by Glina Fastiv
"I can. You girls have fun. Love you." She says and blows a kiss to both of us and leaves the restaurant.
We sit and end up ordering two glasses of wine. "What part of South America are you going to?" I ask, referring back to a previous conversation.
"Brazil, I've been once before." She tells me. "The first time I went I was only there for a short time, but I totally fell in love with it. So here I am... going back for two years."4
"That's nice, I've never been much of a traveler. I like small trips, but nothing too far from home." I laugh.
She smiles, "Danny treat you good?" She asks.
"He does, he's a good guy." I say and I feel a little flutter in my stomach.1
"He better. I'll kick his ass... I'm sure you could kick his ass if you needed to though." She says and looks at my arms, "where do you workout?" She asks me.8
"Oh, I actually go to a local gym every day. I have a membership their. It's something to get me out of the house I guess!" I explain.
"I used to do the whole daily gym thing in high school and right after I graduated, but it's hard to keep it up when I travel like I do." She says.
"You look great though, I wouldn't know the difference." I say, happily.
Another hour passes and the waiters start cleaning up tables. Leah and I take it as out hint to get the hell out, but I don't think either of us are done learning about the other quite yet. So, I volunteer my house. We head back there and the conversations continue.6
To make a long story short, we both learned a lot. I think I learned more embarrassing stories about Danny than anything, but none the less I learned something.
I drop her off around midnight and give her a hug. I like Leah, she's like a total opposite of Danny, but I like her.30
Once I'm home I check my phone and see a missed call from Danny. I FaceTime him and he answers immediately. He's laying in bed and his voice is deep and sleepy. Ugh.
"Hi baby." I say and smile softly.
"Hey, sexy." He mutters, "where have you been?" He asks, looking over my face, which still is covered in make up.
"I was with your sister, making a new friend." I giggle.
"That's good, I'm glad you two are liking each other. I'll be home tomorrow night." He assures me, his eyes getting heavier and heavier.
"Good, I miss you already. Get some sleep, I'll see you tomorrow." I grin.
"Love you."
"Love you more, goodnight." I say and blow a kiss into the camera.
Love you? What's that bullshit? On my nerves.7
I get into some comfortable clothes and wash my make up off and climb into bed. I turn the lights off and then my phone lights the room up.
iMessage: Leah:
Sorry if this wakes you, but I was going to see if you could use a gym buddy tomorrow?
Me:
I could always use a gym buddy, it's extra motivation for me. 8:00am, I can pick you up?
Leah:
Sounds great to me. See you then.8
I think that it's safe to say that I have found a new friend, thank god. I was honestly a little worried that I would end up hating his sister and that we would be feuding over something dumb. I guess I just I watch too many movies.
5
As usual, I kinda brushed off my anger at Danny and pushed it to the side. I had to. Today is his birthday and we are all going out tonight, what choice did I have? Be a grouchy bitch on his birthday?! No way.3
I'm at home getting ready and Danny had to work a little late, so I'm getting picked up by Leah and we are going to the bar to meet everyone. Having Leah here for the last few days has been so great. It's good to have a new friend who is a girl. Most of the people I hang around are guys and that's only because of Danny. They're his friends, not mine.11
I have half of my lipstick on when I hear the doorbell. Shit. "Coming!" I yell and quickly trot down the stairs and open the door. I see Leah and I pause for a second. She looks so... clean.4
"Well hello..." I laugh.
She laughs at me and raises her eyebrows, "going for an edgy look?" She teases me, hinting at my half-applied lipstick.
"Come up! I have to finish a few things." I smile.
We go upstairs and I finish my lips and grab some heels to put on. I'm wearing a nude color dress with a little something for Danny underneath it. I wanted to give a sexy-classy vibe tonight. Leah on the other hand... she looks amazing, but I'm a bit thrown by it. She has on dark jeans and a button up shirt with a flashy watch. I don't want to ask the question I'm thinking in my head, so I just stare at her watch instead.10
"What is it?" She asks and laughs.
"Nothing!" I say and smile.
