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“You seem happier,” I say, finally putting my finger on it.
“I am.” Her smile gets even bigger as she stares at the crackling fire in front of us. “I didn’t have time to paint today, but I set up my studio in the garage, and I sketched out a few ideas for the bowling alley mural. Just knowing I can go out there whenever inspiration strikes is…” She pauses and lets out a long, deep sigh. “It just feels really good having my own space, even if it’s just for a little while. Thank you again for letting me borrow the garage. I’m not really used to someone being so supportive of what I do.”
I remember Tristan’s text from this morning, and a burst of anger rushes through me. If he said those things to me, I can only imagine what he’s said to her.
“Your family isn’t supportive?”
I already know the answer to this question, and I immediately feel guilty asking her. Even though I’ve known Tristan for fourteen years, I feel more like I’m betrayingDanny’strust right now, and it makes my stomach roll with nausea.
“It’s just not something that’s done in my family’s social circle.” The smile that was on her face instantly disappears when she starts talking about her family. “What you do for a living is a status symbol. Something your parents should be able to brag about to all their friends. And art they don’t understand, and that barely pays the bills, isn’t braggable.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell her quietly.
She just shrugs it off, but she’s not as happy as she was just a few moments ago, and I don’t like it. So, I decide to do something about it, like opening my mouth and letting out a bunch of word vomit.
“Did I tell you after thirty-five years of what everyone thought was a happy marriage my mom asked my dad for a divorce out of the blue a few months ago and then left the next day to travel around the world and find herself? And also, I’m supposed to become the next mayor of Summersweet Island soon. Like, in less than six months, soon.”
“Holy shit, what?” Danny exclaims, jerking forward in her seat to look at me. “I don’t even know which of those statements to unpack first.”
“Yeah.” I sigh, folding my hands together over my stomach. “My dad hasn’t really been taking my mom leaving very well, obviously, and has put all of his time and focus into me being the next mayor so he doesn’t have to think about her. My dad is the current mayor. As was his father before him, and his father before him, and so on. It’s my destiny. And I don’t want it. I just… I just want to teach math and coach bowling, then come home at the end of the day and relax, not deal with problems and headaches, or have to make big decisions that will affect people’s lives. But if I tell my father this, he’ll be devastated, especially right after my mom told him she doesn’t wanthim. I don’t want to hurt him like that. But I also don’t know how much longer I can keep pretending that this is going to be my future.”
A few beats of silence pass between us, with just the sounds of the crackling fire, and the waves crashing to the shore in the distance.
“God, parents really suck sometimes,” Danny finally breaks the quiet.
I laugh at her comment. Turning my head to look at her, we both share a smile.
I don’t know what surprises me more right now. That our lives seem to be so similar, with parents who just don’t understand us, or the fact that I didn’t even hesitate to open up to her. Spencer and Dottie are the only two people I’ve ever said those words to out loud.
“And I’m sorry too,” she adds softly.
There’s no pity or frustration with me in her eyes, like there usually is with Spencer and Dottie when I talk about this. There’s nothing but understanding. It’s addicting. It makes me want to tell her everything, share all of my problems, and have her make it all better with her smile.
But I’m supposed to be helping withherproblems right now. Her parents might not understand her art, but they still care about her. Tristan said they’ve been losing their minds since she left. And even though Tristan is a selfish jerk, he still cared enough to make sure she had a place to stay and has checked in with me about her.
Now’s your chance, Ryan. It’s time to start talking about when she’s going back to her life.
“Can I ask—”
“When I was—”
We both speak at the same time, pausing to laugh. I gesture with my hand for her to go first.
“I was just going to say, I found an unopened box of Legos in your hall closet when I was grabbing a towel for my shower earlier.”
Don’t think about her naked and wet in your shower. Don’t think about her naked and wet in your shower!
“Right.” I nod, clearing my throat and trying not to be embarrassed that I’m a grown man who has Lego sets stashed in his linen closet. “Dottie got it for me last Christmas. Sorry about that. I… kind of ran out of room in my own closet.”
“Don’t you dare apologize,” Danny orders. “First of all, this is your house, and you can stash things wherever you want. Unless it’s dead bodies. And then I’d appreciate a heads-up about where they are, so there aren’t any surprises.” She gives me a cheeky smile, and I just shake my head at her with a chuckle as she continues. “I mentioned the Legos, because I wanted to see if we can build it.”
My laughter quickly cuts off, and my eyes widen. “You want to build Legos with me?” I whisper.
“Um, you have Van Gogh’sStarry Nightin Lego form. That would be ahell yes,” she informs me.
I don’t even hesitate. I push up from my chair and quickly grab Danny’s hand, tugging her up from her own chair and then pulling her with me as I walk across the deck to my sliding doors. “This is the best night ever!”
Danny laughs at my excitement, and I wish I could bottle up that sound and listen to it whenever I’m feeling down.
I know I should be talking to her about Chicago, but I just don’t want to ruin the mood. It can wait for another time.
