I turn to face her and see through a tiny sliver of light cast through the window that she’s already turned to face me. “Huh?”
“Thank you for today. For taking care of me. For being worried about me.”
Why is she thanking me for worrying about her? Of course I worried about her. I always worry about her.
“Dani, that’s–”
“I know, I know,” she cuts me off. “Just, I really appreciate it.” She shimmies up and over a little so that our noses are practically touching. “A lot.” She places a gentle kiss on my lips. It’s tender and loving and something I could absolutely get used to.
I want to prolong the kiss. Because, of course I do. But she slides away and turns to her other side. She’s inches away. If I wanted to, I could grab her waist and pull her against me, our bodies fitting together like the puzzle pieces I know they are.
“Goodnight, Arden,” Danika says from her side of the bed.
“Goodnight, brat.”
Before I can turn away, Danika’s hand finds mine under the covers and she interlocks our fingers, anchoring us together. I drift asleep with the feel of her skin on mine and a larger than life smile on my face.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Danika
AfterconvincingArdenthatI’m not going to drop dead while he’s working his shift, I spend much of Sunday studying for my midterms. I really need to meet with my study group but leaving the warmth of the apartment today just doesn’t seem possible for me. So, instead, I curl up with my books and my blanket on the couch and throw an episode ofGilmore Girlson in the background.
I get ensconced in the show, because of course I do, and it’s the scene where Luke and Lorelai go on their first official date and Luke tells her he’s “all in”. I have no idea why but something about it reminds me of Arden. He’s been so good to me lately, even before we started hooking up. He’s not treating me like a little sister or an annoyance. He’s treating me like an equal, or even more, like a significant other. Maybe his feelings for me are stronger than he’s letting on.
There are reasons you’re not pursuing him.
That damn devil.
Yes, there are reasons but he also hasn’t shown any indication of anger lately. He’s not acting at all like my father, in fact, he’s acting the opposite. Taking care of me last night the way he did was something my father would never have done. He more than likely would’ve caused the hurt, not helped fix it.
I need to think about this. Maybe I should see where Arden and I really stand as a couple. If we went on a real date, really acted like a couple, I might be able to see if this is something real or if it’s just a hook up situation. It might also show me how he really acts as a romantic partner in a relationship and if he’s nothing like my father, then maybe we’re onto something.
I ponder the idea while turning pages in my biology textbook. I need to focus on this work, though, or else Arden will be fake dating an ex-med student. Four hours later, I’m elbow deep in microcirculation and capillary exchange, and just about ready to shoot myself, when Arden walks in the door.
“Hey, Ard. How was work?”
“Do you know what mushroom coffee is?”
“Um, no.”
He shrugs off his jacket and shoes. “Yeah, me either. You should’ve seen the look on this girl’s face when I told her we didn’t have it. I might as well have kicked her puppy.” He comes over and sits down on the coffee table across from the couch. Close but not too close. Not close enough.
“How are you feeling? How’s your head and wrist?”
I close the books and move them off my lap. “Both are good. I took a few aspirin and rewrapped the wrist but I think I’m set for a speedy recovery.”
Arden smiles before standing up to walk to the kitchen. “You wanna order something for dinner? We really should get groceries one of these days.”
Here goes nothing.
“I think we should go out. To dinner. Together.”
Slowly, Arden closes the fridge and turns around to face me.
“Are you asking me–”
“On a date? Yes.”