Another Day

Chapter 7

For several minutes I simply sat where I had collapsed inside my flat, leaning against the closed door.

Oh God, what was I supposed to do now? I had toyed with the idea of having a little crush on George but I figured it was just a thing for a celebrity. Now it was more than that.

I didn't know if I should tell Danny. It didn't sound like a great idea, but maybe he would understand. I couldn't just not tell him, I was a terrible liar.

But I kind of like George.

Would it be best not to tell him? Oh, I didn't know. My mind wasn't working right, I was still numb from the shock of the kiss. I'll just figure it out later.

I crawled to the couch and collapsed on it, totally prepared for a full scale nap. I was so very tired...

It was dark when I heard a key jiggle in the lock. At first, I didn't think anything of it and rolled over, a little annoyed. The door opened with a squeal and someone shuffled inside, coughing. I sat up, slightly alarmed. A figure, unrecognizable in the darkness, was removing their coat and setting down a bag. My heart leapt.

I rubbed my eyes. "Danny?" I whispered quietly. He stopped in the middle of hanging up his coat and turned around.

"Donna"

It wasn't a question, as I had asked; it was a sighed breath of relief shaped around my name.

In the dark we reached for each other and fell into an embrace. His lips met mine with a hunger I never knew he had. All lingering thought of George and everything that happened vanished from my mind.

"I missed you so much." I whispered. Danny smiled. "I missed you too."

And he kissed me again, except this time there was intention behind it, intention he made clear as his hand went trailing up my dress. I smiled. Danny dropped everything in his hands and picked me up, our lips never parting as he carried me to the bedroom.

I woke up with the morning sun spilling brightly in through the window. Before I opened my eyes, I reached across the sheets to find only empty space. Surprised, my eyes flew open and I sat up, wondering where he had gone. Pulling on my robe I wrapped it around me and crept barefoot into the kitchen.

Danny was sitting at the table, fully clothed, with a cup of tea and the newspaper, reading silently. He looked up when he saw me. "Morning Donna." I smiled and bent to give him a kiss. "Have you eaten yet?"

"No"

"How about oatmeal?"

"Sounds good."

Quickly, I made him a bowl and sat at the kitchen table. We sat silently, me sipping my tea. I watched Danny eat with his eyes buried in the paper.

Guilt started to gnaw at my stomach and I tried to push it away, focusing on my tea. Despite my best efforts, George crossed my mind again. I was disgusted with myself. The man I love is sitting two feet from me, and here I was dreaming of some shaggy pop star I barely knew.

But he's not just a shaggy pop star...

I love Danny, no doubt about that, but I wasn't as thrilled to see him as I should have been.

"Are you working tonight?" He asked blandly. I nodded, "The lunch and dinner shift." He sighed and put down the paper to look at me. Instantly I got a bad feeling.

"What?" I asked, a little paranoid.

Never one to beat around the bush, he laid it out pretty simply. "I have to leave again soon."

My heart sank. "Leave? Why?"

"There's a show in Ireland I have to go to."

"But you just got here!" I snapped with a biting tone. I knew I had annoyed him, but I didn't care, and continued on. "I waited an entire month for what? You to just pop in for a shag and ship out again three days later?" I was getting angry, overreacting.

"Look Donna, you knew what getting involved with me would mean. I travel a lot; it's just part of the job." He said, rubbing his forehead.

"You're taking me for granted Danny!" I snapped wildly. 

He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. I drummed my fingers on the table, impatiently waiting for a reply. For a second I thought about throwing George in his face, but that might be a bit too far. "You're out all the time going to art shows and exhibits and conferences and traveling the world and leaving me behind."

"You know I love you." He said suddenly.

"Do I?"

He stared at me blankly and it was silent for a moment.

"Is there someone else?" He asked quietly. His voice sounded hollow. Am involuntary blush crept up my cheeks. Danny stood so quickly his chair fell to the floor with a bang.

"Who is he?" He demanded.

I was legitimately scared as he towered over me. "Danny its no big deal, he kissed me, and I didn't kiss him back. It won't happen again."

"No big deal?" He spit. I shrank a little in my seat, but I wasn't willing to let him know he was scaring me.

"When did this happen?"

"Two weeks ago." I lied.

"And you didn't tell me until now?"

"I didn't exactly have a way to, did I? It doesn't matter Danny."

"Who is he?" He questioned again.

I swallowed. "Just some guy."

"Will you see him again?"

"I don't know, if he comes in the diner again then yes."

Danny stood stock still, his eyes boring into mine, looking for any reason to be angry. For a moment, I found myself wishing they were hazel, instead of boring gray.

Stop it.

"I missed you, Donna." He said, relaxing.

"I missed you too."

He came around to my side of the table and took my arms, bringing me softly to my feet. Slowly, he lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me. It felt wrong, too much lust and not enough love, but I ignored that. Breaking away with a teasing smile, I scampered away from him, into our bedroom. He chased after me, trapping me in his arms as we collapsed on the bed.

"I love you." I said, laughing. He kissed me lightly.

"I love you too."