My head was pounding. Stomach queasy. And I smell the mixture of alcohol and toothpaste as I huff out a yawn.
Man, I need to brush my teeth.
But the pounding ache in my head is stopping me from everything. I don't even want to open my eyes.
Unfortunately for me, no matter how much I drink, I can always recall the things I did the night before. The dancing with the girls, my child-like protests when they told me to get in the Uber with them, my dancing on the bar. Then, Daniel was there. Like a knight in shining armor.
The look in his eyes last night was just...so different than normal. His concern, his gentle touch. I can still almost feel his hand on my back, as if he's still gently rubbing circles as I, very much unladylike, threw my hearts content up in the toilet.
I'm such a loser.
All because Jesse texted me. I miss you, he said. I really fucking miss you. Can we talk? I still love you. And just like that, my strong facade came crashing down. Because I almost answered his call. I miss being told I'm loved and missed.
But...not at the expense that he left me.
He left me here, broken and feeling like I'm worthless. And I'm better than that.
So I drunk my ass off until I couldn't remember why I started in the first place. Until Daniel showed up. And all those weird feelings I keep stuffing down came bursting up at the seams. And the way he kept looking at me made it harder to avoid. Even if it's just my drunken thoughts that imagined it, I'm keeping the curious and concerned way he looked at me tucked away.
I inhale, but groan at the pressure in my head. I really need to get up and take something. I slowly open one eye, then widen both eyes and blink repeatedly.
Is...Daniel in here?
I rub my eyes, then look again. And sure enough, Daniel is leaning against the wall, his head hanging sideways a bit and his eyes closed.
"Daniel?" I clear my throat from the hoarseness. "Mr. Le Noir?"
His eyes snapped open, a slight color of red as they found mine. He lifts himself off the wall, taking a step towards me. "Are you okay?"
I blink—once, twice, three times. He was asking me if I was okay when he looked like he didn't sleep at all. His hair was a mess, his clothes wrinkled and under his eyes was darker than normal.
But damnit to all hell, he was still sexy.
"Uh," I swallow. "Yeah. My head just...hurts."
He nods once, then quickly disappears from the room. I wince at the pain in my head as I shift to the edge of the bed. I was still in the dress, still had my panties on. So, why is he just here?
Daniel appears again, holding a cold water bottle in one hand, offering me two white pills in the other. "For your head."
"Oh," I look at him. "Thank you."
I take the water from him and he drops the pills in my hand, careful not to touch me. I expected him to leave, but he just stared at me until I slowly threw the pills into my mouth and swallowed them, along with the entire water bottle.
"Good girl."
My cheeks flush as my whole body heats up. Those words went straight between my legs, making me tighten my thighs together. Daniel, though, looked as if he didn't even mean to say that. He blinks, then takes a big step back.
"I'm gonna shower then make breakfast."
Then he's gone. Just like that.
My head is spinning enough as it is to add whatever that was. I groan, getting up. I grab my towel, a grey shirt and black shorts and make my way to the bathroom. I turn on the hot water strip from the dress. I get in, instantly relaxing against the heat of the water.
As I wash my hair, I can't help but start feeling...bad. Daniel saw me at a low point and probably thinks the worst of me. He's probably going to make breakfast just to give me the boot right after. I wouldn't blame him, though.
If I barely knew someone and they got shitfaced, how could I trust them not to do it around my kid? Not that I'd ever put Mary Grace in danger. But he doesn't know that.
God, I hate myself.
I hate that I allowed myself to be so easily influenced by Jesse. Hate that I still have feelings towards him. Hate that I missed him at all. We spent years together. And even if we were fizzling out for a while...I still care for him. And I would never ever make him feel the way that I feel right now.
Useless and unworthy.
I shake my head as I huff a breath, rinsing the conditioner from my hair. No more Jesse, no matter what. When I get out of here, I'm unfollowing him from all my socials and blocking his number.
I'm tired of allowing him to have this hold over me.
I lather my body, still feeling crappy. My head was still throbbing, but not as bad as when I woke up. And Daniel...goodness, I don't even know what to do. Apologize? Would he even care to hear it at this point?
Probably not. But I need this job, just enough to get back on my feet. And if I have to grovel, so be it.
Determined, I finish the rest of my shower and turn off the water. I dry my body quickly and wrap the towel around my hair. I throw my shirt and shorts on, then dry my hair with the towel. I open the door, but the smell of food hits my nose.
I walk a few steps into the kitchen, Daniel already moving around the kitchen. He has hash browns on two plates, currently serving bacon on them. Was I showering that long? How the hell do I keep doing that?
Daniel turns and meets my eyes, the air just vanishing from my lungs. His hair was still damp, pressed against his forehead. And his beautiful blue eyes looked...stormy.
