Chasing Daniel

by Nia Arthurs

“I’ll pass.”

  Annoying Friend finally takes the hint and pulls back. She’s pouting. I can’t tell if she’s doing it to look sexy or if it’s a natural response to rejection. Either way, I wish I could switch her out for the woman across the table.

  The sound of a chair scraping alerts me to movement. My neighbor’s on her feet and glaring over the table at Gwen, but her voice is sweet. “Sorry to interrupt. Gwen, you mind tagging along with me to the ladies room?”

  “Uh… sure.” Gwen’s dark brown eyes zip to me. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Britney, you coming?”

  Gwen’s second friend, the preppy girl with pale skin and short black hair, shoots out of her seat. “Yaaas. I need to check my makeup.”

  “Gentlemen, we’ll be right back.”

  Gwen trails her friends, disappearing into the crowd.

  As soon as they’re out of earshot, Drew Wong—Richie’s best man—lets out a low whistle. “They’re smoking hot.”

  “For black girls,” Jackson Haung adds. He’s a Chinese transplant. Super traditional. His accent is so thick even I need help understanding him.

  “They’re hot for any girls,” Richie says. His eyes land on me. “What’s that weird vibe between you and Gwen?”

  “You tell me. You’re the one cracking jokes with her.” I can’t help the disapproval that seeps into my tone.

  “Dude, you sound so bitter.” Drew laughs.

  “I’ve always wanted to spend a night with a black girl.” Richie scratches his chin. “Maybe this is my last chance. Gwen’s pretty, intelligent and, you know, not ratchet.”

  His words get to me, but I respond by leaning back in my chair. “You touch Gwen… you die.”

  “Ooooh.”

  I ignore Drew and Jackson and pin Richie with a firm look. He might be joking, but I’m not. Gwen’s a classy girl, and she’s worth more than a night in Richie’s bed so he can fulfill a fetish.

  “Richie,” Drew’s voice trembles, “I suggest you cut it out. Danny’s serious, man.”

  “Admit it.” Richie leans both elbows on the table. “You’re into her.”

  “Shut up.”

  “You wanna kiss her…”

  “I mean it, Richie.”

  “You wanna do things…”

  “Richie.”

  “Dirty things—”

  I slam my hand on the table. The root beer sloshes out of the mug. Everyone jumps.

  Richie falls silent.

  Took him long enough.

  “Uh…” Drew lifts his beer. “How about a toast?”

  “Yes. Yes,” Jackson says.

  “To Richie’s wedding!”

  I raise my glass in a half-hearted acknowledgement. Richie’s moronic comments have spoiled my night. The last place I want to be is in this bar, and if it weren’t for Gwen, I would have gone home a long time ago. Clubs aren’t my scene anyway.

  Richie doesn’t join our toast. A vacant look overtakes his eyes. He slumps in his chair, caressing the sides of his beer. Looks like his night is over too.

  My cousin and I go way back. Richie spent his childhood at my house playing video games and complaining about our rigid, monochrome lives.

  We were the two who longed to experience the world outside our Asian culture.

  But reality caught up to Richie first.

  “Don’t be stupid, Danny,” he says.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Someday, you’re gonna end up like me. And you’re gonna wish you’d had fun with a woman you really cared about before family expectations got in the way.”

  Jackson frowns. “Stop complaining. Mei An is beautiful and smart. Plus her mother owns a huge store—”

  “Take a freaking hike, Jackson.” Richie glares at him and downs his beer. He pushes his chair back and rises. “I’m done with this. Thanks for a fun night, guys. I’m out.”

  “You’re just gonna leave?” Drew asks, eyes wide.

  Richie responds by jumping off the platform and heading straight for the exit. Jackson makes an excuse and leaves too. Drew and I are the only two who stay behind. I get the feeling he’s into Gwen’s friend Britney. His smile says he’s hoping he’ll get lucky tonight.

  Somehow I don’t see that happening.

  When the ladies return to our table, they seem taken aback.

  Gwen looks disappointed. “Where did Richie go?”

  A prick of annoyance slithers through me.

