by Gephart, T
I raced to the door just as the delivery guy was buzzing the intercom. I put my head down, pretending to fish for my keys in my purse.
“Yeah.” Dan’s unmistakable voice burst through the speaker.
“Hey dude, I have a pizza delivery for Dan Evans.” The driver was not only bored but also clearly not interested. I hit the jackpot of slackers. Score.
“Um, I didn’t order any pizza. Wait, what kind is it?” Dan’s confused voice made me smile. He sounded adorable, knowing he didn’t order pizza but still interested in the possibility of pizza.
I continued digging around in my purse, not that I needed to bother with my theatrical display. Delivery guy didn’t even glance at me, let alone care I was there.
“It’s peperoni with extra cheese but it’s already been paid for. Some girl called Ashlee Murphy sent it to you.” Delivery Dumbass read off his provided receipt. I wanted to choke him. How fucking hard is it you say Ashlyn? My parents had a lot to answer for - I’d never had my name on a lunch box growing up.
“Dude, do you mean Ashlyn?” I breathed a sigh of relief thankful Dan pieced it together.
“Dude, I didn’t take the call, I’m just the driver. Do you want this pie or not?” Dumbass barked into the intercom. So much for service with a smile.
“Yeah, sure. Let me buzz you up. I’ll code you into the elevator. Just hit P.”
I pretended to insert my key as the lock popped open, walking through casually to the elevator. Dumbass followed close behind me, giving me a sideways glance as we both reached for the P on the button.
“You going to the Penthouse?” I raised my brow at him, pretending to act surprised.
“Yeah, I’ve got a delivery.” He tapped his padded delivery bag like I was an idiot and couldn’t see he was holding a pizza. Visual reinforcement was obviously important because the uniform he was wearing wouldn’t be a big enough tip off.
“I didn’t order pizza.” I acted annoyed, giving him the stare down, holding the door open to stop the elevator’s assent.
“Look, lady. It’s for some guy called Dan.” Dumbass was getting annoyed or impatient. I didn’t care for either of his moods.
“Dan is my neighbor. He is also a shitty tipper and an asshole. He should know better than to let unauthorized people into this building. You could be a murderer or a thief. Give me your stinking pizza and I will deliver it myself to him, where I will give him a piece of my mind.” I held the door open, unrelenting.
“Here.” He tore open the Velcro flap and shoved the box in my hand. “I don’t get paid enough for this shit.” He stalked from the elevator and back out toward the door.
I smiled at myself, pleased with my ingenuity. I now had access and the pizza. It was a win-win. I let the metal doors close, my silent victory bubbling from the inside.
My heart pounded as I moved up the floors, I wasn’t sure if it was from excitement or from nerves. Dan had asked me to come by later. Technically we hadn’t discussed time, so this was later. He had also randomly shown up at my door so precedence had been set. Yes? Yes!
The elevator doors parted, opening out to the Penthouse floor, Dan’s door only a few feet away.
I knocked loudly on the door, wondering if Dan had video surveillance. Pizza in hand. Feeling a little vulnerable.
A stunning brunette opened the door, her beautiful brown eyes shining brightly. My phone buzzed from inside the pocket of my jeans. I decided that what was in front of me deserved more attention. Her long legs clad in designer jeans, her ample boobs strained against her fitted cotton top.
“Hey, thanks!” She handed over a five-dollar bill and accepted the box from my hands.
I blinked, dumbfounded. Did I trip and hit my head on the way up here? My mind couldn’t register what my eyes were seeing.
“Umm...” I looked at the money in my palm, which had taken the spot of the pizza box.
“Oh Sorry. That’s just the tip. Dan said the pizza was paid for by some girl. Is that right?”
“Yeah.” That’s right, some girl. The very girl who is standing in front of you. What an ass. Not only was he with someone else but they were going to be enjoying the pizza I had paid for. I secretly hoped they both choked on it.