"No, I know you're thinking it. Ask me." She says and crosses her arms over her chest.
"What if I'm thinking something entirely different and I say it and you just think I'm some assho-"
"Yes, I'm gay." She says.36
I grin a little and laugh, "okay, now I feel less douche-like." I say.
"I didn't think you knew... I wasn't sure if my brother told you or not." She shrugs.
I sigh, "yeah, he didn't mention that part." I say and grab my phone. "You look great though... makes for a little competition with your brother." I tease her and wink playfully as we head downstairs.7
We get into Leah's car and she drives to the bar. When we arrive it's 8:30pm and Danny arrives at 8:50 with a big yell as his entrance. Naturally, all of his friends go crazy and practically beat him up by pushing him around in a circle.
"Old man!!" One of them yells.
Danny laughs and walks over to me and hugs me. "Hi papi, happy birthday." I say and kiss his lips.9
His hand goes to my ass and gives it a squeeze. "Gonna give me the other half of my present tonight? That's what you said this morning..." he says and my jaw drops and my hand pops his chest.
"Shh!" I giggle, embarrassed. I glance at Leah who is standing right behind us with her arms crossed. There is no way she didn't hear that.
She giggles and bites her lip before taking a few steps back to give us some privacy.
"You'll get it." I whisper and kiss him quickly. "By the way... thanks for mentioning your sister likes girls, Danny." I say.5
"I thought you knew!"
"Clearly not! I figured it out when she picked me up today." I say.
"My bad..." he says.1
"Mmhm, go- have fun with your friends. Please don't get too drunk." I beg and kiss his cheek again.
"I won't, love you." He says and heads back to his friends. I spin around on the balls of my feet and look at Leah.6
"He doesn't have a filter." I say and she hands me a glass.
"I noticed.." she says.
"Yeah. What is this?" I ask, eyeing the drink on the bar.
"A surprise." She tells me, grinning like a child.
I take a sip and instantly want to vomit. "Oh hell no." I say and push it away.
She laughs and shakes her head, "so prissy." She teases, "let me guess...you only like fruity shit, right?"1
I roll my eyes and she points to the bartender and rolls her eyes, "give her a girly drink... and two shots of your strongest." She says and looks back at me.
"What? Shots?! I'm not nineteen anymore!"5
"Just one, take it as a celebration of something... and you were a rebel. Drinking at nineteen." She jokes.
I shake my head and sigh, "fine. Just one."
"Yes!" She laughs.
We drink, we talk, we laugh... this goes on for a few hours and I get up and go check on Danny.
"Babe." I say and slide my hands over his shoulders.
He turns and smiles, "hey!!! There's my girl!" He yells loudly.
"You good?" I ask him.
"I'm great." He says.
I furrow my brows and grab his chin and kiss him. "You're drunk." I say.
He kisses me again, "even if I'm drunk, I still love you." He promises me. I roll my eyes and giggle and he smacks my ass when I walk away from him.<
br />
I walk back and I see Leah... but she looks sorta occupied. She's kissing some girl... and I do mean kissing. I see tongue and everything... yikes. I freeze up for a moment and all I can do is watch them. Then, there is an awkward moment when Leah opens her eyes and sees me staring. She doesn't laugh, she doesn't react. She just looks at me and I look away.3
Thankfully, I'm rescued from my awkward-paralysis by my drunk fiancé. "Take me home, babe." He says.
I nod and smile softly at him, "good idea." I say and grab his hand and leave immediately.
That was a good night... up until the last three minutes. What the hell made it so awkward? I don't know what that was all about, but it happened and now it's done. Now, all my focus is going to my man.
6
I wake up alone, which I hate. I look around and my fiancé is totally gone.... I sit up and the first thing I see is his shirt he was wearing last night, so I put it on and I don't even bother buttoning it. I grab some panties and walk downstairs and I hear his voice in the kitchen.1
I go into the kitchen and I'm a little surprised, I see Leah. "Oh, hi." I say and awkwardly close the shirt around my naked body... it doesn't do much considering I'm only wearing cheeky panties and Danny's super thin shirt.
