Page 51 of The Handoff

Chapter 26

Lisa

Whenwecameout of the club, I felt a little better. I’d been sick, but I was still hungry and weak. Dane told me about the Uber and somehow I’d mustered enough strength to go inside. Once I sat inside, he closed the door firmly behind him as he sat next to me. I must have fallen asleep as he woke me up when he said he was home.

He jumped out of the Uber, and then with my eyes half-open, he supported me as I held on to him, and we walked into the building and headed into the elevator.

I was in such a state, I hated stalking him. I wouldn’t want to date me. Yet, I’d done it and instead of it ending up the way I’d pictured in my head, him being surprised and wanting to seduce me. It’d turned out, all I did was get drunk and make a fool of myself.

As we stopped in front of a door, I broke the silence by saying what was on my mind.

“I hope that I didn’t get you fired, after making a fool of myself?”

His eyes darted to me with fear. “Shh!” he warned as he opened the door.

“Is this your place?" I asked as he closed the door and we headed into the apartment. It was small, but cozy.

"Yeah. You need to wait here. I just need to check something. Please be quiet, it’s late and I don’t live alone.”

Then he left me by the door, muttering something to himself, after telling me to be quiet. I didn't understand what he was saying, but when he came back, I heard him loud and clear.

"No one's home. Good. You can come in.”

I was feeling a lot better after the sleep in the Uber and could think clearer. Why did he call himself Daxon? Why did the bartender say that he had brothers?

"I'm going to make you a sandwich. What's your poison?"

What a weird question. We'd eaten enough times for him to know what I loved, and I thought that he would pick it up by now. I really needed to stop judging him. He had been my boyfriend for a few weeks, not my husband and certainly not my dad.

“Fuck! Of course. Ham, pickle and cheese coming right up. I'll make two. You look as if you need it."

I pouted, "I look that bad?"

He shook his head. "Nah, just teasing you."

I followed him into the open-plan kitchen and living room. I was tempted to ask if he really did live here. There were no photos. A couple of his mom and then maybe some when he was younger. Every time he looked different, still the same blue eyes, but with different lengths of hair. A few with him with a ball in his hand and others with him by the piano, the same way that I'd seen him tonight.

"So, that time you were singing in the shower, you were joking. It was all an act."

He looked confused, and then he said, "You ready to be dazzled with my culinary skills."

He’d ignored my question, and put the sandwich on the table, and I followed him to the side dining table. Four chairs, I noted to myself as I sat down and once again paranoia entered my mind. I was too hungry to ask another question, so I sat down and then he motioned for me to eat.

I did without hesitation.

"Bon appetit," he said.

We ate in silence, and when I finished eating my first sandwich, he told me to go ahead and eat the second one. I didn't need telling twice. I was hungry, it was nearly two in the morning and I realized that the last time I'd eaten and had a proper meal was with Tanya during our early dinner and that was nearly twelve hours ago. I never went without food this long. Never!

"That's what I like about you, you're not one of those girls that hate eating in front of guys. Most girls I've been with wouldn't eat the one sandwich let alone the two."

I felt embarrassed about his observation, as I realized that he was sitting and watching me eat after I finished my second sandwich and he was still on the first one.

"Why do you call yourself Daxon at the bar?"

I decided to stop beating around the bush, I needed answers.

"I don't know. Everyone knows me as Dane, but it's as if I can be whoever I want to be at the bar. Not the football jock. Just myself and my music."

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