“Yeah. Jace called Brian this morning and apparently she broke up with him. No details, although I’m not all that surprised, really.”
“Really? I thought you liked her.”
“I did… I do. In fact I called him back and told him she was invited anyway, with or without him. He doesn’t think she’ll want to come. Hence the seating chart.”
“Hence my giant headache,” Brian interjected. “Why can’t we just leave her seat? Maybe she’ll change her mind and come anyway. Also, it’s a week away. They could always work things out.”
“They won’t work things out, Bri. That’s just you being in love and thinking the whole world is too.” Jenn leaned over for a quick peck on the cheek. “But I love you for it.”
Brian stood. “On that note, how about I go grab us all a soda? Leave you ladies to your girl talk?”
Her patience running thin, Dani waited, hoping Jenn would get back to the subject of Nicole and Jace on her own.
“Well, now that he’s gone…” She winked over at Dani.
Dani laughed, plopping down on the floor on the other side of the table. “So, what’s the problem? I think Bri’s right—just remove a chair from whatever table Nicole was at.”
“No. Since Jace was up front with us, I had Nicole placed at the front table, with Jace’s family. I need to find another single person who will get along with his family. If she does miraculously change her mind, we’ll just go back to this arrangement.”
“Okay, well then I’m no help. I can barely remember who’s single and who’s… Hey, why not put Colonel up there? He should get along with Jace’s brother really well, don’t you think?”
“Hah, good idea. I hadn’t thought of him because he’s not really single. But with Sara in the wedding party, that will be perfect.” She moved a couple of flags around, removing a chair from a table farther back. She tucked them into a flap in the book and then turned to Dani.
“So, how are you? Are you doing okay? Oh, yeah… I think I know why they broke up. Yesterday, when you went into your vision trip or daze or whatever… Jace had told Nicole that his scars were from a motorcycle accident back in high school.”
“Well, I’m sure he doesn’t want to chat about something like that, so, I don’t get it. Why would she break up with him over that?”
“It’s not just that. They don’t work, not really. I like her, she’s sweet and all, but not for Jace.”
“I thought they were good together, from what little I’ve seen. And from what you said…the yin to his yang.” At least he didn’t alternate between kissing her and calling her names.
“Yeah, so did Brian, but I never really did. I was just trying to get some reaction from you. Figure out what was going on. He just never seemed like Jace around her. He was too quiet, too polite. Like the catwalk thing yesterday. He normally would have done some little strut thing, except Nicole was there, watching. He never even cusses around her. Like never. And you know how Jace’s mouth is. It was just weird. And Brian said they’ve never had a fight.”
“Really? Okay, weird but not bad. Maybe she makes him a better person.”
“That’s what I told her,” Brian said, setting the sodas down on the coffee table.
Jenn shrugged. “Maybe, but I don’t see it. Thanks, Bri. Anyway, we need to talk about other things.”
“Okay…what other things?”
“Don’t be dense, Dani. It doesn’t suit you.”
“Okay, and that’s my cue to leave again…” Brian rose, turning to grab his soda.
Dani waited a minute for Brian to leave the room. “Okay, so… How about I start by telling you what you don’t know?” At least part of it.
* * * * *
Jenn grinned a little, nodding softly, remembering their conversation a couple of days earlier.
“Well, after my parents died, I know that you were all worried about me. You never saw me cry, thought I was holding everything in. I wasn’t, not at all. I just didn’t want to talk about it.”
Dani took in a deep breath, blowing it out slowly before continuing. “Jace came back after the funeral, after everyone else had gone. When he got there, he knew, somehow, he knew that I didn’t want any more platitudes, any more stupid comments about how horrible it was. He didn’t say anything, didn’t bring me a casserole, nothing. He literally picked me up in his arms, carried me over to the sofa and held me. After holding it together for days, planning the funeral, that was what I needed. I sat there and cried, for hours. He just sat there, letting me drench his shirt. Afterward, he lay down beside me on the floor. He spent the night there, holding me, letting me cry. Without saying anything.
“Anyway, I went back to school the following week and he started showing up places. Coming by my room, stopping at the restaurant when he knew I was about off for the night. That stopped after a couple of weeks, but we still spent a ton of time together, over summer and the following school year. Not only with you guys, but just the two of us.”
“So, you were dating? Why didn’t you tell us?” Jenn was a little hurt that they would keep it a secret.
“No, not dating. There was no kissing, no sex at all.”
“Then I don’t understand why you wouldn’t tell us, or even invite us, if you guys weren’t involved.”
“Most of the time we did. Usually, it was when one or both of you had to work, or had a date, or study session. It was never an intentional thing where we decided not to invite you. But, my point is, I think that’s why he’s so pissed off at me.”
“Because you left?”
“No, not because I left. Because I didn’t come home. When he was hurt in Afghanistan. He was there for me when I needed him, and I…well, I wasn’t.”
“You didn’t know.” Jenn felt the guilt washing through her. She should have made the call. She hadn’t known how close Dani and Jace had been, but she’d known they were friends.
