Page 22 of Bad Daddy

“Everything okay?”

Danny startled and swung around to see Haru looking at him with concern, the car parked in a lot. No, no, no. “Fine,” he said quickly. “I’m fine, I just–I forgot about a prior commitment. I’m so sorry. I-I need to get going. I’m sorry.”

Haru nodded slowly, and Danny couldn't read his expression. “Do you want a ride?”

Danny choked. Right, Haru had heard him fucking lie about being at the library. “That’s–that’s okay, you’ve already driven all the way here–” And now Danny was just peacing out on him, fuck– “I’m really sorry,” he said miserably.

“It’s okay,” Haru said after a too-long second. “Really, Danny, it’s fine. I can drive you.” He started up the engine again as Danny stared at him. “The campus library?”

Danny wished there was a hole nearby he could crawl into. “Y-yeah.”

“Okay,” Haru said. “We’re not too far. Just about ten minutes. Okay?”

“Thanks,” Danny whispered, feeling so, so small.

They pulled out of the parking lot, but the drive was now silent, all of Danny’s previous enthusiasm completely drained out of him. “I’m sorry,” he said again after several minutes, unable to take it. He knew Haru was upset. Danny just wanted to get it over with.

“Danny, it’s okay,” Haru said again. “We can—we can go next time.”

“Next time?” Danny asked hesitantly.

“If you want there to be one,” Haru said. “Then yeah. Of course.”

“I want there to be,” Danny burst out. “I-I’m free tomorrow. After Lily. Unless that’s too soon, or you’ve already got plans, or—”

“Tomorrow would be great,” Haru said with feeling. “What time are you done with Lily?”

“Usually around ten-thirty,” Danny said.

“I can do ten-thirty. Unless you want some time to decompress after tutoring?”

“No!” Danny licked his lips, nervous energy thrumming through him. “No, that’s… that’s great. If that’s okay.”

“Then ten-thirty tomorrow,” Haru said with a smile. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Danny has no idea why Haru would be, but he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. He tried to smile back, fiddling with the loose thread on the pocket of his coat and then blanched. His coat.

He came to this realization just as Haru’s car slid to a stop in front of the campus library, and Danny was unbuckling and scrambling out of his coat before he could think about it.

Haru looked alarmed. “Danny, what–?”

“He doesn’t like this coat,” Danny said, shoving it off even as his teeth started to chatter. “Could you just hold onto it for me? Since I’ll see you tomorrow. If… if you still want to see me.”

Haru stared at him as Danny vibrated with anxiety. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet. “He doesn’t like this coat?”

“It’s–it’s nothing,” Danny said desperately. “I just–” he fumbled for the door handle. “I’m sorry, I have to go, I’ll see you tomorrow? Or… or just text me if you want to cancel or–”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Haru said, eyes still on Danny’s balled-up coat. He lifted his head. “But Danny–”

Danny stilled, door half open, shivering as a gust of wind blew right through him. “Yeah?”

Haru’s lips tightened as he watched Danny, and Danny couldn't even imagine what he saw. “Just… just text me? When you get home safe tonight. Okay?”

Danny could promise that much for all he had put Haru through today. Even if he wasn't sure he’d actually be going home tonight. “Okay. Y-yeah, I’ll text you. Um. Thank you for the ride.”

“It’s no trouble,” Haru said. “Be safe.”

Danny attempted a smile before he threw himself out into the cold.

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