“Mommy,” squealed a little boy as he ran to the door and hugged his mother’s legs, aka the women standing in front of me; he must have been no older than three. What? I lost all muscle control of my face as my mouth dropped open and my eyes almost popped right out of my skull. There was no mistaking the resemblance, Dan’s dark hair and eyes in a tiny little boy package. What the actual fuck? He had a fucking kid? I felt like I was going to throw up.
Unable to speak and quite impressed I still had the ability to move, I slowly turned to walk away. I should have known better. What was I thinking? He was a player. What did I expect? The kid had definitely thrown me; I couldn’t believe that clown was responsible for another human being.
Blindly I rounded the corner, desperate to get back into the elevator and as far away from here as possible. Whatever we had been doing was over. Dan wasn’t going to get the opportunity to explain, I believe it was all fairly self-explanatory. There was no way in hell I was going to stoop and make a scene, why should I bother? I was worth more than that. Granted, we hadn’t spoken about being exclusive and technically we weren’t even dating, but I would be no one man’s alternative. My phone buzzed again from my pocket. Once again, bigger fish to fry.
I didn’t see the body I collided with. My face mashed rather spectacularly into a warm and muscular chest. It was hard to breathe but he smelled good. Nice. Death by pectorals would be a cool way to die.
“Ashlyn?” Troy’s throaty voice pulled me from destiny with suffocation. Great. The scenario would be so much more enjoyable with an audience. Not.
“Oh, hey.” I casually righted myself, trying to keep my expression neutral. No doubt he had been covering for his bestie. Even though inside I felt like a bunch of explosives just had a party with a box of matches, I wasn’t giving either of them the satisfaction. Yep, nothing to see here, folks. “I was just leaving.”
“Leaving? Dan called and mentioned you and pizza.” Troy looked confused. I wondered if woman and child in Dan’s apartment would have the same level of confusion. Perhaps they needed a diagram. See here, people, this circle of crazy is you and this is Ashlyn, walking away. Dumbass. I wasn’t sure if that insult was directed at Dan or myself. Either one was a viable option.
“Ashlyn. What the fuck?” Dan’s unmistakable voice boomed from behind me. He actually had the nerve to sound surprised and irate. Seriously, the balls on this guy.
My mind conjured up which slow and painful death would be most satisfying. “I really underestimated you, Dan Evans. Well done. Worst judgment call of my life.” I fought the urge to applaud. This for me was a new kind of low.
“Me?” He narrowed his eyes as they raked over my body. “I’m not the one who turned up to your apartment and disrespected you. Troy, so help me, if this is your fucking doing, I’m going to punch you right in the nuts.”
“Dude, ease up. I get you’re upset but it’s not the end of the world. Now kick it down a notch or me and you are going to be having words.” Troy glared at Dan.
“Troy had nothing to do with this. Your friend stayed loyal to the end.” I had no idea why I was defending Troy; right now I couldn’t stand the sight of either of them. A huge bonfire with all things Power Station sounded like a good idea, possibly followed by a Dan voodoo doll I would castrate. “And as far as disrespecting goes, you are in a class all onto yourself. Take a good look, Dan, ’cause I’m out of here.”
“Fuck.” Dan grabbed my arm and blew out a slow defeated breath. “Look, maybe we can work through this. I should have told you. It just didn’t come up.”
Was I hearing him correctly? Was this man actually that delusional? I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as I shook off his grasp. “Didn’t come up? What is wrong with you? How can you be wit
h me in any capacity and not have fucking told me, Dan? I shouldn’t have to walk up here and find out like this. What if I hadn’t been here today? Would you have ever come clean?”
“Of course, eventually. I didn’t think it was going to be an issue. You know you are partly to blame here, too, Ash. You should have said something.” He folded his arms in front of his chest looking disappointed. He was playing the victim card? No words. Okay maybe I had just a few left.
“Oh my god. You have the nerve to blame me? Excuse me while I call the men in the white coats, Dan, because you are even crazier than I thought.”
“Hey guys, maybe lets move out of the hallway. I think you both need to calm down. Yeah?” Troy tried to play the diplomat. Delsuionville had another resident it seemed. Calming down was not on my agenda. Along with ever seeing or speaking to either of them again.
