Love Redesigned

by Jenny Proctor

  I leaned back and looked at her, a question in my eyes. “What? Why?”

  She pressed her body against me, placing a small kiss just below my ear. “Trust me.”

  Sasha noticed us first. Her eyes narrowed before she slid an arm through Alicio, pulling herself closer to him.

  Dani tugged me forward. “Sasha,” she said as we approached, a wide, genuine smile on her face. “It’s so lovely to see you again.” She let go of my arm and leaned forward, giving Sasha air kisses on either side of her face.

  I pushed my hands into my pockets, nodding a brief acknowledgment to my stepfather, and brothers. Gabriel, at least, extended his hand. “How are you, Alex? Merry Christmas.”

  “Thanks. Same to you.”

  He looked over his shoulder at the rest of his family. “We didn’t know you were in the city or we would have asked you to join us.”

  It wasn’t true, but I appreciated that Gabriel would try and make me feel better anyway. “That’s all right. I’m working tonight, actually. We’ve got a thing across the street.”

  “Oh. Cool.” He looked at Dani. “You’re back together?”

  I nodded, wishing I didn’t have to lie to say yes. “Yeah. We are.” Dani still spoke to Sasha, her expression warm, her body language open. What was she doing? “I’m bringing her to the wedding next week.”

  “You’re coming to the wedding?” Victor said, suddenly joining the conversation.

  Alicio turned as well, his eyes meeting mine.

  “I did receive an invitation,” I said hesitantly.

  Alicio smiled tightly. “Of course. If you want to come, we’d love to have you.”

  “I think it’s great that you’re coming,” Gabriel said, though his kindness did little to kill the tension that hung in the air around the rest of us.

  Dani slipped her arm through mine. “Ready to go?” she whispered. She turned back to my stepfamily. “It’s so good to see you all. Merry Christmas.”

  We pushed through the hotel lobby doors and moved toward the crosswalk at the corner. Dani gripped my hand so tightly, I almost couldn’t feel my fingers, but I was glad of it. The pain kept me anchored against the waves of feeling washing over me. Anger. Resentment. Sadness.

  I didn’t want to be a part of the LeFranc family. I didn’t like what they stood for. I didn’t care for their lifestyle. And yet, seeing them all together like that, imagining my mother on Alicio’s arm instead of Sasha? It burned worse than I wanted it to. They were the closest thing I had to family, even though they were the furthest thing from what a family actually should be. I stopped on the sidewalk, overwhelmed by a surge of loneliness so intense, I could hardly move.

  Dani paused and turned to face me, nudging me toward the building behind us, out of the main path of the sidewalk. A sharp wind blew past and Dani drew in a breath, closing her eyes for a moment.

  “You’re not wearing a coat,” I said.

  She shook her head dismissively. “We’re only walking across the street. I didn’t think I’d need one.” She gripped my arms, just above the elbows. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded. The loneliness wasn’t gone, but it was accompanied by a sense of resignation that at least made me feel like I could keep walking.

  “You don’t need them, Alex,” Dani said.

  My heart warmed that she’d sensed my feelings so easily, but her words didn’t change the fact that some part of me still felt like I did need them. Or maybe it was just that I wanted them to need me.

  “Come on,” I said. Taking Dani’s hand, I led us across the street and to the doors of the Compassion Experiment venue, where the bouncers had already started checking tickets and admitting the first guests. The bouncer closest to us waved us through. Inside, we crossed a large, open area, pausing at the foot of a wide set of stairs that led to the main event space.

  “What did you say to Sasha?” I asked.

  She grinned. “That I missed working for her, and that time away had made me realize what a wonderful opportunity she had given me.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “I had no idea you were such a good liar.”

  “It wasn’t totally a lie,” Dani said. “I do miss some things about working at LeFranc, and by forcing me to leave, she did give me other opportunities.”

  “That’s true,” I said, though I still wasn’t sure I understood her motivation.

