be right? The nurse, the professors, Juliette, hell, everyone? Did they see something I was missing, or was perhaps avoiding?
I never had a girlfriend, only several longer-term flings. I would classify Juliette as one, but I doubted she realized it, or how I cringed whenever anyone referred to her as my girlfriend. The ownership implied by the word didn’t sit right. It sat just fine when Dr. Nash and the nurse applied it to Elizabeth
I’d known many pretty girls, but I never trusted whether they wanted me or coveted entry into the world of Steven Newman. These future trophy wives assumed all I cared about was their looks when what mattered was intellect and soul. None had touched my heart.
I avoided the pressures of having a girlfriend. They were clingy, and they wanted to change you to fit their ideal. Juliette had tried, and that was after only one month. Now I was relieved that it was ended.
The roast beef sandwich I picked up at the dining hall, my first since meeting Juliette, felt wickedly rebellious. As soon as Eli was up to it, I’d have to take her to a local steak house I’d heard was good.
Eli. Why wouldn’t I invite Shane or Cam to the steak house?
Should Elizabeth be my girlfriend? The thought unnerved me. We were already the closest of friends and Elizabeth was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen. She had an amazing figure and soft skin I loved to touch.
Watching Elizabeth sleep was mesmerizing. How enjoyable seducing her would be. Now that she had removed her tights, she was wearing nothing underneath my shirt.
Anticipating her softness, I was getting hard. I wanted Elizabeth so badly I found myself reaching over to her. I deftly unbuttoned the first button on her shirt. She didn’t stir, but I knew what would wake her. I went for the next button.
Crap! The phone. What a time for an interruption. I answered before the next ring. Elizabeth should only be woken when I wanted her to.
“Hello,” I mumbled, barely audible.
“Danny?”
Randi! Shit! I’d forgotten I’d left her a message. The sound of her voice embarrassed me. Would Randi guess that I had just begun undressing her daughter? Randi and Mike trusted me to be Elizabeth’s brother. These had not been brotherly thoughts.
“Is something wrong?” Randi fretted. I did not often call her.
I explained Elizabeth’s injury. “The pain pills are working. Eli’s sleeping.”
“I’m glad she has you. I’d be frantic if she was alone.”
“Don’t worry Randi. I am Elizabeth’s most humble servant.”
“Danny, I’m sure you’d rather be out partying. It’s Friday.”
“No, not really,” I answered automatically. Then I realized it was the truth. I wanted to be with Elizabeth. I could party next wee
k when she recovered.
“Randi, Eli’s sleeping in my room tonight. I’ll take the floor. The meds made her pretty loopy. I’ll worry too much if she’s not with me.”
“Thank you, Danny. I’ll sleep better too if she’s with you,” Randi responded, oblivious to what she had interrupted by her call.
Guilt is a powerful emotion. Randi’s impeccable timing had to be a sign, a sign that Elizabeth must remain hands-off.
Elizabeth woke a couple of hours later refreshed and in less pain. To my relief she didn’t notice the open shirt button.
“I’m starving,” she complained.
“We’ll have an early dinner after we ice your ankle.” I eased Elizabeth into a sitting position and applied a fresh ice pack.
Her warm smile melted my heart. “You take such good care of me, Danny.”
I tingled inside, not a good thing. What was wrong with me? I thought Randi’s call had chilled me.
“How’s your pain?” I asked Eli when I removed the ice twenty minutes later.
“I think it’s improving,” Eli answered tentatively. “I want to move it, but…”
I took her small hands. “Eli, don’t,” I warned. “Give it time.”
“I don’t like being an invalid. I’m a burden.”
“Not at all, Eli. I enjoy taking care of you. This is what friends do.” I emphasized the word friends as much for myself as for her.
Then I dried her ankle and re-wrapped it. “There you go. Time to get dressed.”
“Then get out,” she playfully ordered me.
“Don’t you need my help?” I teased.
Elizabeth laughed. “Danny! Are you trying for a free show?”
So busted. Was I that transparent?
“A boy can try,” I laughed.
“Okay. You get two points for trying, but lose three points for being snarky.”
“Snarky! Eli, you’re killing me!” I loved our easy, playful banter.
“Can you please hand me my clothes?” Eli giggled.
I handed her the neatly folded bundle. Then I stood glued in place watching her, waiting. Eli looked at me, amused. “Daniel, please go,” she finally demanded.
“Right. I’m out there.” Flustered, I left the room. I never get flustered. Eli had this strange new power over me.
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