“I cannot believe you’re asking me to calm down. Troy, I’m appalled.” And disgusted and most of all hurt, I finished the sentence in my head.
“Ash, I know he sounds like a lunatic but Dan’s just passionate. Honestly, let’s sit this down and see if it’s something you guys can work through. You came all the way down here. With a pizza.” Troy smiled as he continued to mediate.
“Which was straight up one of the sexiest things any girl has ever done. Until you show up...” Dan waved his arms wildly in front of me, “like that.”
“There is nothing to work out. I’m not sorry I showed up. At least now I know the truth. The only thing I am sorry is that I wasted any of my time on you.” My voice sounded strangled, a mixture of anger and betrayal. I was trying to maintain control but my body was not co-operating.
Dan blinked as if seeing my hurt for the first time. His unexplained anger slightly receded. He had to know this was the end. There could be no coming back from here. He hissed out through his clenched jaw. “I hate the motherfucking Bruins!”
“What?” My brain went into free fall and I wondered if I had missed a part of the conversation somewhere. The part where that comment actually made sense.
“You,” he paused running his hands impatiently through his hair, “are wearing a Bruins jersey.” I glanced down the hockey jersey I was wearing. The same one my father had given me when I turned twenty-one. He had played hooky from the bar and taken me to a game. He rarely took time off but for each of our twenty- firsts he made the time. It was just the two of us. We had heckled the visiting side and eaten pretzels. He bought me a beer and told me that even though I was all grown up, I’d always be his little girl. It was one of the greatest gifts he’d ever given me. Every time I wore this jersey, it reminded me of my dad and how much he loved me.
“I hate them, Ash. I mean, at least you’re not supporting a Canadian side but, Jesus Christ. The fucking Bruins?” Dan screwed up his face with such distaste.
“What?” I repeated, hearing what he had said but not understanding any of it. How did the Bruins have anything to do with the fact he had a child and possibly a girlfriend? Both of which he hadn’t told me about. The fact we supported opposing teams was not an issue here, the fact he was a lying, cheating low life was.
“I said,” he slowly repeated. “The Bruins—”
“I heard you, moron. How does that change the fact you have a son?” I planted my hands on my hips defiantly.
“What the hell?” Dan’s eyes widened. “I don’t have a kid!”
“Dan, I saw the girl in your apartment. That little boy looks just like you.” I couldn’t believe he was going to continue to deny it. There was nothing wrong with my eyesight, and I know what I saw.
“Ash, that’s my sister Kim. The little boy is my nephew Sam. I guess he kind of looks like me, half the kid’s luck if he does.” He smirked before the smile slowly slid from his face. “Wait a second, you thought that he was my kid?”
“Well, what was I supposed to think?” His nephew. Well that would explain the resemblance. Still, it was an easy mix up. Dan wouldn’t have been the first rock star to have a love child.
“I thought you were pissed at me ’cause I didn’t welcome you with open arms wearing that jersey. Holy shit, you weren’t even going to ask me? You were just going to walk?” The realization hit him. He moved closer, leaving little room between us. The tension was palpable.
“What about you? You can’t get over the fact I’m a Bruins fan,” I shot back. At least my reason, albeit misguided, was valid.
“Ash, that’s a big fucking deal. You show up here on my turf, wearing the enemy’s colors. What did you think was going to happen?” He stared down at my jersey with such disgust.
“Enemy’s colors? You are seriously deranged.”
“Children. Play nice.” Troy stood between us, pushing our bodies apart. “Obviously there has been a misunderstanding here. Everyone needs to take a fucking breath and chill.”
“Hey, Dan.” The mysterious brunette who had now been identified as Dan’s sister emerged into the hallway. “Looks like you’re busy. We’ll see you another time.” Her eyes darted toward me. Great. She had heard everything. Not that there was any danger of her not hearing, neither of us had been using our inside voices. Could this get any worse?
“You don’t have to go,” Dan and I both echoed over each other, adding to the awkwardness. Apparently it could. Get worse, that is.