* * * * *
Dani twisted her hands in her lap. She didn’t blame Jenn at all, but she had to know. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“I almost did. I reached for the phone at least ten times a day the first week or so. To be honest, I don’t really know. You’d never asked about him, not in three years. And he’d never asked about you. I wasn’t even sure you would come. And I think I was afraid, if I had told you, and you hadn’t come, it would have been worse.”
“I would have come, Jenn. I would have been on the next available flight.” She took another deep breath, holding more tears at bay. “And I did ask about him. Once.”
Confusion clouded Jenn’s eyes as she tried to recall if and when. Dani could see the light dawn when she realized. “That night you called me. At like four a.m. or something. You asked me if Jace was okay.”
Dani nodded, while Jenn continued. “I said he was fine. And he was. He didn’t get here until a few weeks later.”
Now Dani was surprised. “A few weeks.” She never saw things that far in advance. Never more than a few minutes, or hours at most.
“Yeah, a few weeks, maybe just over two. It took them over a week, almost two to get him stable enough to even send him home.” She looked at Dani, saw the confusion give way to more pain. Her eyes filled with tears.
“Wait, Dani…you didn’t… I mean, you saw what happened last night, right? You didn’t see it…”
Dani was nodding, hand shaking as she furiously wiped the tears away with the heel of her hands.
“Oh my God. You saw it the night you called me?”
She heaved in a breath, trying to calm herself back down. “Yes… That night, and at least twice a week since.”
Chapter 20
“What? How is that even… You still dream this? Wait, you saw it before it happened?”
Now the tears were flowing freely, she made no effort to stop them. “I don’t know how far before, I don’t really know when he was hurt. I thought maybe you’d know, or Bri maybe. Last night, after I came home, I went and looked in my journal. I wrote
about the dream the first time I had it, so I know when that was. But I don’t know how long after that it actually happened.”
Jenn moved from the sofa over to the love seat, running her hand up and down Dani’s back.
She hastily swiped at the tears again, forcing them back down her throat. She had cried more in the last two days than the last five years.
A few minutes had passed while Dani sucked in air, trying to dredge up her control. It didn't seem to work too well as tears continued to flow.
“Damn it! I never cry. This has got to stop!”
“Maybe you should just let it out. It might be healthier.”
“No. No… I’m done.” One more quick swipe across her cheeks. She folded her hands across her lap and faced Jenn. A little swollen, but dry eyed. “Anyway, now that I know what happened, I know why he’s mad. We won’t fight anymore. It takes two to fight, and I won’t do it. Whatever he feels about me, I deserve it. That and much more, I’m sure.”
“Dani, don’t do that. Don’t beat yourself up. If you want to blame someone, blame me. I should have called. “
Before Jenn had even finished Dani was shaking her head. “No, you did what you thought was best. And that’s enough of this crap. I don’t do maudlin. So…anyway, your wedding will be fine. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
Dani stood and headed to the kitchen to grab another soda, leaving Jenn sitting on the couch staring after her.
“Okay, fine…obviously we’re done talking. You know, usually it’s the guy who buries things and drops conversations. You’d better find a guy who’s really in touch with his feminine side, or you’re both screwed!”
Dani could hear the frustration in Jenn’s voice, and couldn’t help but laugh a little. If only she knew the half of it.
When she saw the laugh, Jenn’s ire softened a little. “I’m serious! I think that’s why you haven’t had a real relationship in years. No, strike that…. Ever. The closest thing you’ve ever had to an honest relationship, other than me, was Jace…and you don’t get sex from either of those.” She was only half teasing, but she said it with a smile.
Dani barely managed to stifle the wince, covering it with a smirk. She leaned into Jenn, wrapping her arm around her shoulders, then hip bumping her. “Maybe Bri will share…” She wiggled her eyebrows.
When she saw Jenn laugh, a deep, honest laugh, Dani knew she was off the hook.
“Yeah, sorry…you’re not my type. I prefer blondes!”
“Oh well, shit. I guess I’ll just have to settle for Zack then.”
Jenn laughed again. “Yeah, only he prefers blondes too. I’m telling you, someday that man is going to grow up. When he does, you should come back. If he ever decides on a real relationship, he would definitely be worth the effort.”
This time Dani smiled. “But then I’d have to grow up and have a real relationship, too.”
Jenn chuckled softly. “You know, maybe you and Zack are more well matched than I thought.”
Brian walked in the room. “I figured since I heard laughter it was safe to come back.”
Jenn leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “You know, apparently all those years in college trained you well.”
“Uh-huh. But not well enough that I’m not going to ask… You and Zack? Really?”
When both women burst out in giggles, laughing hard enough that tears rolled down their cheeks, and they fell to the floor, Bri was baffled. “Okay, so maybe I don’t want to come in here yet. I’ll just go back to the other room and finish my book.” He turned on his heel, tossing back one last comment before he left. “I can’t see you with Zack. I kind of always thought you’d end up with Jace.”
Chapter 21
Wednesday morning, Dani was out running again. It was hot, too hot today, but she needed the exercise to balance her mind. Not to mention the physical release.
She had been having dreams. Not the nightmares she would have expected, not even close. Instead, she’d been having erotic dreams. Very hot, steamy, crazy erotic dreams. Just thinking about them made her body tingle.