  “And now, when we arrive at the wedding next week, it won’t feel so out of the blue when I text Sasha and ask her if there is anything I can do for her. If she doesn’t have a good assistant, she’s probably going to need help.”

  “Which means it will be that much easier for you to swap out the dresses.”

  She grinned. “Exactly.”

  “I’m impressed. A little terrified, but definitely impressed.”

  We stopped at the top of the stairs. The venue was buzzing with energy, guests filling the tables and chairs scattered through the space. Isaac stood on the stage doing a soundcheck.

  “Is Isaac wearing a tie?” Dani asked.

  “He looks good, doesn’t he? I told him since he’s the Master of Ceremonies, he had to wear one.”

  Dani shook her head. “The breadth of your influence never ceases to amaze me.”

  Everything progressed smoothly as the night went on, except for one scavenger hunt team that was down a team member because of the flu. But even that crisis only lasted a moment. Isaac held an impromptu trivia game on stage for anyone willing to join the team and gave the open spot to the last woman standing.

  The man was quicker on his feet than anyone I knew.

  The best part of the night was watching the video feeds of the teams, and all the acts of kindness they performed. Kids in hospitals opening presents. Unsuspecting grocery shoppers having their carts paid for in full. Free hugs. Isaac had managed to orchestrate an event that showed the very best of humanity.

  Just past eleven, when all the teams had returned to the party, and the opening acts had finished their sets, I met Dani backstage. “Are you ready?” I whispered.

  She gave me a slight nod before Mushroom materialized beside her and handed her a microphone. “The stage lights will be down when the band gets in place, and they’ll stay down, except for one spotlight out front. When you see my cue, walk to that spot, turn on the microphone using the little button right here, and you’ll be ready to roll.”

  Dani nodded. “Got it.”

  Moments later, I watched as she took center stage. Isaac, who had been distracted by Tyler long enough for Red Renegade to take the stage, reappeared at the sound of Dani’s voice and immediately crossed to where I stood watching her. “What is she doing?” he asked.

  I only smiled. “She’s about to give you the greatest Christmas present you’ve ever gotten.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Dani

  Late Christmas morning, I still hadn’t talked to Isaac. Not really, anyway. He’d given me a bone-crushing hug right after I’d walked off the stage, but then he’d been so wrapped up in hanging out with Red Renegade, taking pictures with Red Renegade, talking to Reggie Fletcher with unbridled enthusiasm, there hadn’t been time for a conversation.

  Not that I’d been expecting one. I’d made him happy; that was enough.

  Yet, when he found me lounging in the hotel lobby, a cup of coffee in hand, my heart swelled at the same time a wave of nervousness washed over me. Had I made him happy? Did he recognize the gesture as the apology it was meant to be?

  “Hey,” he said, dropping into the chair across from me. “Where’d you get the coffee? I could use some.”

  I motioned to the far side of the lobby, where a small café sat nestled in the corner. “Over there. But here.” I held out my cup. “This is my second one. You can finish it.”

  He took it, taking a long swallow before setting the cup down on the small table between us. “So last night,” he said, leaning back in his chair.

  “It was an amazing event, Isaac. You should be really
proud.”

  He nodded. “We raised a lot of money. More than we expected. But that’s not why I brought it up.”

  I smiled.

  “I don’t know how you pulled it off, Dani, but that . . . that was the greatest thing anyone has ever done for me.”

  “Darius helped too,” I said.

  “Did you make the jackets they were all wearing?”

  I nodded. “It was the one thing they demanded in exchange for doing the event.”

  Isaac’s eyes flashed with understanding. “That’s why you sold all your fabric.”

  I winced. “I was hoping you wouldn’t realize that had happened.”

  “Thank you. Truly. It—” He swallowed. “It means a lot.”

  “I’m sorry I was a jerk about your YouTube channel.”

  “I’m sorry for always calling you Dandelion.”

  I laughed. “No you’re not.”

