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“Are you sure? I felt so bad—”
“Why? It wasn’t your fault. I’m way too good at falling over. It’s a gift, I think.”
“I’d feel better if you were nearby.” Worry clouded his brow. “Today’s supposed to get cooler, maybe rain. We could watch some movies?”
She rubbed her matted hair. It was kind of sweet to have someone show this much concern, especially with Ange and John still away. “And drink your coffee?”
He nodded.
“Well, when you put it like that…”
An hour later, Sarah was ensconced in the leather lounge at Dan’s place, watching one of the old James Bond films, sipping another creamy cup of coffee. But as they laughed at some of the corny sequences, her thoughts kept drifting. This friendship with Dan was so different to that with Stephen. Stephen had always seemed super-holy, his attention flattering, her awe leading to a deep, intense relationship, with little of the relaxed ease she felt with Dan. With Dan she didn’t try to be something she wasn’t. He seemed to like her—as a friend, of course—just the way she was, mess and all. Like he got her and they were on the same wavelength or something.
She studied him on the lounge opposite. Jeans, another faded T-shirt, bare feet, dark hair curling slightly at the ends, scruffy jaw. Dan looked like he needed a good haircut and a closer shave. Rough and ready, definitely, but also kind, and steady, and—
He shifted and caught her gaze, offering a small smile. “You enjoying it?”
Something low in her stomach tightened. She swallowed, nodded, and hid hot cheeks behind her hair as she watched the film again. He might be attractive, but that didn’t mean she’d let her stupid hormones get carried away.
As Dan had predicted, the day turned rainy. The giant picture windows made this a great place to watch the rain sheet down, the gray lake gradually merging with the heavy sky. Dan didn’t say much, but from the way she caught him watching her, she suspected he still felt guilty. Distraction through films with even more ridiculous stunts than hers seemed an effective remedy.
After an early dinner, the phone rang, and Dan disappeared for a few minutes while she cleared up. He soon returned. “That was my friend Boyd, checking to make sure everything’s cool for tomorrow’s camp.”
“Camp?” Some first impressions may have been wrong, but others… “Bingo.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Anyways, I wondered, do you want to call your folks?”
“Oh! Thanks. That’s really thoughtful.” And after yesterday’s scare, probably wise.
He pointed to the phone, and soon she was chatting with her parents. After a good catch up, she glanced across to where Dan wiped down the table. “I better go.”
“It’s wonderful to hear your voice, Sar. We love you.”
Sarah’s heart filled with warmth. “Love you, too. I’ll call again soon.”
She gently placed the phone back. “Dan, would you mind if I ring my sister?”
“No problem.”
“Thanks.” She dialed the long string of numbers. “Hi, Bek.”
“Sar! How are you?”
Her nieces squealed in the background. They’d head to school soon. “Sorry about the hour. I know you’re busy. I’m borrowing a friend’s phone.”
“No worries.” A deeper voice murmured something and her sister laughed. “Joe says g’day to Blue.”
As her sister chattered on, Sarah filled with deep contentedness from talking with someone who really understood her, who knew her inside out.
“And this friend of yours, what’s her name?”
Sarah glanced over to where Dan stood at the sink, and dropped her voice. “Daniel.”
“Danielle?”
“No, Daniel.” If only this echoey phone would let her keep her voice down.
“You got yourself a new man!”