I walk to Danny and hug him and he kisses my forehead. "Good morning, you hungry?" He asks.
"Yes, you cooked?" I tease him.
"Shut up. Leah came over to bring my phone to me. I left it last night." He laughed.
"You were so drunk." I say and look at Leah, shaking my head.
She grins and Danny rolls his eyes, "I'm gonna go shower, then we can all go do something." He says and walks away.
I look at Leah and all I keep seeing is her kissing that girl from last night. "Um, I'll go put some actual clothes on... sorry." I say and she laughs and nods her head.
When I come back, clothed of course, she's sitting on the couch with the dog.2
"How was your night?" I ask her.
"It was good, I stayed for about an hour after you two left." She tells me, her eyes and hands all over the dog. "I wanted to apologize if what happened last night made you uncomfortable... you looked a little shocked last night." She says.
I feel my cheeks get hot and I look up at her, "no, it's fine! You're fine... I think I was just a little bit tipsy." I say and laugh to kill the awkwardness.
"Whatever you say..." she says and takes another drink from her cup.
* * *
It's now 10:00pm and Danny is a wimp, so he went to bed already. Leah and I on the other hand... we decided to make ourselves a little two-person party with a bottle of wine. I enjoy talking to Leah, we never run out of stuff to talk about.4
I hear a phone ringing in the kitchen so I run to get it. It's Danny's phone. I see the name "Chris Roe" pop up and I know he works with Danny, and usually he doesn't call this late.
So me, being the concerned girlfriend I am, take the phone to Danny and wake him up. "Babe, it's Chris. It might be important." I say.
He sits up rather quickly and nods, "Thanks. Give me a minute." He says.10
I nod and head back to Leah. We keep talking and then a few minutes later I hear Danny come downstairs. He's in jeans and a t-shirt and ready to leave.
"What are you doing?" I ask, confused.
"It's a work thing. I'll be back soon, don't wait up!" He tells me and leaves.7
I just watch him walk out the door then look at Leah, "well that's weird..." I say and drink my wine.
"Work thing? Who sent him that text?" She asks, like she suspects something.
"Chris, I know Chris though. He's a great guy, he's older and super sweet." I say with confidence.3
"You're sure?" She asks.
"Yes, Leah. Where else would my fiancé be going at 10:30pm?" I laugh and she stays silent and drinks some more.2
Wait... does she think--- no. No, I won't let her put that in my head. That seed of doubt has never come close to being there before, and it's not going to start now. Forget it, it's time to call it a night.
"I'm getting tired. I'm gonna get some sleep, feel free to sleep in the guest room and finish that bottle." I say and put my glass down.
"Alright. Thanks, Jennifer." She smiles and I walk upstairs.
* * *
You know the feeling when you know something is happening around you, but you're just too comfortable to do anything about it? That's me. Danny is back home, I don't even know what time it is. He came in and now he's showering. Whatever, it's too much thinking for me. I need to go back to sleep.24
I wake up and Danny has his arm draped over my waist. I smile to myself and face him. He doesn't open his eyes but I'm determined to make him wake up, so I do the thing he tells me I'm best at.
I slip underneath the comforter and put my mouth to work on him. Of course, this wakes him up instantly and he just lets me do my thing, not saying a word. Once that's done, I look at him and smile, "Morning baby." I say and he smiles.16
"I love you, you know that?" He teases.
I giggle and kiss his cheek, "I need a shower." I say and quickly go into the bathroom and turn on the water. "Your sister is in the guest room, so don't be too loud if you go downstairs!" I tell him and pull my shirt off, leaving me totally naked standing in the doorway of the bathroom we share.
He nods and looks me up and down, "you're gonna be a hot mom one day." He says with a smirk. I roll my eyes and close the door.2
By the way, he's still avidly pushing for a baby. Every time we have sex he doesn't use a condom, and he definitely makes it a point to not pull out at any point. I still haven't been totally honest about the birth control thing... but maybe he'll just think it's not gonna happen for us. In reality, I'm not ready for it. I didn't think he would be either, but maybe I was wrong.
