The Thread Between Danny and Me

Chapter 27: Was red his favorite color?

After I'd gotten home from spending the evening with Danny, I texted Ashley-Claire an update. She had a show so I didn't expect her to call, but she did at midnight.

"I knew you'd be up," she said. "Are you stress cleaning?"

I put down the mop and groaned.

"You totally are!" she laughed.

"Ugh. Ash, I'm so confused. I don't know what any of this means."

"Sounds like a date to me."

"Yeah, except...I don't know what it is, but I feel like he could bolt at any minute."

"Hmmm...it's hard to know what he's thinking without more information."

"Right."

I flopped on the couch and grabbed my earbuds so I could talk to her without holding the phone to my ear. "He keeps initiating spending time with me, but then...it's just this weird vibe I keep getting. It's like he's nervous."

"Aren't you nervous?"

"Yeah, but, not in the same way. At least, I don't think so."

I glanced over at Rojo who lay fast asleep on his pillow. His tail thumped through a happy dream.

"Are you going to invite him over to your place tomorrow?"

"I'd like to, but I'm worried he'll take it the wrong way."

"You don't want him to spend the night?"

I sighed. "I do, but that wouldn't be my intention. I just want him to see my place and maybe have dinner."

"I think you can tell him that. You can say that you'd like to have him over for dinner, and he can leave whenever is good for him. Be clear. But also, wear a bra and underwear you'd be okay with him seeing. I know you like planning things."

I rubbed my hand through my hair. "Yeah. Okay, that's a good point. Also, red or black?"

"Depends on the shirt and pants."

I chuckled. "This is ridiculous, Ash. Danny and I haven't talked about how we feel and yet I'm thinking about sleeping with him."

"Eh. Best be prepared, especially if you want him."

"I do, Ash. So much it hurts."

"It's been a long time coming."

He's the only man I've ever really wanted.

"How'd the show go tonight?" I asked.

"It went well. You know that song I sent you a couple of months ago called 'Dreamer?' Well, we played it for the first time."

"You did?! That's my favorite song you've written so far."

"Mine too." She paused. "Do you remember me telling you about that girl I hooked up with in Philly?"

"Did you see her again?" I asked, excited.

"I did. She came up to the show in Brooklyn."

"Are you going to see her tonight?"

"Yeah, I think so. She told me she was going to a bar and hoped to see me there. I've been thinking about myself a lot lately, and I think I haven't wanted anything serious because I haven't allowed myself to want it—if that makes sense."

"Makes perfect sense."

"You know me," Ashley-Claire said. "I like going with the flow and not being tied down. I went through a long period of figuring out who I am, and I love who I've become. I don't want to change for anyone. But I've realized it's possible to be free with someone else, too. So, I don't know if anything will come of me and this girl, but I'm going to give it a chance."