Dangerous to Know & Love (42 page)

Daniel reached his limit. “I didn’t spend anything,” he said, quietly but firmly. “It was my mom’s.”

There was a lull in the conversation and all eyes were fixed on Daniel. Kelly and Lacey almost swooned.

Lisanne took Daniel’s hand. “Cigarette break?”

He nodded stiffly and followed her outside.

“Still glad you came?” she asked anxiously.

He ran his hands through his hair before smiling at her and lighting a cigarette.

“I might need some more awesome car sex to make up for it.”

“Maybe you should get a car.”

“Nah. Sirona would be jealous. You know what females are like.”

“Finally, something Sirona and I have in common,” smiled Lisanne. “Other than you, of course.”

Then she heard her name being called.

“Ugh, I have to go,” she sighed. “It’s a family tradition. You stay here and finish your smoke. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Lisanne left him sitting outside as she ventured back to the living room.

“Where’s Daniel?” whispered her mom.

“Halfway to Texas if he’s got any sense,” snapped Lisanne.

Monica looked embarrassed. “Yes, that must have been quite an ordeal. I hope you explained to him about grandma.”

“Not just that – you and dad getting on his case as well.”

“If only you’d told us about the necklace, honey, we wouldn’t have said anything.”

“I was going to tell you, mom. I just wanted to have it myself for a while, okay?”

Her mom didn’t seem to know what to do with that answer.

“Well, grandma and Pops have been asking for your party piece,” she said. “Better get it over and done with.”

Ever since she’d been a little girl, Lisanne had sung for her family. It had become a Thanksgiving tradition. It was always the same, the
Skye Boat Song
, to celebrate, so Pops said, their Scottish roots.

Kelly and Lacey acted bored, and were sitting huddled together looking for all the world like they just needed a cauldron to complete the picture.

Grandma was sitting up expectantly, a little lopsided due to the industrial quantities of wine that had disappeared down her throat over the last two hours.

Aunty Jean was already looking emotional, even though she wasn’t a Maclaine, and Ashley was sitting calmly, with an encouraging expression.

Lisanne stood next to her father, who put his arm around her waist.

Speed bonny boat, like a bird on a wing

Onward! the sailors cry.

Carry the lad that’s born to be King

Over the sea to Skye.

“Oh, it’s so lovely,” barked Grandma Olsen, loudly.

Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunderclaps rend the air;
Baffled, our foes stand by the shore,
Follow they will not dare.

Lisanne was unaware that Daniel was standing nearby, watching her intently.

Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep,
Ocean’s a royal bed.
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head.

“Have you ever heard anything so lovely, Daniel?” asked Ashley, meaning to be kind.

“No,” he said tightly.

“You must be so proud of her.”

He nodded, but didn’t speak. Ashley looked at him oddly, but didn’t say anything more.

After she’d finished singing, Lisanne couldn’t help noticing that Daniel was unnaturally quiet. He seemed more like the distant, arrogant guy she’d first met, and nothing like the playful, adorable boyfriend she’d fallen in love with.

He deflected all attempts at conversation, and wouldn’t say anything to her except that he was ‘fine’. In the end, he’d disappeared up to Harry’s room and re-emerged wearing his oil stained t-shirt, saying he had work to do on Sirona before they headed back in the morning. She watched him crouched down next to his bike, quiet, absorbed, alone.

“Just leave him be,” said Pops. “It’s been a lot for him to take in the last few days. I love your mom and dad, but they drive me crazy sometimes – and they’re my family. It’s even harder for your young man, what with having lost his own parents. I’m pretty certain he’s done his share of biting back the truth this holiday. Let him have his time alone – he’ll be fine.”

Lisanne wasn’t so sure. Up until that moment, she’d felt like it was the two of them against everyone, against the world. Suddenly, she was on the outside. It was a cold place to be.

It was well into the evening when everyone finally started to leave. Daniel avoided that drama fest by taking Sirona ‘for a test drive’. When he returned, over an hour later, it was just the Maclaines and Pops left. Grandma Olsen was spreading her affection between her children, and now it was Jean’s turn. The house was considerably quieter.

Lisanne realized that Daniel must have retrieved the bottle of Jack from her mom’s car, although she hadn’t seen him do it. She could smell the whiskey on his breath when he kissed her goodnight.

Checking they weren’t being watched, she ran her hands over his tight butt and tucked them into the back pockets of his jeans.

“See you later,” she whispered.

Daniel shook his head and gave her a small smile. “Not tonight, baby doll. We’ve got a long ride tomorrow and I’m kinda wasted.”

“But…”

“Sleep well, baby,” he said, and kissed her forehead before disappearing into Harry’s room.

Lisanne felt like crying.

Chapter 18

They’d been back at school for two weeks and Lisanne had hardly seen Daniel. She definitely didn’t consider a handful of texts a reasonable substitute. When she
had
seen him he’d been jumpy and short-tempered. Worse still, they hadn’t had sex even once, and although a couple of their make out sessions had got pretty heated, he’d always pulled back with an excuse that he had to be somewhere else.

Lisanne was upset and confused.

“I think he’s getting bored of me, Kirsty. He won’t talk about it and I don’t know what to do,” she confided one evening.

“You need to spend some quality time with him, Lis. From what you’ve said about Thanksgiving, it was kind of heavy. You guys just need to relax, talk.”

Lisanne rolled her eyes in frustration.

“I know! But he hardly comes near me, and when he does, it’s almost always with other people around.”

“So, don’t ask him, tell him. Plan a date – go out to dinner.
Talk
to him. But if it’s any consolation, Vin says he’s being weird with everyone.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you know before Thanksgiving, the guys had all planned to go see that football thing after New Years? Yeah, well, he cancelled on that with no explanation, and you know what a big deal that was supposed to be.”