He's so damn dreamy.
"The biscuits are almost ready, so it'll be a few minutes."
"Okay."
I stand still. Don't make any motion to move. But neither does he. And the longer he stares at me, the more I feel that heat blossom in the pit of my stomach. Because if this was a cheesy romcom, I'd say fuck it to this tension, run across the kitchen and kiss him senseless—lose myself in him and this weird feeling that bubbles when we're around each other.
And the longer I let the fantasy play out, the hotter I start to feel.
But this is not a cheesy romcom. It's real life. And right now, I have to say my piece. And as soon as he turns towards the sink to start washing dishes, I start to speak.
"I know that last night, I looked like...a stupid college student. But I'm really not," I take a deep breath. "Sometimes, I like to let loose and have fun, just like everyone in the world. And after the month I've had, I deserved a break. Not that I'm justifying my actions of stumbling home drunk," I wince. "But I'm human. I make mistakes, and yesterday was a big one for me, I get that."
I pause to bite my lip. Then sigh, cause Daniel is still just looking at the sink and not me.
"I know that you probably think I'm a dumb, irresponsible loser. But before you fire me, I want you to know that I would never, ever do that when Mary Grace is here. She's important, and I wouldn't risk putting her in that position to see me like that. I take taking care of her very seriously. I swear," I take a shaky breath. "I do. And I'm sorry that you had to see me like that."
Daniel finally turns off the water and slowly turns to face me. Then he smiles. He just smiles. Not that I'm complaining, because it's a beautiful sight. But it also makes me nervous.
"If I was going to fire you," he walks and opens the oven, putting on a mitt on one hand. "I would've already done so by now." He grabs the biscuits from the oven and sets the tray on the stove, placing two on each plate. "Hungry?"
I blink at him as he sets a plate on the breakfast bar. I watch him as he leans against the counter, motioning for me to sit.
Which I do.
Then I stare at him. He pushes a hand through his hair and sighs. "I don't, for one second, think that you'd ever be careless to MG's safety. Like you said," he takes a forkful of his hash browns and puts it in his mouth. "Everyone is entitled to feel human, Ms. Lee. Doesn't mean I think of you as dumb, irresponsible, or a loser."
"Oh."
That's all I could manage to say. I wasn't expecting this Daniel. I was expecting an angry one.
"Are you going to eat?"
Right. I shake my head and look at the plate. I normally don't eat breakfast. I usually opt for a protein smoothie on my way to classes. But I'm oddly hungry, and it smells fantastic. So I start nibbling on bacon.
"Would you care to tell me the real reason for last night?" I pause mid-chew, looking at him. He quickly shrugs. "You did tell me all I had to do was ask once, remember? I'm asking."
Damn him and his weirdly perfect memory.
"My ex called. And it was...a moment of weakness."
"So you talked to him?"
"No," I scoff. "But I almost did. And it made me get angry at myself for it."
He nods in understanding as he finishes his breakfast. Then he clears his throat. "I was the same, after the split with Nancy. Got angry at myself for...many reasons. Tried to drink them away." He lifts a shoulder. "It get easier as time goes on."
"What reasons?" His eyes narrow, which makes me blink innocently. "I'm asking, Mr. Le Noir."
That makes a smile tug at the corner of his lips. Those damn kissable lips. "I'm not sure you'd like the answer to that, Ms. Lee."
"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?"
The words left my mouth so naturally, I couldn't stop them. But it made his eyes darken as he stared at me, at my soul. But as quick as it came, he pushed away from the counter.
His distance felt cold. I didn't like it. Why don't I like it?
"I'm going to run a few errands," I say standing up. "I'll be back in a few hours."
"You're going now?"
"Yes."
"What for?"
"Groceries," I chuckle. "A few things I need, personally."
"Great, I'll come with you."
"Wait, what?"
He turns towards me. "I, too, need to get something. So we'll have Bruce drive us." I was going to object, but he was already walking towards the stairs. "Be ready in ten."
I let go of a long sigh. This ought to be interesting.
•
Of course Daniel took us to Target.
I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. Target is nice, sure. But everything is, like, ten times more expensive than anywhere else. We're just paying for the bragging right of saying I got this at Target!
I grumbled how boujee he was under my breath as I got out of the car, but was quick to grab a cart and separate from him.
He needed his own stuff anyway, right?
Over the past couple weeks, I've taken notice to the things Mary Grace liked to eat. And since we're running low on things, I thought it'd be nice to make her something special for dinner when she comes home tomorrow. Especially since Daniel deposited a very generous paycheck yesterday to my bank account.
I slowly walk, filling the cart with almond milk, whipped cream, pancake mix, sugar, sprinkles, cinnamon, and fruit. MG loves pancakes, so figured it'd be a good welcome home surprise.
