Big Date

Ch. 16 An Accident

"What is he talking about?" Dan asked as he looked down at Jordan with wide eyes. To Jordan's surprise, Dan didn't actually look mad. He appeared more shocked and confused if anything. Still frozen, Jordan's eyes moved from Dan to her fathers. Jordan's dad, Charles, looked furious as his gaze locked on Dan. Great. Just great.

"Dino Camerino showed up at my house asking for half a million dollars to pay for damages against his relationship with his freak brother," Chris explained.

"Dino wouldn't do that," Dan said in a hushed tone.

"He did do that. I'm surprised you didn't know that! Jordan was certainly made aware of this,"

"Chris stop! I handled it. Everything's fine,"

"Handled what?!!!" Dan, Chris, and Charles bellowed in unison.

"I'm saying that I smoothed things over with Dino, and everything is fine. A-and Dan... I didn't tell you because there was nothing to tell,"

"Of course there was something to tell! Dino Camerino threatened the safety of my wife and son... You're supposed to care about Tess and Spencer. Your family,"

"You know I care about them! Stop trying to humiliate me and break Dan and I up!" Jordan exclaimed as she ran from the deck. Jordan made her way to the front of the house where she stood before Dan's extra large truck. Dan lumbered up to Jordan, with a somber look on his face. When Dan saw Jordan's red face drenched in tears, he tried his best to appear less effected

"Please don't be mad at me. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have even brought you here. I should have known this was a bad idea. My family's just... ugh,"

"Hey, it's okay... I'm um, not mad. Not really..." Dan said, forcing a smile as he reached out a hand to help Jordan up from her crouched position.

The car ride back to Jordan's apartment was silent outside of the thrum of the truck's engine, and the beat of the top 20 hits playing on the radio. Once back at Jordan's apartment, Jordan headed straight for the bathroom to freshen up. Meanwhile, Dan headed straight for Jordan's rather tiny kitchen. Since Dan certainly didn't get to enjoy the burgers with Jordan's family, he found himself feeling hungrier than normal. In fact, for a split second, Dan's hunger pangs made his mind flash to the level of hunger he'd feel after experiencing a growth spurt. As Dan finished his meal Jordan crept back into the kitchen, giving Dan a somehow guilty gaze.

"Jordan... Did Dino really threaten your family?"

"Define threaten,"

"Did he really ask Chris for half a million dollars, and threaten your sister-in-law and nephew?"

"Look, nothing happened on that front. I've spoken to him a few times at this point, and I think the worst is behind us. Please don't say anything to Dino,"

"When did you speak to him? And why didn't you tell me about it!"

"I know I should have-"

"When did this even happen?"

"I didn't tell you because you couldn't really do anything about it... You couldn't leave your place..."

A silence hung between the two for what felt like forever, until Dan rose from the table and grabbed his car keys,"

"Where are you going?!"

"I'm going to go have a chat with Dino,"

"No! Definitely don't do that! It'll make things worse! H-he'll retaliate against all of us! Trust me,"

"He wouldn't be dumb enough to actually come for you or I... coming for Chris and his family is still not okay though, and I'm going to tell him as much,"