Page 25 of Where She Is
“I’m sorry?”
“Come on, Hannah. Let’s get this out the way.”
It seems like we’ve had our first lovers fight and we’re not even lovers. I’m still unsure of what we are. Daniel interrupts my thoughts when his hand cups my knee. His tone is softer now, his body language calm. “It’s important you tell me.” More silence. “Please Hannah.”
I blow out a held breath through my puffed cheeks. I’m about to walk on eggshells. “Before I tell you, you should know that once I realised he was full of spiteful gossip, I asked him to stop spewing his venom, but he wouldn’t.” I hold the hand placed on my knee and squeeze it a touch tighter for reassurance, “I didn’t believe him Daniel and you have to trust me on that.” I now look to him for the reassurance I need, but it’s not forthcoming.
“Just say it, Hannah.”
My only option is to spill it out. It’s one of the hardest conversations I’ve ever had with anyone and I’m anxious as I tell him every nasty piece of gossip that came from Matthew’s mouth. “He warned me you’re not a safe bet, relationship wise and your playboy antics are well documented.” His eyes are vacant so I tentatively continue. “He also said you and your wife were heavily involved with drugs, but your family helped you get back on track…”
There is still no reaction as I nervously glance at my fingers laced with his. This next snippet may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, “… and your wife committed suicide.”
The last nail is walloped in the proverbial coffin, but his reaction is not what I expect. He’s calm as he scratches his chin in contemplation, but his eyes are wide with disbelief.
“Wow. I didn’t think he would sink that low.” His long fingers run through the thick strands of his dark hair. I’m sick with worry I’ve done the wrong thing. I should have kept my mouth shut.
Daniel’s hand slides to the nape of his neck and he slumps back in his chair, looking towards the ceiling. “Okay, some of it is true, but it didn’t happen the way he’s portrayed it.” He positions himself to face me again and hazel eyes lock to my blues. “Your idiot friend has his facts fucked up.”
“Daniel, he is not my friend and honestly, we don’t have to do this.”
He takes my hand in his. "If we’re going to make it, we do. I’ll tell you the entire story and give you every answer to every question you have, but not now.” He drags his chair closer and huffs out a lengthy breath. “Let’s wipe the slate clean. Give me some time to prove myself.”
“Daniel, you don’t have to—”
“No, please. You said you wanted to know the real me. Let me show you.” His eyes follow the line of his thumb almost hypnotically as it brushes along my palm. “Spend time with me.Give me a month or maybe two.” His sincere eyes meet mine. “If you still need answers, I’ll give them to you, but I guarantee you will know everything you need to by then. We can go at your pace. You’re in control.”
Although I appreciate his willingness to show me his true self, I want it to work both ways. “You realise this goes for you too, Daniel. If you have the slightest worry, be straight with me. Let’s not play games.”
“Okay. No games.” A slow smile appears as he exhales quietly. I’m happy he’s happy. I don’t like agitated Daniel. He raises his coffee cup, “To us, crazy girl.”
I return his toast, “To us, cowboy.”
The atmosphere now seems lighter, so I can’t resist trying my luck. “Does this mean you’ll visit me in Sydney?”
He huffs out a laugh, “Not exactly. I’m not a big fan of the city although I have a place on the outskirts. You could come over whenever you want.”
“And I will, but I was hoping you’d visit me too.” An unexpected silence falls between us, which I have to break. “Daniel, I want us to be open with each other, so I’ve got to say something. Sometimes there’s an atmosphere between us—as if I’ve said the wrong thing.” Daniel’s brow rises in question as the lump in my throat catches and causes me to wince when I swallow. “Every time I mention anywhere remotely connected to Sydney, you do everything in your power to avoid it. If you find it difficult to be there, that’s fine, but your father’s head office is smack bang in the middle of it. Surely you have to go sometimes whether you like it or not. What’s going on?”
His eyes fix on our entwined hands as his grin emerges. “It’s nothing sinister, Hannah. It’s the Pap’s.”
“The what?”
“The Paparazzi. They follow me everywhere, but especially when I visit Sydney. I don’t notice them half the time, but Ialways find myself splashed over the gossip columns somehow. Now I try to avoid going there altogether.”
“But surely, they can’t be everywhere?”
“Hannah, you have no idea. My family is big news and wherever we go, you can be damn sure a photographer is not far away. Honestly, I’m better off out of it.”
I realise he won’t confide in me now, but my impatience takes over. “Is it also to do with what happened to your wife? Is that why they follow you?”
His voice is soft, deep and husky when he replies, “A relationship between two people is built on trust and every day we’ll learn to trust each other. Baby steps, Hannah, Okay?” The grip of his hand becomes tighter; willing me to be patient.
“Okay, I understand.” He leans in to kiss the side of my cheek, but I twist and catch his lips with mine. I savour the moment, closing my eyes to heighten my senses. His tongue licks my top lip so I open my mouth slightly to let him in. Only after a few seconds, I realise we’re in a restaurant full of people. My cheeks flush and I’m unable to hold my head up as I pull away from him. There are so many pairs of eyes watching our intimacy, but only one set I’m interested in. I gaze towards them as they lock with mine.
“I hope the rest of the diners enjoyed the sideshow,” he says, sitting up while he surveys the room with a guarded glance. When he clears his throat, I have to turn my head away because I can’t stop laughing.
“I don’t know about you, but it feels like we’re breaking the rules,” I say while I chance a quick scan around me.