Since Daniel was still gone, I figured I could sneak to find batteries for my vibrator. I used it a couple days ago, and the power was not enough to satisfy me. I was left hot and bothered all night. But not tonight.
It took me freakin forever to find the isle, but when I did, I applauded myself. I don't shop at Target, so finding it on my own is a huge thing. I grabbed a pack of twelve that say long lasting and turn towards my cart, but freeze.
No way.
No fucking way that Jesse is here. In the same isle as me. Staring at me right now.
"Anna," he breathes.
And damn, my heart hurts. He looks so good, his black hair pushed back and his beautiful brown eyes looking at me as if I was a dream. He has a red gash on his lip, though.
I almost ask why, but remember he's the enemy. He cheated on me, and he doesn't get my concern.
So I turn around and try to break away from him, but he called out my name, then grabbed my arm.
I snatched it away from him. "Don't touch me."
"Shit, Anna. I just wanna talk. You've been ignoring my calls."
"There's a reason for that, asshole." I start to march away from him, but his words stop me in my tracks.
"You know I didn't mean it, right?"
I turn towards him slowly. "You didn't mean it? You didn't mean to bury your dick inside my best friend and lie to me about it? You didn't mean to break my heart? You didn't mean to throw three years down the drain?" I feel myself shaking. "Fuck you, Jesse. Literally, fuck you. Or better yet, go get Raina to do it. God knows how many times she has before!"
"Anna, babe, I swear, I—"
"Is this guy bothering you?"
I freeze. Jesse stops talking and looks at where the voice came from. I felt immediate relief knowing that Daniel, somehow, is here when he wasn't anywhere to be found a few moments ago. And then his arm is around my shoulder, gently turning me to face him.
"Adrianna, baby," he says gently, but sternly. "This fucker messing with you?"
"Excuse me? Listen here, buddy—"
"No." Daniel says way too cooly, not even looking at him. "Get the fuck out of here before I rip your fucking head off of your body for making my girl so clearly uncomfortable."
My heart is beating so loud, I was sure Daniel could hear it. His face was literally inches from mine. His overwhelming, manly scent was invading my senses and making my knees weak. His hand was resting on my shoulder still, his thumb gently stroking my upper arm. I have no idea what's happening, but all I know is that I don't want this to stop.
His beautiful stormy blue eyes were boring into mine with a look that made me shiver, but not from the cool air in the store.
Jesse scoffed, which seemed to break whatever trance Daniel was in. Cause he turned his head and with a scary low voice said, "scram."
Jesse must've seen that Daniel wasn't kidding, cause he just rolled his eyes and started walking. But before disappearing, he called out something about calling me so we can talk.
Daniel humorlessly chuckled. "Not fucking happening."
Then Jesse was gone, leaving just us. I couldn't even form a sentence. I was still in a shocked state of Daniel's arm being around me, being this close to him. But he finally dropped his arm and steps back.
"I'm sorry," he gently shakes his head. "I was trying to find you around the store, but unfortunately got here when I heard you start yelling."
I groan, cheeks burning. "I'm sorry about that. He—"
"You don't owe me any explanation, Ms. Lee. Don't feel like you have to."
My heart warms. And as crazy as it sounds... "I want to."
Daniel smiles, very softly, before looking at his watch. "Well, I have a meeting this afternoon I really should be getting ready for. But," he looks at me. "What about after? I can make us a nice meal."
I can hear the sirens going off in my head—my brain rationally telling me that this would be a mistake. Because then I wouldn't be able to keep the line drawn between us. And yet, I can't help but smile.
"On one condition."
"Which is?"
"My name is Adrianna. When you say Ms. Lee, it sounds like you're calling my mother."
Daniel laughs, a deep and genuine and fucking hot laugh. Are laughs supposed to be that damn seductive?
"On one condition."
I grin. "Which is?"
"When you call me Mr. Le Noir, it sounds like you're trying to my father's attention, not mine." I bite my lip as Daniel lifts his hand to me. "Do we have a deal?"
I narrow my eyes slightly, but place my hand in his. And damn, that fiery, hot sensation washed over my body. "It's a deal," I shake his hand. "Daniel."
"Good." He grins, still holding my hand in his. "I'll have Bruce take you home. But I'll see you around five or six," then he leans in just the slightest, lowering his voice a bit. "Adrianna."
Oh, yeah. This man is trouble. And suddenly, I'm ready to dive head first into it.
A/N
omg an update??
I'm so sorry I've been MIA. there's been a lot of life and school stuff I was caught up in. im so sorry!! I appreciate all of you who are still here. I rewrote this chapter about 87 times, so I hope after such a long hiatus, it still delivers <3
thank you for reading lovelies! don't forget to vote, comment, etc!! <33