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CHAPTER 9
Nathan
It’s justafter midnight when my phone rings.
It’s Hughes. So it’s just after ten for him and Danielle.
“You don’t get to tell me to leave Danielle alone,” I tell him without a greeting.
“I know.”
I stop with my mouth open. I hadn’t expected that answer. After Danielle stopped responding to my texts, I’d texted Michael simplyyou’d better take good care of our girl. She needs you.I’d meant it all ways and I knew he knew that. He’d sent back,she’s fine, leave her alone.
I’d been stewing about that since.
Now he’s calling and I’m prepared to tell him exactly what I think about him giving me orders about Danielle and about him ignoring her in favor of professional colleagues.
But he sounds like he needs to talk.
I frown. “What’s going on? Is Danielle alright?”
“Yes. She’s fine.”
“Are you?”
He doesn’t answer right away. But then he says, “Yes. I am. Mostly.”
Goddammit, my chest is tight, and my temper is a little short. Things were tense in the twenty-four hours after we talked about marriage and kids and then decided to table the discussion. Then Hughes and Danielle took off for Vegas.
I don’t like that she’s gone for this entire week, out of touch, away from me, but I’ll admit that is not a mature, healthy attitude. She’s not my possession. She’s my girlfriend. And she’s not justmygirlfriend. God knows I’m happy to share her when she’s here. In fact, sharing her with Hughes and Crew is getting easier and more comfortable all the time. Ever since Christmas, things have shifted in a great direction. We all feel more secure and appreciate each other in new ways.
Yes, buying the house, renovating, and moving has been stressful but that’s over now. Yes, having Michael and Danielle leave before we’re completely unpacked isn’t perfect timing, but it will be fine.
It’s fine that she spends a few days away from me. I don’t have to like it to be okay with it. And honestly, even if I feel pricks of jealousy at times thinking about her seeing the fountains at the Bellagio or winning at the Black Jack table or seeing a fun show for the first time with Michael, I also feel great that she’s with a man who loves her as much as I do. Someone who will take care of her and make sure she has an amazing time.
That’s why her text tonight indicating that she was clearly not having a good time frustrated me.
“Tonight was complicated,” he says.
"I got that impression."
"I’m glad you texted to check on her."
"I love her, Hughes. When I’m thinking of her, when she's away from me, I'm going to text her and tell her that."
"I know. But…you didn't have tosextwith her."
"I texted that I missed her. Then she told me that she felt out of place and was bored and asked me to talk to her. She started the sexy stuff. I wanted to give her support. I wanted to let her know that she’s special, even if she's in a huge, crowded ballroom full of strangers. And if she wants to be playful, if that will take her mind off of things and remind her that there's someone who wants her no matter what, I'm game."
I hear his heavy sigh. Then he surprises me again by saying, "You're right. I just wanted her withme. Happy and fitting in and having fun. I'm very proud to have her by my side. She's charming and delightful and beautiful. It didn't occur to me that she would feel so out of place."
I just sit quietly for a moment. Michael Hughes is an incredibly intelligent man. I understand that. He's just working all of this out. And I appreciate the fact that he called me about it. Not only are we both in love with Danielle and have her best interest at heart—something I'm very happy he recognizes—we’re friends. We need to be able to do this thing we’re doing.
And now, after the other night of talking about marriage and kids, we need to bereallygood friends. This is forever for us.
"If she is going to be our plus one, the woman on our arm at these events for the rest of our lives, then we have to help her get comfortable. Answer her questions. Make sure she's okay and ready."
Michael's quiet for a long moment. Strangely, I feel a tightness in my gut. This relationship is different than any of us were expecting for our lives. And, as bad as it feels to admit sometimes, I think we all wonder if we’re in too deep.
