by E. K. Blair
Bennett has gone all out—she has on a black skirt that could double as a tube top, 6 inch heels, and a glittery silver tank top. Her auburn hair is down and bouncing. She looks old enough to be one of our professors with her makeup job, and the look in her eyes is scandalous—Drama Girl is on the prowl. Well good, I can shrink behind her spotlight all night.
Zach looks great in dark wash jeans, a black button up shirt and his hair is styled; he even trimmed up the goatee a bit.
I send Evan a text on the way. I wish he was with me for many reasons, but at least I know I’m safe as I glance at Zach in the driver’s seat.
Laney: I love you, for all we are and all we’re not right now too. If you love something, let it go. If it comes back, it’s yours.
Evan: I am yours, always have been, always will be. I hate what this did to us, hate college.
Laney: Not a fan myself, but we had to grow up sometime right?
Evan: I will never love anything even half as much as I love you. We will find our way back.
Laney: I hope so.
Evan: Have a good night Laney, be safe.
Laney: Night Ev, u2
“You okay?” Zach looks at me from the corner of his eye.
“Yeah, I’m great.” It’s taking every effort not to let the tears I’m holding back fall. I didn’t think anything could ever come between Evan and me... and look at us now.
“Yes, you are, Laney, one of the best. Now have some fun, okay? You say ready and we’re gone, girl. And keep your phone on vibrate in case we lose each other. You won’t hear it, but you’ll feel it.” Zach seems very sure of his plan, so I relax a little.
“Let’s just not lose each other,” I offer weakly. “Laney, this is going to be fun, I promise!” Bennett adds from the backseat. She really has no fear.
There’s a huge dude at the door who barely even looks at my ID, but looks at me thoroughly, and just like that—we’re in. I can feel the pulse of the music all through me. I smell smoke and sweat, but I can see very little—this place is dark. I shiver and slide my arm through Zach’s, trusting him to lead the way. He reaches up and pats my hand, making me feel a little better.
“Bennett?!” I all but scream. “Right here.”
“Okay, don’t you dare run off.”
“Yes, Mom.”
“Don’t call me that, and stay around, B, I mean it.” I don’t care if I’m a pain in the ass. If she doesn’t like it, she can quit making me go with her.
Visibility improves slightly the further in we get, so I take my first good look around. I’m pretty sure Boogie Nights 2 will be shot here. The back wall is lined with dark leather, with circular booths and tables that glow blue from underneath. The DJ is up on an elevated stage with so many different lights I can’t look right at it. The dance floor is huge and obviously made to be the main attraction, and the U shaped bar, under lit with red, sits right in the middle of it.
I can barely see the south end, it’s pretty far away, but it appears to have pool tables, darts and is that skeeball?! In the far corner, tucked almost behind the DJ stage, is a staircase. I look up to see balcony seating; must be the VIP section. Are there VIPs in college? I wonder if P Diddy is up there.
Bennett pulls us over to a table on the edge of the dance floor. I scoot my stool as close to Zach as I can without sitting in his lap. We’re quickly approached by a blonde in a Catholic school girl outfit; poor thing lost half of it, for our drink orders. I glance around, taking it all in, and find myself in awe.
I’ve seen people dance and grind, but it was G-rated compared to what some of the couples on the floor are doing now. The music is a little loud, and ew...no elbows on the table, it’s sticky. But other than that, I can start to see the appeal of it. The place is alive, electric, and no doubt better than sitting in your dorm room.
The blonde brings back Zach’s beer and Bennett’s pink thing, and then sets a tall, thin glass in front of me. “Um, what’s that?”
“It’s a champagne spritzer, they’re good.”
“But I ordered water.”
“It’s on the house,” she says with a shrug and walks away.
I look at Zach with confusion, “Did you order this for me?”
“Not me,” he shakes his head, and a quick shoulder shrug from Bennett confirms it wasn’t her either.
“Guys send drinks over for pretty girls all the time, Laney, don’t worry about it,” Bennett explains nonchalantly, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
“She didn’t say from the gentleman over there, she said on the house. Either way, I’m not drinking that, no way.”
