“That’s solely up to you. What you said about Douglass is unacceptable.”
I hate having to take a hard line with her, but the way she’s acting and what she said concerns me. A lot.
Danni deflates like a pricked balloon and collapses back against the wall behind her. “I can’t lose you as my friend.”
Being as truthful and direct as I possibly can, I reply, “You won’t as long as you understand there are limits to our friendship and working relationship. Hard lines that cannot be crossed. Anything concerning Douglass is one of them.”
Danni picks at the cuticles of her pink-polished nails. “I’m tired of being alone. I’m tired of missing Patrick. I want to move on, but it’s just so damn hard. I just want to be normal again, you know? Feel something other than empty. Then you came along, and I thought… well, you know what I thought.”
“I get it. You know I do. It’s why our friendship came so easily. But I can’t be that person you’re describing. I can’t ever be the person who fills that hole for you because I already found the woman I want to be with. I’m in love with Douglass.”
Danni slides down the wall in the most ungraceful way possible given the limitations of the skirt she’s wearing. I drop to the floor to join her, needing to keep us on eye level.
“I’m a mess.”
I smile. “It’s good to get a little messy every once in a while. I’m sorry I can’t give you what you want.”
Her sigh is mired with soul-deep heaviness. “I’m happy for you. Really, I am. I’m glad you finally foundthe one. I just wish it was me.”
“Danni, don’t,” I softly warn.
She looks up at the ceiling and takes a cleansing breath.
“Doesn’t it complicate things with her being Amelia’s sister?”
Maybe it should, but it doesn’t. Perhaps because Douglass is so far on the other side of the spectrum from Amelia, they’re worlds apart in my mind. If you didn’t already know they were sisters, you’d never be able to tell.
“Douglass is nothing like Amelia, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t let your feelings for my ex cloud your perception.”
I catch Danni’s grimace. “I may have been a little rude to her this morning.”
Douglass didn’t say anything. Executing a tricep pushup to get off the floor, I hold out my hand to help Danni up.
“An apology would be a great place to start. But first, let’s get to AA.”
Danni heads down the hall toward the back office where she keeps her purse and cardigan, while I go back outside to let Douglass know what’s going on. Evening has fully set in, and along with it, the stars and moon are prominent in the sky. Being in the outskirts and away from the larger cities provides an unobstructed view of the Milky Way in all its glory.
I look around for Douglass but don’t see her. No Mason either.
“Hey, do you know where Douglass is?” I ask Mike.
Mike is by himself, lazing on the canopied daybed beside the pool, eyes closed, and a look of replete satisfaction on his face.
He opens one eye at me. “Nope. Angel left. Said to tell Harper she would text her later. Angel’s a cool chick.”
Which means the sex was good, wherever they had it. I better not stumble upon a used condom on my morning run tomorrow.
“At least you’re expanding your horizons and deviating from your usual brunette.”
He shoots me the finger.
I talk as I text Douglass. If Danni and I are going to make the AA meeting on time, I can’t waste more of it searching the house and grounds for her and Mason.
“Do me a favor. Can you crash here tonight? Keep Douglass company until I return. There’s something important I need to take care of. I should be back before midnight.”
He sits up and throws his legs over the side of the daybed. “Something happen?”
“I’m taking Danni to AA. There’s a chicken wrap in the fridge I made for Douglass. Make sure she gets it. I’m texting her now, but if you see her first…”
