Page 86 of Danger

Yet, I think about him almost every second of every day.

Chapter35

Monterey

“Has he called yet?” my father asks me as I pace the tiny living space of my tiny hotel room.

I glance at my phone for the millionth time since this morning. The millionth time since the story broke about Danger and his father. “No, not yet.” My stomach churns in the hopes Danger will call to talk to me.

After last night I’m not holding my breath waiting for his call, but there’s something that’s keeping me tethered to my phone, hoping and praying he calls.

“You didn’t know?” my father asks me once again, even though I’ve told him over and over again I never knew about any of this.

I shake my head, unable to verbally get the no out for fear of crying. That’s been one of the hardest feats of the day, trying to keep my composure. Because I know once I see Danger I’ll lose it all.

The tears will break free from the dam I’m erecting every minute we’re apart.

There’s a knock at the door, and my father heads in that direction. I hold my breath, knowing full well who’s on the other side this early in the morning.

Danger barges into the room once my father lets him in.

“Danger, what are you doing here?”

“I’m quitting the team.”

My father wheels over closer to where Danger stands, and I can’t keep my eyes off his disheveled appearance. He looks like he hasn’t slept. His hair is all over the place, like he’s literally tugged each strand over and over. “Why don’t you sit down and we can figure this out.”

“Sit down?” Danger laughs, anger radiating from his body. “There’s nothing to figure out, Luther. I’m done.”

He doesn’t spare me a single glance.Is hequittingon me too?

I find my voice. “You can’t just give up.”

His face scares me a little. I study his eyes, the darkness dwelling beneath the surface and it breaks my heart. I read his father’s book. I could never imagine living that kind of nightmare.

I want to hug Danger. I want to imprint his soul to mine and never let him go. And in this moment, it’s the closest I’ve ever come to understanding the man. The nightmares he has in the middle of the night.

The everything.

And my heart cracks on the surface, moving deeper the longer I stare at him.

And for one second, I swear he looks like he wants to rush into my arms as badly as I want to hold him. Like a bird that’s been caged its whole life, and once freed falters a bit before flying freely.

I can see the exact moment he decides against coming to me for comfort. He turns, facing my father this time. “Luther, may I have a moment alone with your daughter?”

My father stares at me like a lost puppy, unsure if he should leave the room or stay.

I smile. “I’ll be ok.” I nod him away, letting him know I trust Danger.

“I would never hurt her,” Danger says, picking up on my father’s hesitation. Then, his eyes blaze into mine. “There’s no need to continue the farce.”

“Farce?”

“This fake relationship.”

Another crack straight down the center. “Danger, I…” I wait for my father to leave the room, thankful for the little extra time to craft a well-deserved explanation of why I want to continue the charade. Once he’s left, and I’m alone with Danger I face him. “Maybe...” but my words fall away, because he’s right, there’s zero reason to keep this going.

“There’s just no point.”

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