Can't Get Enough | Danny Amendola

Chapter 32

I let out a loud yawn and flipped over so I was lying on my stomach. Thanks to the lack of sleep the night before, I was able to fall asleep right away. I'd flipped back and forth on the Patriots game for the first half, but found it nearly impossible to stay away longer, so then I went to bed. not only did I not want to see Danny, but they were also behind by three scores— so it didn't make sense to watch anymore. I felt Clay shift next to me, and then I was out like a light— dead to the world if you will...

*bark* bark* bark*

My eyes snapped open to the sound of Clay barking his little head off from the other room. He was never one to go crazy with the barking. I sat up in bed, unaware of the time or even what was happening. Was someone in the house? Were we being robbed? Was Clay seeing a ghost?

"Clay," I whisper yelled as I clutched the covers to my chest. "Come here boy!"

His barking continued, and that was when I realized there was someone banging at the front door. For the first time I glanced over to check the clock and— Jesus, 12:03. So much for a full night of sleep.

I kicked my feet over the edge of the bed, pulled on my pajama pants, and then slid on my slippers before walking out of the room and down the hall. When I got into the living room, Clay was standing there, still barking loudly at whoever was banging on it.

"Shh, calm down buddy," I said as I grabbed his collar and looked down at him. His golden eyes looked back up at me as he stopped barking. "We'll be fine."

I resealed his collar and moved toward the door. I unlocked it, but left the chain on it. When I pulled it open and looked through the slit, there Pen was, standing with tear streaked cheeks and in some Patriots pajama pants and what was probably Julian's shirt. "Penny," I asked, wide eyed. I closed the door, slid off the chain and opened it wide for her to move in. "Have you been crying? Are Julian and Winnie okay?"

Penny stormed in, her long blonde hair flowing behind her. "Did you hear, Jame? Have you been checking your phone at all? I know you're mad at him... But did you watch the game?" She asked all too quickly. She was pacing in the entryway, so Clay stayed back and watched her unsure of what was happening— he never liked it when people cried.

I closed the door and gave her a confused look. "Well I haven't been on my phone because I was asleep... and I stopped at halftime because I was tired," I told her. "Why? What's wrong?" My brain was still clouded with sleep, and I couldn't register why she'd storm over to our place at midnight.

She turned back toward me, stopping dead in her tracks. Her green eyes studied me carefully before she let out a sigh and motioned toward the couch. "You... You should probably be sitting down for this," She informed.

I rolled my eyes and moved over to the couch as Clay following close behind. I plopped down on the couch with my arms crossed over my chest. "Okay... so what's the big problem?"

Pen moved over and sat down on the couch next to me. She placed a hand on my knee and let out a long sigh. "I Uh... Julian tried calling you... I tried calling you... Tonight... Jame... Well uh... " Penny let out a sigh and shook her head. "Danny took a really bad hit at the end of the game," she began, her soft green eyes looking back at me. She still had tears rolling down her face.

Both of my eyebrows lifted in shock. "I-I," I let out and shook my head, then looked down to Clay lying at my feet. I looked back up to her and shook my head. "He's not hurt. He can't be hurt. He's Danny."

Penny squeezed my knee and left out a soft sigh. "They think he broke multiple ribs... and he punctured a lung... He's going in for surgery— at this point momentarily," Penny said quietly. "Julian can't stay any longer than later this morning. They'll need someone there with him. He... Danny was asking for you."

Hot tears began pulling from my eyes and rolling down my face. He was asking for me? After how I treated him? After my nasty text? My heart broke at the thought of him lying there, asking for me and me not being there. "I-I... Is he going to be okay?" I looked down at Clay... It was like I didn't have a voice. "A Punctured lung? Th-That's not good, Pen," I whispered and put a hand over my mouth to quiet my sobs.

Clay shuffled at my feet and crawled up into my lap. I opened my arms and held him tightly. I silently cried into his fur. "He's going to be okay, right?" I repeated, realising I'd yet to get an answer from Penny. I took in the scent of Clay's shampoo in hopes it'd calm me.

Pen nodded slowly. "I-I think so... Julian was too frantic on the phone to truly inform me of what was happening. He made it sound like his lung would be okay... The only thing in my head is the fact that he's lucky he didn't puncture his heart," Penny whispered.

My eyes widened— he'd be dead if that happened. I couldn't lose him. "Thank god," I mumbled. He'd be dead. I was mad at him, but I'd didn't want him dead. I could never deal with that.

"Danny is going to need you... You should probably go to Pittsburgh. Do you want a ride to the airport? Julian said the next flight leaves in 3 hours... I can take Clay with me and watch him... You should be with Danny," she told me. "I know you're mad at him... But he needs you."

I nodded and hugged Clay tighter. "P-Please," I whispered. "I need to be with him" I looked down at Clay and placed a kiss on his head. "I'm gonna have you go with Penny, okay? I have to make sure Daddy is okay."

He looked up at me for a second before sticking his tongue out to lick away my tears. I began sobbing even harder— not even Clay could calm me down.

***

Poor Danny :(