She huffed out her frustration. She was hot, sweaty and tired. Sexual arousal should not even be possible right now, yet with one errant thought, lust coursed through her.
As she neared her front porch, she debated another five miles. She would have tried it if she hadn’t been on the verge of heat stroke already. She thought that might put a damper on the rehearsal dinner tonight.
Draining a bottle of water before she went upstairs, Dani decided a cold shower might be just the ticket. Maybe it would solve both problems.
As she stepped into the cool water, she thought about the rehearsal dinner later tonight. She hadn’t seen Jace since the barbeque on Friday, but she knew she’d see him there. Just the thought of him set her body humming again. The cool water was bringing down her body temperature, but doing nothing to sate the desire.
Memories of last night’s dream flashed through her head. Jace’s hand running down her body, teasing her. Brushing by her nipple, so hard and tight. Her breasts ached, needing his touch.
She felt her body responding to her thoughts, despite the water temperature. She found her hands moving of their own accord, slick and soapy, running over her own breasts, teasing the tips. She kept going in a sudsy trail down her stomach, past her belly button, dipping lower through her curls.
She was so aroused, her sex throbbing between her legs, needing release. She knew it wouldn’t take much to finish the job, just a stroke or two. With the thought of Jace’s lips on her breasts, her hand slipped between the folds of her sex.
Wishing he were here, wishing it were his touch, she leaned forward, pressing one hand against the wall for balance.
Her finger brushed her secret nub; feeling a rush of warmth flood her sex, she couldn’t stop the harsh intake of air. She traced a slow circle around her clitoris, already on the verge of release. Another, then another. Her body tensed, readying to come.
And her phone rang.
Knowing Jenn would be on the other end, knowing they had to go confirm the arrangements for tonight and approve the layout, she stopped, pushing her desire back down through sheer will.
She hopped out, grabbing the towel and drying as she walked. She grabbed her phone, trying to keep the frustration out of her voice. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?”
If only she knew… “No, Nina. No interruptions. How are you doing?”
“I didn’t interrupt? Well, damn. I could swear I sensed something.”
Was that possible? Could she sense Dani…
“Hmmmm, maybe I’m a few days off. Are you sure no one’s there with you?”
Now Dani laughed. “Yes, I’m sure. But why don’t you tell me who’s supposed to be here so I know who to look for.”
“Okay, snarky. I just got a sense that you were involved with someone there. I was calling to get all the gossip. So, who is it? Is it the one from before? It is, right? What was his name? Oh, yeah…Jason.”
“Nina, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I’m not involved with anyone.” Not technically, anyway. “Maybe the distance is messing with your senses.”
“Oh, that’s crap and you know it. Once I can sense someone I can always sense them. So, I also know you’re lying. Or, rather, telling a half truth, anyway. So, spill. Tell me what’s going on.”
Dani sighed. She couldn’t keep anything from Nina, didn’t really even know why she’d tried. “Okay…it was Jace. But not what you’re thinking. He, umm, well…he kissed me, a couple times. But only out of anger. He was just trying to prove something. And it worked.”
“But you haven’t slept with him yet? Last night, the night before?”
“No, not unless you count my dreams.”
“Are you sure?”
“Nina….” Dry sarcasm rang in that one word.
“No, I know…you would know. But I could swear… Okay, I guess I was wrong. B
ut I’m never wrong.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
“Mmmm, from the sound of your voice, you are sorry. Maybe I’m just a day or two early. But it felt so real. There is some heat between you two, isn’t there? I almost got burned way over here.”
Dani laughed. “I’ve missed you. Why haven’t you called me until now?”
“I miss you too. But I can’t call. It has to play out the way it’s supposed to. In fact, I can’t even be on the phone now. You have somewhere to go, don’t you? Okay, so I’m hanging up. But, whenever it happens…enjoy it for me too! I really need to get a new boyfriend.”
With that Nina hung up, leaving Dani staring at the phone bewildered. As she set the phone back on the nightstand, she laughed again. Only Nina could call her, leave her more confused than she’d been before, and still make her feel better.
She had just finished dressing when she heard the doorbell ring, followed by “Knock knock” as Jenn walked in.
Dani headed down the steps, catching up to Jenn in the kitchen, grabbing coffee.
“So, are you ready for today?”
Jenn laughed. “Ready or not, here we go.”
* * * * *
Jace woke up hard and aching. This dream had been worse than the one last night. Or maybe it was better. Depended on how you look at it. He had been having crazy hot dreams of Dani for the last week. This one had been bad enough he woke up on the verge of coming.
Any dream would have been enough, but this one was vivid. So vivid it felt real. He could recall every touch, every kiss…every steamy detail.
She’d been behind him on his bike, pressed tight against him. He had no idea why she was there, where they had come from, but he could feel her body against his back, her arms around his waist.
When they pulled up in front of her house, she’d climbed off the bike, facing away from him. When she turned to face him, her desire was obvious. Her tight nipples were pressing against her T-shirt, her mouth parted slightly. Her eyes were heavy lidded, a flush crawling up her cheeks.
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