Zach offers to trade me. “No one put anything in my beer I assure you, plus it’s free champagne.” He tosses back a big gulp of the free bubbly. “She’s right, it’s good. You wanna dance?”
“Um, I’ve never really fast danced outside of my room, I don’t want to embarrass you,” I mumble, blushing slightly.
“Don’t worry, Laney, I’m an excellent teacher.” He starts to pull me to the floor and I grab Bennett’s hand and pull her with us.
Three songs in and I’m having a blast! I feel bad I wouldn’t dance like this with Evan at prom, but I hated those spectators. I don’t know anyone here—and they don’t know me. Zach’s a great dancer and he moves with me, but not in a handsy slimeball way. He dips me, and while upside down, I see Tate approaching behind Bennett.
Zach pulls me up and I turn, Tate giving me the “shh” sign as he slips right up to her backside, hands going to her hips. She turns slightly to see it’s him and wraps her arms around his neck. They’re cute together, really, but I thought Tate couldn’t come? Oh well. I turn to Zach.
“You ready for a break?!” I yell over the music.
He nods and leads us back to our table, hand at the small of my back. Eventually Bennett and Tate make their way over for a breather.
“Tate, I thought you couldn’t make it. What a nice surprise.”
“Well, I got done early, so I came to find this beauty.” He looks over and smiles a Bennett. “Couldn’t have her here alone now, could I?”
Bennett blushes and kisses his cheek.
“Where are Sawyer and Dane?” I ask as I look around the room.
“I’m not sure,” he says with a smirk. “I could text them.”
“No, that’s okay, just asking.” I don’t want him texting that I was asking about them! Can you say “mortifying”? I’m really just curious...right?
Zach and I eventually go out and dance a few more songs, play some skeeball and even darts. Now I’m ready to go; these heels are killing my feet. Zach agrees, so we go to search out Bennett. I spot her back on the dance floor with Tate and start through the mass of gyrating bodies to fetch her.
I feel it; my body tells me that he’s in close proximity before I see him—so weird. All of a sudden, right in front of me, is Dane. I startle a little but manage a “hi.”
“Hello, Disney, fancy meeting you here.” He smiles. “Small world.”
“It’s actually not at all. I could show you.”
What?
“May I have a dance?”
Oh yeah, he can. I look back at Zach and mouth “one song” while I hold up a finger. He nods and I turn back to Dane. “Just one.”
“Well then, I better make it count.” He turns and does a head thing to the DJ, who for some reason seems to take notice. “Come here,” he says, holding out his hand. I place mine in his, moving into him. He pulls me tight and we dance to “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain. It feels eerily similar to prom with Evan, if he starts singing in my ear I may lose it. But no, he’s a whisper in your ear guy. “Who is that guy you’re with, Laney?”
“Zach Reece; he lives in our dorm.”
“And what is he to you?” His hot breath caresses my ear and neck.
“A friend, a good one so far.”
“And Evan?” How does he know that? Bennett!
“A better friend, the best.” It hurts a little when I say
it.
“And I am?”
“Interesting.” I feel him shake lightly against me, laughing.
“I find you quite interesting as well, Laney,” he doesn’t exactly say it; more like pours it slowly in my ear.
“I’m not.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“What does that mean?” I know my voice is shaking and barely a whisper, but holding a conversation when you can barely breathe is a challenge.
“It means, Laney, that I want to get to know you better.”
“Why?”
“Something tells me, has been telling me, I should.” “Okay, well, I was about to leave.”
“I don’t mean tonight. I’m all for you leaving here as soon as possible. Tomorrow, spend the day with me; whatever you want to do.”
“I’ll think about it.” And I will; I’m actually considering it.
“The song’s over, Laney, so I’ll let you go, for now...but tomorrow,” he says, lifting my hand to his mouth, placing a kiss.
And with that, I go back to Zach, who has detained Bennett, and we head home. Falling asleep, I almost send a text to Evan, but stop myself.
Leave him be, Laney.
Chapter Twenty-One
LANEY DAY
Laney
My phone wakes me up; a number I don’t recognize. “Hello?”
