Chapter 16

                                    

                                          
All answers about Daniel and I were kept short and sweet. Lucky for me, he was still so dazed from the kissing that he made it believable. The only person aware of the truth was the 67 year old man, sitting across from us, watching his every move. He seemed to enjoy the food, which worked in his favor concerning Lola.
                          
I checked the time. "We really need to go... long drive."
                          
Lola was about to argue, but her husband gently touched her arm. "We will visit this weekend when she is off."
                          
She pursed her lips. "It's too late."
                          
He smiled at her softly. "They will be fine, we will bring her car, so she doesn't drive alone."
                          
She huffed. "Fine."
                          
I smiled at them both and rounded the table to hug them all. "See you soon."
                          
Daniel stood and nodded to them all. "It was nice to meet you all."
                          
Tito Benni narrowed his eyes. "Will we see yo-"
                          
"Nope. I'm all yours for the weekend."
                          
Daniel frowned. "I guess not."
                          
He chuckled. "We'll see."
                          
I scowled at him and pushed him towards the exit. "Love you guys, I'll miss you." Daniel grabbed my hand as we walked to his car. "Really? Can you not?"
                          
He smirked. "They're still watching."
                          
I glanced back, he was right, so I pushed him. He had to let go to keep from falling and I rushed to the car. "Problem so-" He struck my hand as I reached for the handle and I gaped. "Did you ju-"
                          
He was smiling. "You pushed me... I tapped your hand. Even."
                          
I scowled to hide the fact that I really didn't mind it, it did something to me actually. I breathed a sigh of relief as my door closed, hardest part was over. I just had to let Lolo do his thing and hope the Calahans didn't get too much blow back. I glanced at him when he got in. "Thank you... for coming."
                          
He handed me my license. "Other than the fact that I saw the people who did this to you and could do nothing... it was fun."
                          
I reached to take it and he grabbed my hand again. When he tried to tug me closer, I leaned away from him. "I don't want this..."
                          
He frowned at me. "You're a really good liar."
                          
I licked my lips. "I learned from the best, let me go."
                          
He pursed his lips and pulled off. I got distracted by them, why did they have to feel so damn good. I sighed and looked out of the window. He was married with a mistress, I had no business entertaining anything with him. Even less so... hoping he really would divorce his wife.
                          
"What are you thinking about?"
                          
I glanced at him. "A lot..."
                          
"Would you teach me? The language?"
                          
I gave him a curious look. "Tagalog? Why?"
                          
He shrugged. "Sounds mesmerizing coming from your lips. You could cuss me out and I would think you were complimenting me or something."
                          
I smirked. "I prefer it that way."
                          
He smiled, amused. "Okay then... what is... in- ina...ak."
                          
I laughed. "Inaanak. Godchild. Tito Benni is my Ninong... Godfather."
                          
He nodded. "Then Lola and Lolo are grandparents."
                          
I nodded. "Tita, Tito are aunt and uncle. Ate, Kuya... big sister or brother. Everyone older gets a title even if your not related. Sign of respect."
                          
He raised his eyebrows. "So... I..."
                          
I rolled my eyes. "Kuya Daniel."
                          
He glanced at me. "I like the accent, when you go back and forth... it's more pronouced."
                          
I looked away from him. "I don't have an accent."
                          
He chuckled. "Yes, you do."
                          
I pursed my lips. "Not."
                          
He caught my hand in his. "Well, my name does sound lovely when you say it that way."
                          
I frowned at him as I tried to get free. "You play too much."
                          
He brought it to his lips before he let go. Damn him... "I'm telling the truth."
                          
***
                          
I chuckled as she grimaced and rubbed at the spot I just kissed. "That's mature."
                          
She narrowed her eyes at me. "Just be glad you're driving. Whatever accent your talking about will be gone tomorrow."
                          
I frowned, she was right. I only heard it if she switched back and forth between languages or was pissed, otherwise it was so slight it was unrecognizable. "Well if you teach me, then... I'll hear it more."
                          
She let a string of words under her breath. "Just drive."
                          
I sighed as I thought about her dad. "He didn't seem to be jumping to your defense."
                          
She shrugged. "Davon? Didn't expect him to."
                          
Again, I was frowning. "Why? You're his daughter."
                          
Her sigh was almost inaudible. "If you let Lola tell it, 8 years ago he met a blond haired blue-eyed devil and she made him forget who he was. Hate to say I agree, we were close before her and her daughter came into our lives. After... I didn't exist, when I did it was because I did something to offend one or the other."
                          
She crossed her arms. "They convinced him to stop letting me see my mom's side of the of the family because they would always argue over it. They tried to get me out, but he wasn't having that so... here we are. When I bought my car they were the first people I went to see, they would have been were I went when I got away."
                          
My grip on the steering wheel tightened. "That's..."
                          
"My life, Daniel. Even with all the obvious signs that I didn't leave on my own accord... he'll still take their side. Who leaves without their car? I keep thinking maybe one day I'll catch a break, but that's not today, may not be years from now. Just gotta stay focused until then."
                          
I bit my lip, this girl was dealt a bad hand, but she was determined to make it work for her. I didn't want to, but I had to stop pursuing her. My situation would only make things harder for her.  If I wanted to be with her, I would have to get rid of everything that was in the way.
                          
Cindy was a simple choice, she could go, but Diedra... she was going to make my life a worse hell than it already was when she got served those divorce papers. Lori made it possible for me to help at a distance until I took care of my business. She didn't need to be dragged into all of this.
                          
I glanced over to see she had fallen asleep. I gently laced my fingers through hers, so she wouldn't wake and started to plan how I deal with my life. If she could handle her affairs and keep pushing forward, I could too. Even though, she didn't want to be my purpose for doing it, she was. She was the only reason I had.