The Sister Between Them

Chapter 11

By the next day, Dani was already adjusted to the time difference and was up just as the sun started to rise. She had been a habitual early riser her entire life. Her dad used to laugh about how she'd take the comics out of his paper before he even got to the table in the morning.

When she got older, she started having coffee ready for him as she read the comics. She smiled softly at the memory. It took a long time, but she had finally gotten to the point of being able to think back fondly and not cry whenever she was reminded of the good days.

It was still just a little past six. Dani didn't figure Gavin would be up for nearly an hour or so. On the weekend, he was awake before her, but his whole routine was out of whack, and so was hers. The information sheets Rocco gave her said his bedtime was eight and that he was usually awake between seven and seven-thirty. This would be perfect for her. She'd be up about an hour before him that way.

After showering and dressing, she reviewed everything and put the folder away in her top drawer.

She figured she'd do as Rocco suggested and take the day off. She thought she could sightsee a little and then maybe go to the coffee shop and say hi to Breanna. She also wanted to try to call Kevin, and she was certain that Katherine had been blowing up her phone. She hadn't really taken the time to check it being so busy with Gavin.

She shoved it in her purse and headed upstairs. The house was still quiet; she supposed Rocco would sleep in since he'd taken the day off. She started a pot of coffee and wandered outside; she glanced around for a paper and didn't see one. She shook her head at herself, feeling somewhat foolish as she walked back inside.

"Morning?" Rocco gave her a curious look.

He was walking down the stairs to the living room as she walked back inside. He looked amazing as always, he was once again dressed casually in a pair of dark blue jeans and a button-up black shirt. It seemed to emphasize how tall and lean he was and hint at the muscle's underneath. His hair was still damp from his shower and little pieces of his wavy locks fell in front of his face. He still had razor stubble today across his chin and cheeks. He must not have shaved. It was incredibly sexy she gulped tearing her eyes away from him.

"Uh good morning," She somehow managed to find her voice.

"Did you need some air?" he asked, gesturing to the door.

"Oh um, no," she laughed a little. "You don't get a paper, do you?"

"No," he held up his blackberry and then set it in the counter. "It's on here. Getting this fixed today."

"Right." She sheepishly walking back into the kitchen. 

"I was just remembering my dad reading the papers in the mornings. I just stumbled outside." She added and then wished she hadn't he'd think she was crazy.

"Yeah, my dad used to get the paper too." He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table.

She walked and sat down across from him gingerly sipping from her own cup.

"He'd read the it and discuss certain events with my mom. Dante would read the comics and I'd listen to them talk," he mused.

"I was the comic reader. I'd read them out loud to my brother," Dani recalled fondly. "My aunt liked the variety and lifestyle sections. She used to read the dear Abby column out loud."

"You have a brother too, not Katherine's?"

So, neither Alyssa nor Katherine had told him anything about her. She felt a little miffed about that. She figured Alyssa was too selfish to care, but Katherine? Was she embarrassed of her? Most likely.