How I Met You

Chapter Fifty One

Not really edited too much, so beware.

Recap: Jake doesn't go through with his and Audrey's plan. Alex asked Jake what he said the night he spent the night at Vicky's house before he had kissed her head. She was disappointed after he told her that all he had said was "sweet dreams" and not "I love you." Jake thinks Audrey has a new plan, and Audrey tells him to call Alex.

-Chapter Fifty One-

"No, he did not say it. He said 'sweet dreams.'"

"Aw, I'm sorry."

"Good. You should be," is what I wanted to say. But Danielle didn't deserve it, and I shouldn't be mad at her for anything. It wasn't her fault. "It's fine."

"Look on the bright side, even if he didn't say it that one specific time, it doesn't mean anything," she reasoned. "He'll say it eventually. I mean he has to.Who wouldn't love you?"

"I guess."

"I just don't understand it. How could he not say it? My calculations are always right. How could I have been wrong?" she said, talking more to herself than to me. "I mean, I'm not just a love doctor. I am The Love Doctor."

I rolled my eyes and pulled the closest pillow within my reach to my chest. "What should I do now?"

"You do know that if he doesn't say it soon, I'm forcing you to, right?"

My eyes went wide. "No. I am not saying it to him. Not if he doesn't say it first." That was just crossing the line. He didn't say it last night-or this morning, whatever. The point is that he didn't say it.

"You have to!"

"I don't have to do anything."

Danielle cupped my face in her hands, looking directly into my eyes, and said, "You have to. And you will."

"But it's scary just thinking about it."

She backed off and took her seat next to me again. "I know, but I don't care. That's what makes life. Taking risks."

"That's so cliché of you to say."

"Once again, I don't care." She laughed. "It's true."

Right then, my phone buzzed next to me on the couch, signaling a call. "It's him," I stated, suddenly scared to answer.

"Oh my god, Alex. It's not like you have to tell him that you love him right this second. Just answer the call." When I didn't make a move to answer, she picked my phone up for me and pressed answer, putting it on speaker. "Why, hello there, Jake."

"Danielle?"

"That's my name," she said.

He exhaled half a laugh. "Is, uh, Alex there?"

"What, you don't want to talk to me?"

"No. I mean yes? It's just that I needed to talk to-"

"I'm just kidding, Jake." Danielle laughed. "Don't get your panties in a pretzel. She's right here." She whispered to me, "Don't take it off of speaker. I want to hear this."

I nodded at her. "Hello?"

"Hey, Alex."

"Hey." I couldn't help the smile. Danielle looked at me and it looked like she was trying to refrain from saying aw. "What's up?"

"I was wondering if you had any plans for your birthday?"

I looked up at Danielle. Her eyebrows were furrowed together. "I'm not sure yet, why?"