✔️The Greaser and the Skirtchaser [18+]

35. That Time Vance Bought Daisies

TW: f-slur

Bianca kept calling pretty regularly after that, and those phone calls would go on for hours. Everyone would be fighting to get the phone, but ultimately Bianca's ma got most of the time with her. Vance had expected Danny to all over the landline, too, but the guy was just sulking at the diner. Well, not that Vance had checked today, but he'd bet his left foot that Danny was nursing a cup of coffee and a donut right that minute. Rita only rejected him. He hadn't even found out about that yet.

Vance was on his way over, and he walked out along a row of small shops before he hit the diner. There wasn't much here, and there were more abandoned shops than open ones. He walked past the flower shop, and he looked in the window for any daisies. His ma got a big tickle out of daisies for some reason. They just killed her.

He saw some in the corner in a big vase, so he went in and walked out with the bundle. He was walking home trying to guess if his ma would be home by now or if she'd still be out gossiping with Lucinda and her husband, but he had to steer right around because he was supposed to see Danny right now. He got into the totally empty diner with one customer sitting at the bar with a coffee. Oh, but this time Danny switched out the donut for a Reuben. Vance rolled his eyes.

"You're late," Danny announced, not looking up.

"You actually know what time it is? I thought you just stared at your coffee all day."

He didn't even rise to the bait and made this big-ass sigh.

"Oh, come on, Danny. How about we go to a sockhop? Vin was talking about how he was going with Jessica this weekend; don't you wanna dance with Jolene? I'll make sure Franco doesn't butt in."

"Jolene's nothing like Rita. She's not even Catholic."

Vance rubbed his face. "Okay, we can find a Catholic one. How about we go to a Catholic parish in Resthaven and—"

"She's gotta be Puerto Rican. And have a Corvette."

"Damn it, Danny. She said she's not interested."

His shoulders kept jumping with every word. It didn't even matter that he wasn't looking at Vance; every thought was on his sleeve. "She didn't say that! She said it wouldn't work out."

"Is there a difference, you nutcase?"

"Yes! She said she liked me. She said it had nothing to do with me." He started pushing the rim of his plate, so it would spin bit by bit.

"She said you don't have a shot." Vance would've been more delicate, but Danny didn't know what the word was. Everything slid off his rock of a head, so Vance used a hammer which was about as useless. "And that you never will no matter what you do."

"Yeah, but why?" He stopped with the plate and looked at Vance. "I mean, I'm good-looking. Yeah, I'm handsome as hell. And suave, and—and lindo. I'm lindo, Vance, doesn't that mean anything?"

Something about Rita brought out the madman in Danny, but also something very decent. As crazy as it sounded, he was glad Danny got to meet Rita. Vance rubbed his shoulder.

"Danny, I'm sure she has her reasons for refusing, and it's nothing against you. It's better to just let things...." Vance sighed and grimaced. He murmured, "It—it's better to let things like this go, Danny. You can't be sad about these things forever."

"Yeah? Watch me."

"Falla finita." Vance rubbed his jaw. "Danny... I know it's hard."

"Do you?"

"I do." Vance sighed. "I do, Danny. You're gonna feel the same kinda sad that you are now whether you're sitting in this diner or you're sitting in the shop with your family. It's all gonna be the same no matter where you are."