“You won’t do anything,” I warn. “I promise it’ll be okay. There isn’t a thing he hasn’t said about me that can hurt me. So don’t let him antagonize you. I promise it’ll be okay. Plus, he hasn’t said anything to you since the talk with your coach, right?”
Daniel told me about having to share hotel rooms with him and the other things. I hate that for him, but he said it was worth it.
He sits up, resting against the headboard. “Right. He hasn’t said or done anything since then, but I wouldn’t put it past him to do something petty today.”
“No matter what happens, it’ll be okay. I’ll be okay. We’ll be okay, okay?”
He hauls me in for a hug, kissing the crown of my head. “Okay.”
Sometimes I don’t understand what Daniel sees in me.
He’s a social butterfly, a ray of sunshine. I’m not. I know it’s easy for him to socialize with the people in this house because they’re his teammates, some of whom he’s been playing with for three years. The others are either freshmen or transfers, but he treats them all the same. But it’s not just them I’m referring tobut everyone in general. He has a way about him that makes people easily gravitate toward him.
It’s not just his talent that people are drawn to but just him in general.
So why he’s with me when I’m the complete opposite is beyond me.
I keep thinking that as he holds my hand, stays by my side, refuses to leave me alone even when I tell him I’ll be okay. I understand part of the reason is because I don’t really know anyone here except his closest friends, and the other part is because of Bryson.
He’s been around, but he’s kept his distance. Though I’ve caught him rolling his eyes and scoffing when he walks by us.
I’m not sure what he thinks that’ll accomplish, but it does nothing for me. I hate that Daniel feels so deeply about it when I couldn’t care less.
“Hey.” Gray drops on the couch next to Daniel, sipping whatever’s in his cup. “We just need to know.”
Kai sits on the armrest, Noah stands next to him, and Angel is in front of us.
“Shut up,” Daniel deadpans, the smile on his face slipping as his arm tightens around me protectively.
I look up at them then down at Daniel since I’m sitting on his lap. “Need to know what?”
“They’re stupid. Don’t listen to them.” He shakes his head, shooting murderous glares at his friends.
“I promise it’s not that bad.” Kai smirks, winking at me playfully.
“When did this”—Gray waves his index finger between Daniel and me—“become official? Exact date would be great.”
I stare at them, amused. “Why?”
“We’re big fans. We’ve been shipping Janny since day one.” Angel grins.
“Janny?” I smile a little at that but cringe too. “Don’t ever call us that.”
“I kind of like it,” Daniel says happily and slips his hand under my shirt, stroking my back. “Janny…Janny…Janny…” he says over and over again in different tones as if that’ll somehow make it sound better.
I shake my head and he chuckles. “It’s a no for me. So why do you need to know the exact date?”
“Because we placed bets,” Noah bluntly states, leaving me stunned because he usually doesn’t speak. “We knew this was going to happen. If you can tell us the date, that’d be great.”
Daniel’s hand freezes on my back. “I tried to stop them. I promise.” He aggravatedly sighs. “I swear I had nothing to do with this.”
I stoically stare at them. I don’t say anything. Just watch as their humored expressions slip.
“It wasn’t done maliciously,” Kai quickly supplies. “We were just giving Danny a hard time.”
I hum, letting the silence stretch out. They look uncomfortable, almost awkward. Except for Noah and Angel, I can’t tell what they’re feeling, but I do think they feel a little bad about it. At least Angel does; Noah looks unapologetic, apathetic.
My lips lift upward a tad. “So did you guys choose a date, or was there a time frame?”
