Looking Beyond

Chapter 16: Party Planning

     Dan knocked on Erik's bedroom door. "Hey E? You in there?"

     "I'm in Savannah's room!" Erik called back.

     Dan ventured over to the girls' room and looked inside. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

     Savannah looked up from her laptop. "Dan! Of course not! We're just looking at a few new party ideas." She patted the empty spot on her bed. "Come in!"

     Dan shuffled into the room and took a seat. "I was wondering if I could ask you guys something." He hand reached for the back of his neck.

     "Anything bro, what's up?" Erik asked.

     Savannah studied Dan's mannerisms. He was adorable in general, but it was even more so at this particular moment. "What would you like?" She batted her eyes and flashed a huge smile.

     Erik frowned at Savannah's reaction. He hated it when she threw herself at Dan like this. "Don't keep us waiting Dan."

     Dan fidgeted with his hands and looked up. "I want to hire you guys."

     Erik tried to hide his shocked reaction. "You. You want us to plan a party? For YOU?"

     Dan nodded. "Yes."

     Savannah opened up a word document. "Okay, what kind of party do you want?"

     Dan smiled brightly. "An engagement party."

     Savannah's heart fell to her feet. "An engagement party?" She repeated. "For who?"

     "Yes, an engagement party, for me."

     "You're engaged?" Erik uttered softly.

     "Yes." Dan's joy and excitement was clearly evident on his face.

     Erik looked at Savannah, who was staring at her screen, no emotion showing on her face. "Well, congrats." He shook Dan's hand. "But, when did all of this happen?"

     "I've been seeing her for about a year. I proposed a few weeks ago." He patted his lap. "She wants to throw a party to announce it to our friends and family. You guys are the best party planners I know, so, here I am."

    "The past year?" Savannah squeaked.

     Dan looked puzzled. "Yeah. What's wrong Sav?" She placed her laptop to the side and stood up. She slid her feet into her boots, grabbed her keys, and ran out of the house. "What just happened? Why is she upset?"

     Erik's jaw dropped. "Dan, I'll plan the party for you, but do me a favor and don't ask Savannah to do anything for it." He got up and headed to his room for his shoes and keys.

     "I feel like I'm missing something here!" Dan followed Erik. "What don't I know?"

     Erik faced him, wrapping his scarf around his neck. "Are you really that blind Dan? Savannah's been trying to get your attention since she and Brea moved in! She's been crazy about you! She's always laughing at your stupid dad-jokes, flipping her hair, smiling – at YOU. And you haven't noticed once." He began to get angry with Dan. "You can't be bothered to see how in love with you she is, then you ask her to plan your engagement party? Smooth."

     Dan stood in a stunned silence. "She likes ME?"

     "I just said she did." Erik huffed as he made his way past Dan.

     Dan chased him down to the door. "I never flirted with her, because I thought she was with YOU."

     Eric put his hat on and glared at Dan. "Well, now you know why she isn't with me. How the hell was I supposed to compete with you and your blue eyes?" He slammed the door behind him, hoping that Savannah went to their usual bar downtown.