Page 58 of The Ruse of Romancing
“It’s complicated.” I hedged, not ready to tell her quite yet. Once we finished this drive, I’d tell her the full story, come what may.
The drive ended too quickly and soon I was showing Dani to the guest bedroom that would be hers for her stay. I helped her carry her overnight bag into the room where my mom usually slept when she visited, the bed covered in homemade floral quilts and the room filled with well-loved furniture. A print I’d designed that combined pinks, purples, and oranges into a swirling pattern inspired by the sunset hung on one wall, and a window facing the ocean filled another one.
I left Dani to get settled while I finished unloading the car, doing my best to stay in motion to distract myself from my racing thoughts. I also took the opportunity to hide any family photos that could potentially giveaway my secret, only leaving out shots from my early childhood or of extended family members like my aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Needing to do something to channel my anxious energy, I set the table with my grandma’s worn white and blue plates that bore more than a few scratches and chips. It wasn’t anything fancy, but I hoped Dani would see the effort I was putting in. The table itself was a sturdy thing that my grandparents had pickedup on the side of the road a few years back. My grandpa had refinished it, its worn surface fitting perfectly with the lived-in and well-loved feel of their home.
“This looks good,” Dani said, coming up behind me and wrapping her arms around me. She gave me a quick squeeze before releasing the embrace and walking around me to fully take in the spread of pasta, salad, and breadsticks I’d ordered for us.
“What was that for? Not that I’m complaining.” I asked, still unfamiliar with the type of relationship that lent itself to regular, easy touches. Before Dani, any physical contact I’d experienced of late was calculated, designed to get something. This familiarity was new, and I found myself craving her next touch in a way that was impossible to explain.
Dani shrugged as she snagged a breadstick and took a bite. “Just because I felt like it.”
“Well, if you feel like additional hugs or hand holding or more, I’m down,” I said, grabbing the breadstick from her fingers and taking my own bite.
“Hey! That was mine,” she said with a laugh as she grabbed back the breadstick. “And what do you mean by ‘more’?” She quirked an eyebrow and cocked a hip, clearly oblivious to how adorable and inviting she appeared right now.
“You’re the writer. Use your imagination.” I pulled out her chair and helped her get settled before walking around the table to the place I’d set for myself.
We dug into dinner, falling into the comfortable, familiar conversation that I’d come to associate with Dani. As dinner wound down, I knew it was time. Gathering my courage, I reached across the table to grab her hand. I needed something to ground me in this moment if I was going to come clean and show Dani who I really was.
“Dani, there’s something I need to tell you.” I took a deep breath and let it out again. “Remember when we first met—”
A knock on the front door interrupted me and I looked toward it, confused.
“Do you need to see who that could be?” Dani asked, looking to the door.
“No. It’s someone looking for my grandparents. They’ll go away.” Or at least I hoped they’d go away. “As I was saying, back at the bookstore that first—”
The knocking came again, this time louder and accompanied by the doorbell.
Dani bit her lip, clearly finding the situation humorous as I let out an exasperated breath.
“I don’t think they’re going away,” Dani said, the corner of her mouth tipped into a small smile.
I sighed and pushed to my feet. “Stay here. I’ll see who it is and be right back.”
I walked down the short hallway that led straight from the kitchen/dining area of my grandparents’ home to the front entry. I glanced through the window set into the door and froze.
Spencer stood on the other side and had clearly seen me walking to the door as he smiled and called through the door.
“Dude! Open up. I brought dinner.”
I looked around the hall, decorated with framed family photos mixed with my art, trying to formulate a plan of escape, but there was none.
Drawn by her curiosity to see who was at the door, Dani stood from the table and walked over. “Who is it?”
“Mason?” Spencer called once more, ringing the doorbell again.
I closed my eyes, as it fully hit me. My time had run out. It was too late.
As if reading my thoughts, Spencer took matters into his own hands and opened the unlocked door.
“Why weren’t you answering the door? Since you were going to be here alone for the next few days, I thought I could keep you company, and we could discuss the commission. Mom sent me with some fresh sandwiches and—” He broke off, spotting Dani at the end of the hall, her eyes wide. “What’s going on?”
Chapter 32
Dani