  He grinned. “Okay. I’m not. But I’ll stop doing it anyway.” He leaned forward and drained the last of the coffee. “So, what’s going on with you and Alex?”

  I groaned. “What, we’re getting along now so I have to tell you everything?”

  He shrugged. “Only if you want to. I’m just saying. The fact that something is going on is written all over both your faces. I’m hoping you’ll figure it out so the rest of us don’t have to keep tiptoeing around the subject. Just get together already so everything can go back to normal.”

  I leaned my head on the cushion behind me. “If only it were that easy.”

  “Are you thinking you might stay in Charleston?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe? I might have to. Next week might not work out the way we’re all hoping.”

  “True.” He nodded. “Well, if it matters, I think it’d be cool if you stayed.” He ran a hand through his hair. “It’s been nice having you around.”

  “You mean it’s been nice—”

  He cut me off. “Not just because of the food.” He stood, moving behind me, and dropped a hand onto my shoulder.

  I smiled and slid my hand over his.

  “I’m getting another coffee,” he said. “You want anything?”

  I shook my head no and gave his hand a quick squeeze before letting him go.

  Two days later, the seven of us sat around Isaac’s living room in Charleston sorting through the accumulation of Christmas cards and fan mail that had arrived over the holidays. With all of us so focused on the Compassion Experiment, Isaac had fallen behind on reading it all. I was just impressed that he did read it all.

  “Hey, listen to this one,” Alex said from his place on the floor. “Dear Isaac. Thank you for the episode where you talked about saying something nice to one of our teachers. I made my history teacher cry which was weird, but also awesome. Sincerely, James. From San Bernardino, California.”

  “I like this one better,” I said. “Dear Random I, I’d like to marry you. I know I’m too young right now, but if you wait for me, I’ll grow up soon. Love, Avery Morris, age twelve. From Springfield, Illinois.”

  “This girl sent you stickers,” Tyler said. “Of your face.”

  “What?” Isaac said. “Let me see.”

  Tyler handed them over. “I think she drew them.”

  “Dude. These are amazing. They’re totally going on the air.”

  The doorbell rang and I jumped up. “That’s probably Paige.” I picked up my overnight bag from beside the couch.

  “So let me get this straight,” Mushroom said. “Her parents are giving her a fancy vacation house as a wedding gift, and you’re holing up in the fanciest hotel in Charleston so they can move all the new fancy furniture in without Paige seeing it?”

  “Ridiculous, right?”

  “I think it’s nice,” Alex said, though he didn’t look up from the card he held in his hand.

  Tyler tossed a pillow at his head. “You would. You’re used to that kind of money.”

  Alex grinned good-naturedly, deflecting the pillow with his arm. “Pretty sure you make more money than I do. I meant that I thought it was nice that Dani and Paige would get to spend some time together one last time before the wedding.”

  My stomach swirled as I thought about the wedding that would happen first, before Paige’s wedding. I looked at Alex, waiting for him to finally meet my gaze. “I’ll be back in time to pack for Islamorada.”

  He nodded, that indefinable something passing between us, gripping my gut and making me feel as though my life depended on me running to him and throwing myself into his arms.

  I tightened my hand around the straps of my bag.

  “Okay,” he said.

  I swallowed hard—what was wrong with me?—and willed my feet to move around the corner and into the entryway. I paused when I heard Tyler laughing. “Okay,” he said in a sing-songy voice. “I’ll miss you, Dani. I loooove you, Dani.”

  “Shut up,” Alex said, followed by an indistinguishable grunt, then more laughter.

  The doorbell rang again, startling me out of my stillness. I threw the front door open, but Paige wasn’t behind it. Instead, a delivery man stood on the porch, three large boxes beside him. “Delivery for Danielle Jacobson.” He held out his tablet, asking for a signature. “Sign here.”

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “I just deliver them, Ma’am.”

