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“Tell me again you don’t think it’s stupid I bought Gretchen out and that I’m going to try to see if adding a paint-and-sip event to the weekly schedule at the art gallery will increase profits when I reopen next weekend,” Danny orders.
When my father and I both told Danny her trust fund was staying right where it was in the bank, I wasn’t at all surprised that the next words out of her mouth were that she wanted to use it to buy the art gallery and figure out a way to save it from going out of business. She told me if any of that money came from her father’s dirty dealings, she would have just given it away to charity. But I was surprised to learn that Corinne Brewster is actually the one with all the money. Her family was the one who gave Danny’s father the funds to start the Brewster Development Company, and Danny’s mother was the one who set up the trust fund for her daughter with her own family’s money.
I have never been prouder of Danny that she’s doing what she wants and what makes her happy, and I get to be here to watch her shine.
“It’s not a stupid idea. It’s the best idea ever, and you’re going to kick butt owning that gallery,” I remind her. “Everyone loves you and is here to support you. We’re not going to let you fail, because weallbelieve in you, my little nut job.”
Lacing my fingers through Danny’s and giving her hand a squeeze, we both stare around the garage.
Corinne is now enthralling Tess with a story about an abandoned barn she and her friends lit on fire back when she was in high school that landed her in jail for a night, a grin spreading across my face when I realize where her daughter got her wild streak.
Bodhi is elbow-deep in a sandwich bag of pot cookies. Birdie and Palmer are leaning toward each other from their stools, making out. Shepherd is showing Wren theNursery IdeasPinterest board he made on his phone. Emily keeps laughing and smacking Quinn’s hand away when he tries to slip it up her thigh and under her skirt. My dad and Dottie are arguing like usual over a memo that went out from city hall, while Dottie traces her fingers over the small tattoo she got on the inside of her wrist, that Danny took her to get during one of their weekly lunch dates last month. And Laura has her head resting on Dean’s shoulder, holding her left hand up in front of her and wiggling her fingers, smiling as the light catches on her diamond wedding ring.
“Will someonepleasetrade seats with me?” Melanie complains to the room.
“You don’t have to be so obvious that you just can’t handle my animal magnetism.” Spencer smirks.
“I just threw up in my mouth.”
“Probably from that entire wheel of cheese you’ve eaten since you got here.”
“Oh, bite me, Spencer.”
“No, thanks. I don’t want to get rabies.”
“If no one is going to trade seats with me, I’m gonna need more alcohol,” Melanie complains, leaning over and snatching Birdie’s glass of wine out of her hand and then shooting it back.
“Samesies,” Spencer mutters, taking Shepherd’s beer out of the cup holder attached to his easel and doing the same.
“Good God, they’re going to kill each other,” Danny mutters with a shake of her head. “Maybe Ishouldmove some seats around before I get started.”
“I’m pretty sure there’s another four-letter word you’re looking for that they want to do to each other, andkillisn’t it.”
We both watch Spencer stare at Melanie’s profile while she isn’t looking and nervously run his hand through his hair. And then we watch Melanie do the same to him when Spencer turns and starts talking to Shepherd.
“You’re right. This is going to be fun to watch.” Danny nods with a smile.
A few months ago, I had a small handful of people in my life who I considered friends and/or family. Now I have an entire garageful of them. And I have a badass, amazing woman who constantly surprises me. Whether she’s almost giving me a heart attack by welcoming me home from work as she sits on the kitchen island wearing nothing but a smile, like she did last month, or by signing us up for a couple’s bowling league, like she did last week. And for the first time in my life, I don’t doubt that I’m good enough or deserving enough to be this happy.
Because Danny never lets me forget it, and I actually believe it now.
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, nerd.”
My throat gets tight with emotion as I look away from the crowded garage to find her smiling at me. “That was very romantic,” I reply, smiling right back.
“I know. I feel gross and like I need a shower now. You’re lucky I love you so much to say such cheesy things.”
“Stop stalling, get in there, and kick some butt.” Tugging Danny against me with her hand I’m still holding onto, I lean down and whisper in her ear, “And when you’re finished, and we politely kick everyone out, I’ll fuck the hell out of you for being a good girl.”
Danny shivers against me before pulling back to look at me. “I think I’ve created a monster.”
“Only with you, honey.” I smile, leaning down and kissing the tip of her nose. “Only with you.”
With that, I give her a little shove out into the garage. I lean my shoulder against the doorframe and slide my hands into the pockets of my khakis, and I watch my woman walk around to the far side of the garage to stand in front of everyone sitting at their easels.
She quickly reaches into the front pocket of her blue jean overalls, pulling out a piece of Bit-O-Honey candy, unwrapping it, and shoving it into her mouth. I have to shift my feet where I’m standing and subtly readjust this stupid boner that won’t go away, while Danny tortures me over there with her honey-flavored candy without even realizing it.
“Thank you all for coming.” She smiles around the room. “I just wanted to test out this paint-and-sip thing before the first official one at Island Art next weekend. Even if you’ve never picked up a paintbrush before, I swear I’m going to make this really easy, you will all be artists by the time we’re finished, and you will have a beautiful piece of art to take home with you.”
