Page 21 of Bad Daddy

“Yeah?” Haru’s smile got brighter. “I’m all ears.”

Danny wasn't much of a talker, not really. A lifetime of trying to be quiet and out of the way so people wouldn't notice you tended to do that to a person. But he was bursting with how much of a relief the last week had been, and when he started telling Haru about it, he couldn't seem to stop.

“—and the text-to-speech reader is amazing. It works on all of the worksheet handouts, so I don’t have to spend like an hour trying to figure out the questions I’m supposed to answer before I can work on answering them and…” Danny took a deep breath. “It’s just… it’s just been really good.”

“I’m so happy to hear that,” Haru said, and he sounded sincere. “Really, Danny. That’s great. I’m so happy for you.”

“Yeah.” Danny fidgeted in his seat before offering, “I’ve never looked forward to school before. But this week I actually felt like I was learning stuff. You know?”

“Yeah,” Haru said softly. “Yeah, I get that. I’m so glad things look like they’ll be changing for the better.”

“Thank you for… for helping with that,” Danny said, unable to look at Haru while he did so.

“Absolutely,” Haru said. “Anytime. This calls for celebration sushi for sure.” Then he paused. “I mean…if you like sushi? I guess it wouldn’t be that great a celebration if you hated it. Sorry, I-I sort of assumed, but it just crossed my mind that there are people in this world who don’t like sushi.”

“I like sushi,” Danny assured him. “I don’t eat it super often, but I like it. So it’ll be a nice treat.”

“Oh awesome,” Haru said, looking relieved. “Maybe we should talk about what kinds of foods you do and don’t like, so the next time I’m in charge of picking the restaurant I won’t accidentally take you out for pizza if you’re gluten free. Are you gluten free?”

“I’m not, no,” Danny said, amused and a little charmed. He wasn’t used to men thinking of his needs or tastes. Also….next time? That sounded as though Haru was already planning for future meetings. But Haru had done so much for Danny already. What more could he possibly give? “I ate that croissant sandwich you brought to the library, remember? I don’t have any food allergies. And I’m really, really not picky. I’d love to go out for pizza sometime.” He meant it too.

He wouldn’t be at all opposed to seeing more of Haru.

Haru beamed at him. “Sounds good to me. There’s this little place near Wentworth that does really excellent, traditional oven-fired pizzas—”

Danny’s phone rang, interrupting, and his stomach dropped at the ringtone. It was his special one for Clint and at this point it was a pavlovian response to get nervous whenever Danny heard it.

He pulled it out of his pocket, considering ignoring it for all of two seconds. But when Clint said jump, he expected Danny to ask how high? and anything less…

Danny couldn't afford to lose where he was at.

“I’m sorry,” he told Haru, trying to hide the shame. If Haru knew Danny was a sugar baby, he’d probably never talk to Danny again. “I’ve got to take this.”

“Of course,” Haru said, because he was good like that. “Please.”

Danny gave him a wan smile and took the call, pressing the phone to his ear as he twisted in his seat, trying to give himself the illusion of privacy. “Hi–”

“Where are you?” Clint sounded annoyed. Not quite angry, but definitely upset in a way that meant Danny would be paying for it later. “Ernie said you aren’t home.”

Which meant Ernie was at his apartment to chauffeur Danny to wherever Clint wanted him, and Danny wasn't there. Because he was meeting with Haru. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

He suddenly felt sick. “I’m sorry,” Danny forced out, hunching over and all too aware that Haru could hear every word. Stupid, stupid– “I’m out. Studying.”

“It’s Friday, pet,” Clint drawled. “Fridays mean you don’t make plans.”

“I know,” Danny said, wanting to curl up into a ball. “I know, I’m sorry.” He’d been so giddy over his school stuff and wanting to talk to Haru again, he’d totally forgotten. Of all the stupid fucking things– “I’m sorry.”

“You’ll just have to make it up to me,” Clint said, voice silk. “Where are you? Ernie will pick you up.”

“I’m just at the library,” Danny said in a rush, even as his stomach roiled. He’d have to grab an uber or something to get to campus before Ernie showed up to get him, but it was a cost he’d have to eat. At least being at the library would lend credibility to his story about studying. But fuck now he had to bail on Haru, who had gone out of his way to invite Danny out and pick Danny up— “I’m sorry.”

“Mm. You can apologize properly once you’re here.”

Danny squeezed his eyes shut. “I will.”

“Ernie will text you once he arrives. Don’t keep him waiting.” The don’t keep me waiting, was unsaid as Clint hung up.

“Fuck,” Danny hissed staring down at his phone. He didn't need this. Served him right, thinking he could get away with–

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