  I nodded and thanked him before shifting the boxes one by one into the entryway. I pulled the tape off the first box and gasped. The box was filled with fabric. My fabric. I pulled out several yards of emerald green twill. I’d planned to make a pencil skirt out of it someday. Underneath, I found the calico chintz I’d been saving, confident it would be big again within a year or two, as well as the half-dozen yards of lavender satin I’d scored at a Mood flash sale. Movement caught my eye, and I looked up to find Isaac leaning against the wall in front of me.

  “You did this?”

  He shrugged. “I’m surprised they got here so quickly.”

  I shook my head. “You big jerk.”

  “It’s not all of it. There were two pieces they’d already—wait. Did you just call me a jerk?”

  I laughed, tears coming to my eyes. “Why can’t I do something nice for you without you doing something back? How am I ever going to even the score if you keep loaning me money and furnishing my bedroom and buying back all of my fabric?”

  He crouched down next to the box, fingering the satin that sat draped across my lap. “That’s just it. Sometimes it isn’t about keeping score. You don’t always have to be winning, Dani. Sometimes life really is just about being nice to people. About doing what you want, instead of what makes you first.”

  The doorbell rang again and we both looked up. “That probably is Paige,” I said.

  Isaac stood.

  As I stood and put the fabric back in the box, shifting it so it sat to the side of the entryway, it felt as though a piece of something I’d long been missing clicked into place in my heart.

  I didn’t need New York.

  I didn’t need to win the fashion industry.

  I really could just do something because it made me happy.

  I paced from the window to the door, then back again inside my tiny hotel room on Islamorada. We were only five minutes away from the LeFranc summer estate which made everything feel real in a way it hadn’t up to that point. We were in Florida. Committed. The thought made me jittery and uncomfortable. On what had to have been my five hundredth pass around the room, I gave up and grabbed my phone, my fingers hovering over Alex’s name on my screen.

  I can’t sleep, I finally texted.

  Alex replied immediately. Me neither.

  TV?

  It took a full minute for his response to come through. Come on over.

  I grabbed my hoodie, tossing it on over my pajamas, and slipped on my flip-flops, trying not to think about why it had taken him so long to respond.

  Alex was waiting at his open hotel-room door when I reached him. He backed into the room and held the doo
r open for me, closing it once I was inside.

  “Hi,” he said.

  “Hi.”

  Nervous energy had been pulsing through me all night as I’d stressed and worried about Sasha’s wedding, but this nervous energy felt entirely different. Heat radiated off Alex’s body and I itched to step closer, to breathe him in, to feel his solid warmth under my hands. I was tired of being angry. Tired of feeling hurt. Tired of being afraid and nervous and uncertain. But there was nothing uncertain about the man standing in front of me.

  “Do you want—”

  I lunged across the small space between us and cut his words off with a kiss.

  He stepped back, obviously startled, but steadied himself quickly without breaking the kiss and wrapped his arms around my back. I took hold of his t-shirt, bunching it in my fists as I pulled him even closer. I tilted my head to the side and deepened the kiss, eliciting a whimpering moan from Alex that told me just how much he didn’t mind my forwardness. My hands moved up to his face then slid into his hair.

  There were no guarantees concerning the next forty-eight hours of my life. Things could go perfectly well, or they could completely explode in my face. Either outcome could have a significant impact on my future.

  But none of that mattered. Not with Alex in front of me, not with his hands on my skin, his lips tracing kisses down the side of my neck.

  “Dani, what are we doing?” he whispered.

  I arched my neck, leaning it back toward his lips. “I don’t know but I think we’re really good at it.”

  He planted a kiss on the curve of my jaw, right below my ear just as a knock sounded on the door behind us.

  We both froze, Alex’s hands tightening around my arms.

  “Alex? You still up?” Isaac said through the door. “I’m going downstairs for a quick drink. You want to come?”

  Alex cleared his throat. “I think I’m okay. Thanks though.”

  “You sure?”

  I leaned my forehead against Alex’s chest and smiled.