Chasing That Desire | Danny Amendola

Chapter 25

** Danny's POV **

"Damn it Danny! We've got the championship game tomorrow! You can't be dropping all of these passes I'm throwing you," Tom called with a huff as he jogged up to me and ripped his helmet off.

I yanked off my helmet and ran a hand through my sweat drenched hair. "I-I'm sorry. I-I just..."

"What's wrong man," Tom asked as he put a hand on my shoulder.

"I-I'm picking up the ring after practice... and I don't know... I'm just... I'm nervous," I admitted as I shook my head and looked down at my feet.

"Woah, wait... What? Why is this the first I'm hearing about this?" I looked up to see Tom's concerned blue eyes.

I side glanced at Julian, who was watching us contently as Ryan Allen talked his ear off. "Because the last time I told someone, it backfired on me." I said it a little louder than I should have, but I couldn't bring myself to care.

Tom sighed and shook his head. "There's no need to be nervous, Dola. If ya want I'll go with you to pick it up, okay?"

My eyes widened. "I-I... Are you sure? You'd do that," I asked, shocked.

Tom nodded. "Of course. It's clear that you need someone to talk to about it. You and Jules haven't talked very much in the past two or three months."

I sighed and shook my head.

"We'll talk after practice," he said as he patted my shoulder and then ran back into his spot.

***

I pulled onto the highway and Tom sighed next to me. "So what's up with you and Jules," he asked as he looked over at me.

I glanced over at him and shook my head. "It was stupid. He blew up on me because I said I wanted to marry her, because she's the one. I never expected him to react that way... I-I just got mad. I really didn't want to deal with him talking about her the way he has," I mumbled and rolled my eyes.

Tom sighed. "Maybe he's just scared. He's probably nervous that you'll get hurt and won't recover like you did last time. Maybe he's scared he's going to lose his friend. Like if you two have kids..." Tom sighed. "I-I know you guys get frustrated that I don't always go out with you guys. Maybe he's scared you'll become a family man."

I scoffed. "I already am a family man. He's like a brother," I mumbled as I exited and made my way toward the jewelers.

Tom sighed. "Then tell him that," he grumbled. "Maybe he needs to hear that from you."

I nodded, not knowing what to say. "Hey, let me know if you see parking spot," I mumbled as we approached the jewelers.

After a few seconds, he pointed one out and I easily pulled in. Once I shifted the car into park, I took a deep breath. My hands were really sweaty.

What if they somehow screwed up? What if they cut the stone the wrong way? What if they did a size 8 and not a size 7?

"Dola? You okay there?" Tom asked, shaking me out of my thoughts.

I nodded. "Uh... yeah... Just kinda zoned out," I mumbled. "Alright, you ready?"

Tom nodded. "You lead the way man, you're the one who ordered it. There are like two or three jewelers on this block," Tom pointed out. "How am I supposed to know which one?"

"Oh shit, that's right," I said with my eyebrows raised. "Let's do this."

I unbuckled, and quickly got out of the car. Tom followed closely behind as I made my way into the store.

The middle aged man that helped throughout the entire process smiled at me as he heard the doorbell ring. "Hello Mr. Amendola! It's great to see you again! I see you've brought a friend, Mr. Brady," he greeted.

Tom nodded next to me. "Hello."

"The uh... The ring is ready, right," I asked nervously.

He nodded. "Of course, Mr. Amendola. We finished it last night. Right this way and I'll show you the final product," he said as he lead both of us to a back room.

Both Tom and I sat down at the viewing table as he moved over to a safe. The man unlocked it, and looked for my name, then turned around with the box in his hand and a smile on his face.

"Here you are, Mr. Amendola," he said with a smile as he flicked on the bright overhead light to view the ring.

With shaky hands I slid the box from the protective sleeve, then opened the box, revealing the black velvet case. I stared at it for a second, unsure of what to do— my heart was racing. I swallowed and flicked it up, revealing the ring.

I let out a sigh of relief. It was exactly how I imagined it. "Jesus Danny, it's beautiful," Tom said from next to me. "Nice choice."

I swallowed and nodded. "You think so? You think she'll like it," I asked, looking up from the emerald ring, and up to him with a nervous look.

Tom smiled in return. "She'll love it, Dola. I'm sure it could be a pebble and she'll love it," Tom reassured.

I nodded as I hit my lip— This was all becoming so real.

***

When I got home, Julian was sitting on the steps of the house looking down at his phone.

I turned the car off and got out, slamming the door louder than usual. "What are you doing here," I asked as I walked through the gate and approached him.

He looked up at me, stood up, and stuffed his phone in his pocket. "I Uh... Can we talk inside?"

I sighed and nodded. "I guess," I said as I moved past him and up to the front door.

I unlocked it and ushered him inside. Nelson was barking in his pen, so I opened it and let him move around. He looked around before moving over to Julian and pawing at his leg.

"Hey there buddy," he mumbled as he squatted down and scratched behind his ears. "How are ya?" Nelson just barked and began licking Julian's forearm.

I stood there and smiled. Nelson clearly liked Julian.

"What's his name again," Julian asked, blue eyes looking up at me.

"Nelson," I said, which pulled the pups attention away from Julian, and to me. Nelson moved away and came up to me, trying to jump on me. "Nu uh! Down, Nel! Sit!" He just looked at me as he sat down and tilted his head.

I squatted down and petted him.

"You mean like Jordy Nelson," Julian asked after a minute.

I chuckled and nodded. "Yeah. I didn't realize that's why she named him that until around Christmas time," I told him with a smile.

Julian chuckled in return. "So uh... I'm here to apologize. I heard you talking to Tom at practice. I'm sorry for being such an asshole... I've just been worried about you... And I... I really don't want to lose my best friend," Julian said with a sigh.

"Thank you Julian," I replied. "It means a lot. But ya know you couldn't lose me if you tried, right? I'll always be there through the good and bad times," I told him as I stood up and put a hand on his shoulder.

He nodded. "I know. Thank you."