Danny gave a noncommittal shrug. ‘Oh, same as usual,’ he said. And while he was trying to play nonchalant, Beth could feel nervous tension radiating off him.Hadhe been in Queens? Thinking about it now, she recalled that she’d been so intent on getting out of a potential visit herself that Danny hadn’t actually asked her to come along and didn’t seem too bothered when she’d cried off.
So had he really been visiting his parents, or was he covering up something? If so, what?
Beth’s heart plummeted at what was lately becoming an all-too-familiar scenario. And why couldn’t he meet her eyes?
Mustering up some of Jodi’s backbone, she decided to come right out and say something.
‘Danny, are you OK?’ she asked gently. ‘You look… out of sorts. What’s going on?’
But he simply waved a hand, brushing away her concern. ‘Oh, nothing, I’m fine, just a bit tired. You know how Mom can talk. And I ate so much at lunch my, er, stomach hurts a bit. I’m… going to grab a shower.’
And with that he was gone, leaving Beth suspicious once again as to why he was so jumpy and evasive. No wonder they couldn’t talk seriously about the problems in their relationship when he was avoiding her all the time.
Indeed, he had looked totally unprepared for her to be home too. It was as if he had been intent on being alone when he opened the door and her presence had really thrown him. He looked shocked – and guilty too, she realised despondently. Where had he been?
In Queens… she didn’t think so. But what was she supposed to do, phone his mother to check? Mae Bishop was no fool and would no doubt be full of questions if she realised something was amiss, not to mention that Danny would surely find out she was checking up on him. And the fact remained that Beth wasn’t sure if shedidwant to catch Danny out in a lie.
Because if she did, it raised a whole lot of other issues she didn’t think she was ready to face.
Sighing deeply, yet unsure what was the best thing to do, Beth decided to retreat into what had always been one of her greatest comforts. She pressed play on the remote control, hoping to lose herself and her thoughts in the movie.
Though she was further interrupted when Danny returned a few minutes later, hair damp from his shower and smelling like soap. Some of his colour had returned and he looked a little more relaxed. It was as if he had needed the shower to regain his composure.
‘What are you watching?’ he asked, sounding much more like himself.
Beth paused the film again, turned to him and considered the sudden change in his demeanour. His behaviour these days seemed as mercurial as the weather. Where he had been tense and anxious fifteen minutes ago – and had looked almost disappointed that Beth was at home – now he appeared calm and at ease.
‘Feeling better?’ she asked.
Danny plopped down on the couch next to her. The movement woke up Brinkley, who opened sleepy eyes to spy the other member of his pack. Bidding him welcome, the dog left Beth’s lap and climbed into Danny’s.
‘Hey, buddy,’ he said, affectionately stroking the spaniel’s head. ‘Yeah, a bit. Just this cold and the heat on the train and whatnot. I just needed to freshen up. How did the thing with Jodi go? Was her boyfriend nice? Brave dude,’ he added, shaking his head, though he was smiling.
‘Danny!’ Beth chided, but it felt good to be having a relatively normal conversation. ‘He was nice, actually. And he obviously adores her.’
He chuckled. ‘Speaking of adoration… I was talking to your Scottish buddy on the way in. He mentioned he was a bit worried about you, and asked if everything was OK.’
Beth looked at him, surprised. ‘Billy? What do you mean?’
‘What? You haven’t noticed the googly eyes he’s always making at you?’
She was genuinely shocked at this. Billy the concierge?
‘No way. Of course not. And Billy’s not like that. He just looks out for all of us residents, that’s all. Some messenger guy made a comment the other day, and I suppose he just wanted to check that everything was above board.’
But then she remembered how flustered Billy had been acting around her lately. And she wondered where all of this was coming from, and more pertinently whether there might be anything to it – especially given what was happening now.
Who’s to say a ‘messenger’ had delivered anything at all? Now Beth was really confused. If what Danny was suggesting was true, and Billy did have a bit of a crush on her…
The package he was wrapping the other day, could it possibly have been the same one she’d found on the yacht earlier?
She was still trying to make sense of this strange and completely unexpected piece of news when Danny said, ‘So I’m assuming this is a Marilyn kind of afternoon.The Seven Year Itch, huh?’ He turned to the screen and nodded towards the famous blonde bombshell. ‘Are you trying to tell me something? Gonna run away to Scotland with your friend the concierge?’
‘Stop it,’ Beth joked, though she couldn’t help but feel a swell of guilt balloon in her heart. He was obviously referencing their relationship. Seven years together – seven-year itch indeed. It was as if he knew something was up.
Was all this teasing about Billy his way of trying to raise the issue?
Thank goodness he didn’t know anything about Ryan then. Not that there was anything to know, Beth corrected herself. Nothing had happened between her and Ryan, or indeed with Billy. Was Danny trying to turn the tables on her? Or was he simply hoping to change the subject? Now more than ever she wondered what was going on with their relationship.
