Page 44 of Ashes of Us
“I mean... Yes?” She looked around again, taking in the view of the Boston skyline and the simple, understated elegance of the room. This was, without a doubt, the most upscale placeshe had ever lived in, hands down. “As long as the walls aren't paper thin.” She smirked as she walked over and curled up on the loveseat across from him, feeling more comfortable and content with everything now that she had his reassurance that he was honestly okay with this. “I don't need to hear... things.” Danica felt her cheeks heat up as she almost blurted out that she didn't want to hear Alex having sex with people.
She wasn't a prude, not precisely, but sex hadn't ever been high on her list of priorities. She hadn't been allowed to date in high school, and her foster parents had been very adamant that if she got pregnant while in their house, she would be on her own, something she took very seriously. When she was kicked out, she had been too busy trying to survive to worry about relationships or sex, and by the time she was in college, she had spent a year around Alexander and Cassandra. Watching their relationship and the way Cassandra explained their love story ended up intertwining sex with love and intimacy in her brain to the point that she had been a virgin until she and Jasper got together when she was twenty-six.
“Things?” Alex raised an eyebrow, looking incredibly amused. “Are you saying you don't want to hear random women screaming my name?”
“Yes!” Danica nodded emphatically. She really didn't need to hear that. At all. Ever. “Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying.” Shifting uncomfortably, she suddenly found it hard to meet his eyes. Jasper may have been her first and only sexual partner, but Alex had been the one to make her realize she was actually interested in men, something he didn't know, and she genuinely hoped he would never find out.
Her first Christmas with the Wests had been when she was twenty. Christmas morning, Danica was leaving the kitchen with a mug of coffee, just as twenty-seven-year-old Alex waswalking in, barely avoiding a collision with him. She had been about to apologize but was instantly distracted by his bare chest and abs, and before she could compose herself, he had grinned cockily, taken her mug of coffee from her and walked away, sipping it loudly. Shaken up by her body's response to his, she had turned around dumbly and gotten another cup of coffee before joining everyone in the living room to open gifts.
“No, we won't hear each other.” Alex's voice cut through her thoughts, and Danica looked at him. He was shaking his head and looking like he was trying his best not to laugh. “The walls are well insulated, and I don't do one-night stands or random hook-ups. I'm either in a relationship or I'm not.” That caught her off guard,and she now found herself rethinking the whole Marcy thing. But then, the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. He was very career orientated so if he was going to put energy and effort into something else it would have to be extremely important to him and while she could see him doing the cold, “Don't call me, I'll call you” in the morning, she couldn't see him out at a bar or online trying to find someone to bring home for a night.
The phone next to the door rang, making her jump. Alex smiled and said it was the security guard at the front desk letting them know someone had arrived as he stood up. Danica relaxed as he walked away, thinking she had never been more grateful for an interruption in her life. She had just buried her husband and was having thoughts and feelings about another man's sex life. What was wrong with her? Alex answered the phone and gave the guard permission to send Emilia and Xavier up, then let him know that Maverick was also on his way, and he could just send him right up.
A few minutes later, Emilia and Xavier walked in, carrying a small suitcase and Danica's large leather bag, whichshe used for her laptop and tablet. Danica stood up and walked over to hug them both. “Well? What do you think?” Emilia smiled at her as she passed the laptop bag to her husband and hugged her back. “Is this place amazing or what?”
“It's pretty amazing.” Danica had to agree with her; anything else would have been a straight-up lie. “Thanks for doing this for me.”
“Oh, don't thank us.” Xavier chuckled as he put the laptop bag down on the kitchen island and leaned on it. “This was all Alex's idea and plan. We just helped him with some logistics.”
“More like held him back,” Emilia murmured just loud enough for Danica to hear as she released her. Danica tilted her head at her, but Emilia gave her an “I'll tell you later” look and smiled at Alex, who just shrugged.
“I knew she was struggling with being in her and Jasper's house, and I understood why it was hard for her.” He said dismissively as he stood up and stretched before heading to the door.
“Where are you going?” Danica asked, wondering if he was going to retreat to his place now that she had company.
“You don't have anything but water to drink.” He explained, glancing at Xavier and Emillia. “I have coffee, soda and orange juice. I also have stronger stuff if you want to go that way.”
Both Emilia and Xavier requested coffee, and when he looked at Danica, she shook her head. “Thanks, but I'm fine with water.”
“Then I'll bring you a glass.” He nodded and left, Xavier hurrying after him, saying he would give him a hand. Danica watched them go and then turned to Emilia.
“What did you mean, hold him back?”
Emilia grinned. “He was going to buy you furniture, dishes, everything you need to live here. I had to explain that while his idea was very thoughtful, you weren't one to accept handouts like that.”
Chapter Thirty-Six: Too Friendly
Danica and Emilia were making a list of items and furniture that Danica would need to either bring over from her house or buy. Meanwhile, Xavier, who also rode motorcycles, and Alex were discussing their bikes and plans to get together and go for a ride. Xavier used to have a large group of friends who rode together in college and after, but the group had slowly drifted apart over the years as the members became busy with their careers, got married, and began to have children, and Danica could tell he was excited to have someone to ride with again. They were discussing possibly ordering a pizza when the phone rang again, and Alex got up to answer. He came back announcing Maverick was on his way up.
A few minutes later, there was a knock and Maverick opened the door. Danica looked up, smiling as the lanky man walked in, juggling a large basket wrapped in cellophane with a navy bow, a wrapped box and, to her surprise, two dogs on leashes. One of them was Watson, looking very serious and business-like in his vest, but the other was a long, short-legged dog with a short white coat that had grey/black patches and large, fox-like ears who started frantically wagging its tail and whining slightly when it saw them sitting there. Standing up, she went over to give him a hand as the others greeted him happily.
“Need help?” She asked as she approached, Emilia close behind her. She assumed dogs were allowed in the building and condo since Alex didn't seem surprised or upset to see the dogs inside.
“Oh yeah, please.” Maverick gratefully passed off the basket to her and the box to Emilia, then bent down and removed Watson's vest and leash. Emilia set the box on the island and then turned to coo over Watson, who seemed to know she was a sucker for dogs and followed her over. “These are for you anyway. The box is from Toni, Raven and Jynx, the basket is a housewarming gift from the resident grey witch of the Mystical Emporium.”
Danica smiled, a little bemused as she looked through the cellophane at the items in the basket. She could see a loaf of French bread in a plastic bag, what looked like scented candles, a jar of honey, a small bottle of some kind of cooking oil, a jar of salt, a bottle of wine, what appeared to be a jar full of several different items and sealed with wax and two pieces of paper. “That's really sweet.” She glanced at him and saw he was grinning as he watched her. “You told them about me?”
“I told them I was attending your husband's funeral and helping you move into your new place this weekend.” He explained as he crouched down in front of the softly whining dog. “Indie, Hush.” he rubbed the dog's ears and looked up at her. “I know the stuff in the basket seems random, but D’Arcy said they all have meaning, and the explanation is inside as well.”
Curious, Danica walked over and set the basket on the island, untying the bow and removing the cellophane as Alex and Xavier came over to check things out. Pulling out the two pieces of paper, which she figured were the explanation, she began to read. “Danica, I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope thisbasket helps you with your healing process and settling into your new home. Each item was chosen with care and purpose to help you with the transition. D’Arcy Wildes.” She flicked the paper over and saw it was a list of the items and their individual meanings.
BREAD
So you'll never go hungry
CANDLES
So you'll always have light through the darkest of times