  “He left,” Drew says. He’s eyeing Britney up and down. “But we didn’t want to just bail on you.”

  “That’s fine.” Annoying Friend must have recharged her batteries in the bathroom because she springs over to me and latches onto my arm like a sweet-smelling octopus. “We can have fun without them.”

  I disentangle my fingers from her tentacles and peer at Gwen. “You ready to head home?”

  The way she flinches reveals just how much the crowd and loud noises is getting to her. “Yeah.” But a quick glance at her friends changes her tune. “I mean… I can’t leave yet. I came with Britney and Win.”

  “It’s way past your curfew. I’ll take you home.” I grasp her elbow and steer her forward so she doesn’t have an excuse. “Drew, could you take care of the ladies?”

  “No problem.” Drew smiles brightly. “Have fun, you two.”

  I urge Gwen through the crowd. It’s closer to midnight, so the path to the door is filled to capacity. A drunk steps into our way. Gwen slams on the brakes to avoid knocking into him.

  I’m right behind her and, a moment later, I’ve got my arms around a beautiful woman. Gwen is soft against my hard body. She turns to look at me. Her brown eyes glitter with surprise and just a hint of admiration. In a second, the expression shifts and she rights herself.

  “Sorry about that,” she says, pasting her hair down.

  We continue to walk to the exits. While my body yearns for someone else to push Gwen into me, she maintains her balance and sashays outside.

  The night is cool. Stars twinkle in the dark sky. Tall hotels light up the street, throwing neon lights against the grey sidewalks. The contrast of loud music to the silence outside takes a moment of adjustment.

  By the time I catch my bearings, Gwen is a surprising distance away. I jog to catch up with her, which requires a little more exertion than I expected. She may be short, but she’s got a mean stride.

  “Gwen!” I call when I draw beside her. “Wait up.”

  She plants her tall, black heels on the ground and whirls around. “Don’t speak to me.”

  Her eyes are full of fire. An unexpected jolt of attraction spreads in my stomach. I swallow hard. “Why are you mad? Didn’t you want to leave?”

  “Did Aiden ask you to do this?”

  “Aiden?”

  “Why’d you bring up the stupid curfew?”

  “It was just an excuse to—”

  “I’m not a child, Danny.” Gwen doesn’t bother letting me finish. “And last I checked, you’re not my brother. No one asked you to protect me.”

  Her behavior is so left field I’ve got whiplash. “I thought you’d be grateful I rescued you. Since when did you like going to clubs and flirting with engaged men?”

  “I was not flirting with Richie.” Her thin brows slant together.

  I know I’m in trouble so I try to backpedal. “I didn’t say you did.”

  “You’ve been away for four years, Danny. I’m not the little girl you knew before you left.”

  Despite my best intentions, my gaze peruses her body. “I’m painfully aware.”

  A crinkle forms between her brows. It pops up whenever she’s deep in thought or when she’s ticked and trying not to explode. This time… it’s the latter.

  “What do you care whether I was flirting with Richie? It’s none of your business.”

  I don’t have an answer so I nod to my vehicle. “I don’t want to fight. Could you just get in the car?”

  Gwen raises her chin, storms into my t
ruck and slams the door behind her.

  3 Gwen

  “I’ll be right back.” Danny glances over his shoulder. He has one hand on the car handle, but he doesn’t open the door. “Gwen…”

  I stare straight through the windshield and pretend he’s not there. The gas station is empty apart from a few attendants in red and green uniforms. The highway looks abandoned. Belize is a ghost town after midnight.

  It’s creepy.

  Danny shakes his head and slips out of the car, shutting the door much gentler than I did when we left the club ten minutes ago. The silence envelops me like a thick blanket on a hot night.

  I’m ticked.

  And disappointed.

  Serves me right for fantasizing about Daniel Kwan when he’s made it clear he’ll never consider me a woman.

  Back at the club, Danny kept glaring across the table. Richie joked that his cousin looked jealous. I took his words and ran with it since it was what I wanted to hear. In fact, I was desperate for some type of confirmation about Danny’s feelings.

  Then Danny acted like a gruff father with a daughter who got caught sneaking out. He wanted me to leave my friends because ‘I was past curfew’. At that moment, reality clawed me back to earth.