Lisanne bit her lip, wondering if she dared voice what was really on her mind.

“Um, you don’t think… do you think he’s seeing someone else?”

Kirsty looked at her seriously. “What makes you say that?”

“Well, a couple of times he’s gotten texts and he won’t say who they’re from, and he got all annoyed and defensive when I asked him. And one of his friends from Economics wanted to know where he was because he’d cut class. When I asked him, he flat out lied to me, and said he hadn’t cut any classes.”

Kirsty wrinkled her nose in sympathy. “Did Roy or any of the guys say anything? Maybe he’s got shit going on at home?”

Lisanne shook her head. “Roy
said
he didn’t know anything, but…”

“But what?”

“He mentioned that Daniel does this sometimes when he’s ‘stressed’.”

Lisanne used air quotes to express what she thought of that comment.

“Maybe he is… I mean, living with his brother… And hasn’t he got a big Math paper due or something?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Well,” Kirsty said slowly, “I wouldn’t normally suggest this, but in the circumstances…”

“What?”

“Get hold of his cellphone. Check his texts and emails. If something’s going on…”

“I can’t do that!”

“Lis, if he won’t talk to you, he’s not giving you much choice.” Kirsty shrugged. “That’s the way I see it.”

Lisanne decided to give Daniel one more chance to talk to her – and if that didn’t work… ugh, she hated the thought of spying on him.

Kirsty easily agreed to make herself absent on Friday evening. Lisanne had intended on telling Daniel the good news during their Business class that morning – but he was a no-show without even a text to explain his whereabouts. She didn’t know whether to be pissed or worried. She settled for both and texted him immediately.

* L: where are you? Are you ok?

I’m worried. LA xx*

There was no reply even though she checked her phone continually during Professor Walden’s lecture.

Finally, half way through lunch break, he replied.

* D: I’m ok. *

“That’s it?” said Kirsty, annoyed on Lisanne’s behalf. “‘I’m okay’? You totally have to text him back.”

“And say what?” Lisanne sighed, trying to ignore Shawna’s smug expression.

“Tell him he’s meeting you at the dorm, and to bring take-out. Then seduce him, and make him tell you everything. Use your feminine wiles.”

Lisanne snorted. “Yes, because I have so many of those.”

“We can work on that, girlfriend. Emergency shopping expedition.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry – I have Victoria’s Secret on speed dial.”

Lisanne didn’t think she wasn’t joking. And when she found herself buying ridiculously expensive lingerie two hours later, she felt like she’d fallen down some weird damn rabbit hole in an alternate universe.

She texted Daniel immediately she got home.             

* L: Dinner, my place 6:30. Bring Chinese : ) *

But his answer wasn’t what she expected.

* D: Busy tonight. Sorry. *

* L: pouting – doing what? *

* D: meeting old friend – don’t be mad *

* L: why would I be mad? *

* D: old girlfriend *

“What?!” she screamed as her phone blinked at her innocently.

* L: now I’m mad *

* D: no need. Do something tomorrow? *

* L: what do I do with my new

Vic Secret panties and bra? *

* D: you are killing me! *

* L: shame to waste them.

Maybe I’ll go out with K&V & guys tonight? *

* D: don’t joke, baby doll. Make it up to you tomorrow. Promise. *

* L: still pouting *

* D: ( : *

Despite Daniel’s promise, Lisanne was fed up, and she didn’t feel like staying in by herself. It was only two weeks before Christmas and one week before the end of the semester, and everywhere – except her dorm room – there was a party atmosphere in the air.

Well, screw him. He was off seeing one of his (many) exes, she was damned if she was staying in on a Friday night, all pining and pathetic.

She called Kirsty who told her where to meet them and to help herself to anything in her closet. Lisanne decided to do exactly that. Maybe Daniel wasn’t the only guy who’d think she was hot. Her heart sank at the thought, but she was determined to put on a brave face and party on – if people still did that.

*   *   *

By the time she was on her third cocktail, Lisanne realized they were far more alcoholic and less fruity than she’d realized. When her phone vibrated with a message, she nearly dropped it.

* D: at your room. Where are you? Are you ok? *

He really had a nerve. Dumping her for some other girl and then expecting her to wait in for him! She shoved her phone back in her bag and ignored it when another message came in, and then another.

Kirsty threw her a curious look.

“He can wait,” she said, and threw back another drink.

“Atta girl!” shouted Isaac, and swallowed his fifth tequila.

Two hours later, with her head swimming, Lisanne was remembering why she didn’t drink. Kirsty had put her in a taxi with a fierce message to the driver to make sure her friend got safely through the front door of the dorm rooms.

Lisanne staggered out of the cab, cursing the high heels that were causing her to wobble and overbalance. Then she saw Daniel’s bike parked in its usual place and her stomach lurched unpleasantly.

He was still here?

Apprehension sobered her as she slowly trudged up the stairs to her room. She was sure seeing Daniel was going to mean a fight.

He was hunched on the floor outside her door, the worried expression clearing as soon as he saw her.

“Baby doll! Fuck, you scared the shit out of me! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Daniel, thank you,” she slurred, her words therefore lacking the dignity with which she’d hoped to imbue them.

“Why didn’t you reply to my texts? I was imagining all kinds of shit.”

He blinked, studying her face and taking in her swaying body for the first time.

“Are you drunk?”

“I might be. Why shouldn’t I? You dumped me on a Friday night to see an
old girlfriend
.”

His face tightened perceptibly.