7
I hate going to things for Danny's work. Danny works at the same company his dad owns, so it becomes a family affair.
I'm currently in some penthouse that is worth more money than I will ever see in my entire life. It's for a dinner party, and honestly I'm just here for the food... and to support my loving fiancé of course.
We've been here for about an hour, and hopefully we'll be leaving soon. As I walk around, trying to look at-home, I see someone I know. Chris!
"Chris, hey!" I smile and hug him. He's such a sweet man... he's kinda like a father figure to Danny too.4
"Oh, Jennifer. It's so good to see you! Been keeping Danny in line? I haven't seen you two in a few weeks since I've been out of town." He says.4
At first I think nothing of it and I do the whole smile and nod thing. Then, I start thinking. He hasn't seen us? He saw Danny two nights ago when they had the work thing...
"I thought you saw Danny the other night?" I ask, still smiling to hide my worry.
"Oh no... I was in Singapore on business." He assures me.
I nod and smile at him widely. "Oh, that's nice. Well, I'm gonna run to the restroom. It was good to see you!" I say and leave the room.
Danny lied to me. He lied... he lied? What is that about?! He never lies!1
Of course in the midst of my mid-relationship crisis I make a very unplanned decision to leave the party... alone. I go downstairs and get the car service that brought us here to take me to the only person I feel like speaking with. Leah. Danny is just going to have to take an Uber home, that's his payback.
I knock on the door of Danny's parents house and Leah answers, thankfully.
"What the hell are you doing here?" She laughs and leans her head against her arm that's propped on the door.
"I- I wanted to talk." I say and try to act normal. I don't want to make accusations and stuff, but I'm so lost. "Is anyone else home?" I ask her.1
"No, just me. Parents went to Mexico for a little vacation yesterday," Leah informs me.
"So that's why they weren't at the dinner party..." I nod and walk inside.
"That'd be why." Leah says and closes the door behind me. "So what's up? Wh
at did you want to talk about?" She asks and folds her arms over her chest.
"Danny lied to me." I admit and throw my clutch on the couch and kick my heels off my feet before flopping down on my back.1
"What about?" She questions and sits beside my head.
I sigh and lay my head on her thighs, "remember the work thing from the other night?" I ask.3
"Mmhm."
"There wasn't one. I talked to 'Chris', but he basically ruined Danny. He's been in Singapore! Fucking Singapore, Leah! He hasn't even spoken to Danny!" I gripe, getting a little angry.
"So... Danny has someone else in his phone listed as Chris, and he went somewhere the other night after speaking with this 'Chris'..." Leah says, laying it out.
"What do you think?" I ask, looking up at her hopefully.
Leah takes a breath and looks down at me. "I think you're gonna have to do some investigative work, my dear." She grins and touches my hair.2
"Leah..."
"Jennifer..." she mocks.
"I can't snoop! We trust each other!" I explain and kick my feet like a small child.3
"Then why are you worried? Why are you here indirectly asking if I think my brother would cheat on you if you trust each other ?" She asks, making a good point. She knew exactly what I was thinking.
I pause for a moment and bite my lip, "I'm gonna have to snoop?" I whisper quietly.
"If you want real answers, yes. Or confront him... but that won't end well. Danny does not handle confrontation well." She says confidently.
I nod and sigh, "this is bad. I need a P.I."
"I don't know if that's the best way to approach... maybe someone who is a little less on-the-radar..." Leah suggests.
"Right, since I know so many hackers and stalkers." I roll my eyes and sit up. She laughs and I look at her for a moment. "You know people?" I ask, genuinely shocked.
"I know people." She pauses and pushes her already-messy hair around. "Hang on, I'm gonna go make a call." She tells me and runs to the other room.1
This is totally insane, but it might need to be done. Even if it comes up to be nothing, at least I know. I love Danny and I do trust him, but this is sketchy. Why lie?20