  All Danny sees when he looks at me is Aiden’s kid sister.

  Hence, my totally immature meltdown.

  My phone chirps, the screen lighting up with a dozen messages from Britney and Winnie. Huffing in annoyance, I drag my thumb over the phone and search through the notifications.

  My friends texted at exactly the same time. I can just imagine them around the bar, both huddled over their cell phones trying to get the ‘dirt’ on my evening with Danny. It’s so laughingly predictable that I almost delete all their messages.

  I have nothing juicy to report.

  Darn it.

  Winnie won’t take my silence sitting down. If I know her, she’ll call and call until I answer. I’m annoyed enough, so I stuff my bad mojo deep inside and scroll through their messages to calm them down.

  BRIT: Where you at?

  WIN: Are you still with Danny?

  BRIT: I’m so jealous!

  WIN: Don’t do anything I would do.

  I snort. Winnie’s set her sights on Danny, and I’m sure she doesn’t appreciate his dismissive behavior tonight. She’s marking her territory.

  What can I say to that? Hey, I know you’re into Danny but I’ve been secretly pining for him since I was twelve and you’re not allowed to?

  Even with our history—no—because of our history, I don’t stand a chance.

  Sooner of later, Winnie will have her way. She’s gorgeous with dark brown skin, dainty facial features, and a weave that costs an average worker’s monthly salary. Her confidence is like catnip. Winnie’s used to boys falling all over her.

  Which is why she won’t stop until Danny becomes one of them.

  I text back a dry response telling them not to worry and then put my phone on mute. I’m not in the mood for a conversation or a reminder that Danny will end up with my best friend someday.

  In the distance, Danny jogs out of the convenience store and approaches the car. He might as well be walking a runway. A grey hoodie covers his massive shoulders and compliments his dark jeans. Danny’s got this healthy golden tan, giving him a glow that’s slightly supernatural.

  He slides into the driver’s seat. I coach my face forward and clamp my lips tight, ready to continue the rest of the ride in stony silence. That heavenly scent of his fills the cab. I struggle to ignore it.

  “Here.” Danny thrusts a dark brown package in front of my nose. It crinkles loudly.

  I almost go cross-eyed in my attempt to stare at his gift without being obvious. “I don’t want it.”

  “Fine.” I hear more rustling plastic and then Danny starts the car. “Guess I’ll eat this on my own.”

  He drops the object in my lap. A look down reveals a chocolate Delight. It’s my favorite ice cream bar and Danny knows it.

  “It’s melting,” Danny says when I try to resist. “You’ve got ten seconds before it’s too mushy to salvage.”

  My hands dive for the chocolate, and I tear the package. My first bite, an army of deliciousness explodes on my tongue. I moan pathetically. Danny laughs at me.

  I turn around and glare at him. “This does not mean I forgive you.”

  “You couldn’t even hold out for three seconds.”

  “I call foul. You’re manipulating me with chocolate.”

  “I’m a desperate man.”

  “Who doesn’t play fair.”

  He’s focused on the road, but I know he’s sincere when he says, “I didn’t mean to upset you earlier.”

  “Sorry for slamming your car door,” I grumble.

  “We even now?”

  “I didn’t know you cared.”

  His hands stiffen on the steering wheel. “Aiden would kill me if he heard I pissed you off. Guy’s got a serious right hook.”

  I’m surrounded by two of my favorite things—chocolate and Danny—but the joy seeps out of me when I hear that. “Of course. This is for Aiden.”

  And I’m back to being ticked.

  “So,” Danny gets comfortable now that he’s cleared up our boundaries, “how was Haiti?”

  I stiffen and throw the half-eaten ice cream bar into a plastic bag. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “That bad, huh?” His quiet voice touches me deep in the heart. He’s doing it again. That thing where he listens and empathizes like he cares.

  “It was not what I expected.”

  He nods. “I was curious, so I read up on the relief efforts in Haiti. People say it’s like fighting a war. The amount of devastation there after the hurricane—it’s horrible.”

