Page 105 of Studious
Letting go of Danny’s hand, I lean on Shelby’s desk like I’m comfortable with this place. Because I am. “Noah mentioned some paperwork we need to sign.”
“Ohh.” Shelby’s eyes go wide. “You’re going to talk to him?”
“We are.” Danny nods in agreement.
“That’s so awesome! I’m happy for you!”
“Thanks,” I say. “And thanks for being there for me.”
“Anytime.” While I can tell Shelby’s genuinely happy for us, I detect a wistfulness in his expression that gets wiped away as soon as he shows it. I hope he finds his own Mr. Right—one who is most definitelynotstraightorunavailable.
Danny holds out his elbow like he’s escorting me to a ball. “Shall we?”
Laughing, I nod and take his arm.
We head for Noah’s office, passing a few coworkers who give us knowing looks. When we get there, August is reclining in one of Noah’s client chairs while they chat, but they both look up when we walk in. Noah’s expression of surprise morphs into a knowing smirk.
August bursts out laughing. “Do we need to draft up a love contract?”
“Yeah,” Danny says, kissing the top of my head. “We do. Twenty million followers seem to like our story.”
Because, yeah, his video went viral. No one could get enough of this hot, bare-chested man declaring how in love with me he was.
Least of all, me.
Charlie ended up giving Danny a shout-out on his own channel, which only increased Danny’s subscribers. And now Danny and I plan to make some videos of us hanging out, just for fun, and answering viewers’ questions.
Danny heads to his office to talk with Johnny Haskell about the next steps in his case. Meanwhile, I burrow into my spreadsheets, content in every area of my life for the first time ever.
* * *
I’m dressed in a rented tuxedo, but I feel pretty good in it. Danny looks amazing in his. We walk hand in hand into his high school reunion, which is taking place at a downtown hotel.
Hip-hop music blares through the open door as we check in, and bad memories of high school come flooding back. The times when I was teased and ostracized. The times when I felt out of place. The times when I was forced to do things I didn’t like.
I take a look at Danny and straighten my spine. I’ve come a long way since then. For the past few months, he and I have been inseparable. But what’s most important is that I feel more comfortable in my own skin than I ever have before.
With everything my mom has gone through with her health, I’m all too aware that life is uncertain. She’s doing great now, and I hope she and I will both live long, happy lives—but still, the only thing I can be sure of is now. And I am going to take that now and live it to the fullest with the one I love.
I love Danny Villaseñor with all my heart.
I trust him, and I know that underneath that former playboy exterior is a heart of gold. He’s one of the most loving people I have ever met. He’d shut himself off because he was scared—but he doesn’t have to be scared anymore.
Danny, though, is lifting his chin and puffing out his chest in the way he does when he’s feeling a little insecure. I can tell that this setting is bringing back his own difficult high school memories.
We step into the main room, where he’s immediately surrounded by a group of girls who all give him hugs and coo over him. I recognize Jessamyn, who’s cut my hair several times, and she enfolds me in an embrace.
“I just knew you were going to end up with Danny,” she murmurs in my ear. “He’s a good one.”
The room is huge, and there are quite a few people dancing already, although more are gathered in small groups, talking. I can tell that Danny is nervous about seeing his ex-boyfriend.
He introduces me to person after person but stills when a ginger-haired man walks through the door alone. “Fuck,” he mutters.
“Is that him?”
Danny nods.
“Then introduce me.” I go on my tiptoes and say in his ear, “I’ve got you. And you’ve got this.”