“It’s getting late and I wanted to get Sam home before dark.” She wrestled with the dark haired little boy in her arms.
“No wanna go home.”
“Heya, buddy.” Dan temporarily diffused the awkwardness, and gave his nephew his full attention. “Don’t give your mama a hard time, okay? Your daddy is going to be getting home soon and will want to see you before you need to go to sleep. Don’t forget what I taught you.” He ruffled the little boy’s hair.
“I wanna wock!” Sam proudly held his fist in the air.
“That’s it, Sammy. You’re making Uncle Dan so proud.” The beaming smile was a dead giveaway.
“Stop being a bad influence.” Kim rolled her eyes at Dan before turning to me. “Ashlyn, hopefully we’ll see you again.”
“Sure.” I nodded politely. Not like I could say, actually I’m hoping the earth beneath my feet will open up and swallow me whole so chances of us crossing paths are remote. My silent prayer remained unanswered, Kim giving me an amused smile before ushering Sam into the waiting elevator.
And then there were three.
“We still need a Ref here or are you good?” Troy didn’t even try to hide his amusement.
Dan and I stared at each other, neither one of us wanting to be the first one to cave.
“You are both nutjobs,” Troy volunteered, trying to coax one of us out of the imposed game of verbal chicken we had going on.
“Dude, it’s the fucking Bruins.” Dan cracked first. Silently I celebrated. Victories were still victories no matter how small. Pretty sure I read that on a fortune cookie somewhere.
“She’s from Boston, you moron. They don’t have a lot of love for the Rangers over there. I can guarantee you that associating with her is not going to affect our chances of winning.”
“I give up. I can’t keep it a secret anymore.” I couldn’t help it; the situation was just too absurd.
“What?” Dan’s eyes narrowed as he moved closer to me. “What secret?”
“The whole career thing on Wall Street was just a cover. I was really sent here by my city to infiltrate New York and send information back. I’ve been watching training camps and practices of all of your teams.” I leaned in and whispered, “The end is near.”
“I fucking knew it.”
“Dan, she’s joking.” Troy shook his head, biting back his grin. “Ash, listen. He isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer but I assure you, he’s no woman’s baby daddy. And, Dan, there is no sporting espionage going on here. You are both acting like tools and on that note, I’m out!” Troy strolled past us and into Dan’s apartment. He emerged a few moments later carrying the pizza box. “Neither o
f you deserve this, I’m taking this baby where she is appreciated.” He shoved a slice into his mouth and walked into his apartment, shutting the door behind him.
“Well that was just fucking rude.” Dan scratched his head. “So this is all kinds of messed up, huh?”
It was so hard not to smile at how adorable he was. “So you don’t have any secret girlfriends or children?”
Might as well get it out there. I mean we were already knee-deep in craziness, what’s an extra inch or two.
“Ash, I never have unprotected sex. Not ever. Unless I have some magic power that can get a chick pregnant through a rubber, there is no chance.”
“You didn’t answer about the girlfriend.”
“I haven’t had a girlfriend in three years and that’s the truth. I don’t really date. You know, being on the road, fans and stuff. Gets kinda hard to maintain a relationship.” He rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged.
“Oh. Of course. Yep that makes sense.” I swallowed.
Well, that answered that question. He doesn’t date. My heart sank. I know this was the first time I was asking the question, I mean seriously asking the question, but I was still a little disappointed. He hadn’t led me on and at no point did he tell me this was anything more than what it was. Which was nothing. I had to at least admire his honesty. Right? Why wasn’t it making me feel any better?
“Ash, you wanna go inside? I don’t think Troy is going to share so I’ll order another pizza. We can hang out.” Dan nudged my arm with a playful grin teasing the corners of his mouth. He had no idea how his honesty had punctured my heart. I had wanted to know and yet not been prepared for the truth, and upon hearing it, my heart retreated back behind its guarded wall.
“Sure.” I pushed aside my feelings of rejection, plastering a fake smile across my face as I made my way to the door.
“Ash, can you take off the Jersey before we go in.” Dan grabbed my arm stopping me from entering. “Please.”