  “Yeah.” I shake my head, too afraid to delve into those memories in front of Danny. “Yeah, some of it was good. It’s a beautiful country. But some of the things I saw were… it was awful.”

  He glances at me and then flicks his eyes back to the road. “You ready to go back to school?”

  I’m glad he changed the subject. “Is anyone happy about school?”

  “Enjoy it while you can. Now that I’m working, I miss waking up for nine o’clock classes and skipping when I felt like it.”

  “You were a business major,” I tease. “We computer science majors don’t have those opportunities.”

  He laughs. “Ouch.”

  We near my house. Even though I’m annoyed with Danny I wish he would drive around the block so we could spend a little more time together. Unfortunately, he slows down in front of the split-level where I grew up and shuts the engine.

  “Look,” he says, gesturing to the shiny pickup in front of us, “Aiden’s here.”

  “Why is he sleeping at our parents’ when you guys have the house?”

  Danny shrugs, his face scrunches adorably. “I have no idea. I’ll text him.”

  “Speaking about texting…” I squirm in my seat, “Winnie might ask for your number later. Should I give her? Like… are you seeing anyone?”

  “Nope.” He leans back and studies me. “I’m single.”

  Two blessed words. Even though Danny’s not with me, I can live with that as long as he’s not with anyone else. It’s a philosophy that’s borderline psychotic, but I can’t help how I feel.

  Hopefully, it doesn’t get to the point where someone makes a Lifetime movie about me.

  “Good.” I rub my temple. “I mean… I’ll let Winnie know.”

  Danny opens his mouth to answer when his phone rings. He glances at the screen and then at me. “It’s Aiden.”

  “Go ahead and answer.” I wave at him and mouth, “Good night.”

  “Hey, Aiden…” Danny’s voice fades into the background as I open the door and start to climb out. “What? Speak up. I can’t understand the whispering.” Danny pauses. “Gwen? Okay. Sure. I’ll do it.”

  To my surprise, Danny leans over, grabs my hand and drags me back
inside. I’m confused and pleased. But mostly pleased.

  I plop into my seat. “What’s wrong?”

  Danny hangs up and tosses the phone in the back. He looks at me, a frown marring his perfect face. “Aiden said not to come home.”

  “What?” My concerned gaze latches onto the front door. Warm yellow light glows from behind the living room windows. A vine trellis climbs the wall beneath my parents’ bedroom. “Did something happen to Mom and Dad?”

  “He said he’d explain later,” Danny says. He starts the car and drives off. “You’re coming home with me until then.”

  “Danny, don’t be ridiculous. Why can’t I go home?”

  It’s not that I don’t want to be with him, but spending a night alone under the same roof as Daniel Kwan is asking too much of me.

  “Check your phone.” Danny nods to my purse. “Aiden said he texted you.”

  “What are you talking about? I didn’t get any…” My voice trails when I check my phone and see a ton of messages from my brother. “I forgot I put that on mute.”

  “What did he tell you?” Danny asks.

  “Same thing. Not to come home. That something happened and Mom and Dad are flipping out on him.” I dial Aiden’s number to get more information. It goes straight to voicemail. My heart seizes. “Is he okay?”

  “He sounded fine on the phone. Maybe a little urgent, but he was alive.”

  “What do you think happened?”

  “I have no idea.”

  Danny drives to his and Aiden’s condo a few miles outside the city. It’s a new development specifically constructed for the upper echelon of Belize City.

  Aiden and Danny fit that category.

  Both men had cushy jobs waiting for them the moment they got their diplomas. Danny’s family owns Kwan Co—a corporation with a hand in every industry in Belize. My brother, Aiden, works in Mom’s law firm.

  The gated community is quiet and spacious. I know my brother loves it. Aiden was gushing when he told me about the many amenities offered on their block.

  There’s a free gym—for Danny who loves pumping iron and a swimming pool—for my diving champion brother.

  The deposit was astronomical, but both Danny and Aiden wanted to make the investment.

  Of course they live together. It wasn’t even debated. They’re joined-at-the-hip best friends. Did everything together from the age of ten. Went to the same university. Lived in the same dorm. Graduated together.