“Good morning, Disney, sleep well?” How does Dane have my number? Not that I mind he has it, but I have got to talk to Bennett about her big mouth.
“Good morning, Dane, you’re up early,” I mumble sleepily. Seriously, do I know a guy who sleeps in?
“I couldn’t wait to get started. I don’t want to waste a single minute of this day with you.”
“I don’t remember saying yes yet.” We both know I’m going to say yes, who am I kidding?
“Ah, but you didn’t say no, and I’m hopeful.” “I don’t know...What would we do?”
“I told you, anything you want.”
“Noooo, you were brave enough to call me, aren’t you brave enough to set the agenda?” I snicker as I put his words back on him.
He chuckles. “Touché, Disney. Yes, if you say I can make the plans, I’d be happy to do so. Is there anything you can’t or won’t do, like any phobias I should be aware of?”
Is he kidding? What the hell is he planning? “Let’s see...I would prefer not to jump off or out of anything. I get cold really easily and I’m allergic to walnuts. Other than that, I think I’m good.”
He’s laughing heartily now. “Oh Laney, you make me smile. Wear comfortable shoes, I’ll be there within the hour.”
“Well, okay then, bossy boots, I’ll see you then.”
When I hang up, I think of Evan. I wonder if he’s spending time with other girls. Time meaning, doing stuff other than sticking his drunken face in their chest of course, cause I’m pretty sure Dane has better plans for today than that.
I shake off the thoughts and jump out of bed, rushing through a shower, brushing my teeth, and throwing on faded jeans, a jersey t-shirt and some red kicks. I quickly dry my hair and pull it through the back of my favorite ball cap; cute earrings and some lip gloss later, I’m set just in time for the knock at the door.
“Good morning,” I say cheerfully, taking a minute to look him over.
Dark, sexy jeans that hang oh so right, a gray henley and Doc boots, still the cross necklace and perfect hair. Looking forward to today—I am! I am!
“So, whadda ya think?” He grins with one side of his mouth and that single cocky eyebrow as he notices my perusal.
“I’ve seen better,” I say with a shrug of my shoulder.
“I haven’t.” He winks...every time I see him.
“Oh, please, like I even remotely believe that. You don’t strike me as a cheesy lines guy, so don’t ruin it now.” I wink at him this time.
He takes my hand, guiding me down the hall. “Disney, I say almost nothing I don’t really mean. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen anything better.”
Giddy with his sweet words, I ask, “so where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” He helps me into his very nice silver car. That’s all I know—silver, two doors, not a truck, looks expensive. He walks around the front, which I pay way too much attention to, and climbs in the driver’s seat. “You want music?”
“You know the answer to that.”
“So I do, Disney.” He shoots me an adorable sidelong glance and starts the car and the music.
Is that? Oh, surely not. I thought I was the only person my age who knew ELO. My dad played them on records for God’s sake! Anything could have just played, some cliché, sound-the-same crap...but it was ELO. This little surprise is doing funny things to my head.
“Have you eaten?” he asks.
“I was in bed when you called,” I titter. “No, I haven’t eaten.”
“Me either, shall we start with that? I don’t want you hungry.”
I agree that sounds fine and a few minutes later we pull up to a little café on a historic district street. I wonder how he knows of this place.
We opt to sit outside on the back deck; it has a great view of the lake. The houses around the water are spectacular. I always wonder when I see houses like that, what the heck do those people do for a living? My dad used to always tell me, “Slugger, money like that comes two ways. You’re born to it or you screw somebody else out of it.”
My dad is the hardest worker I know—any day, any shift; and we struggled. These houses are three stories with private sanded beaches and stone steps from their lower decks to the water. I wonder if they ever stop and take it all in. Do they appreciate what they have or do they wish they had the one across the water, cause it has more windows?
“Do you know what you want?” His question pulls me from my thoughts.
“I have absolutely no idea.” I’m not just talking about the menu and I think he knows that. “I’ll just have what he’s having,” I tell the waitress. “So, are you going to tell me what we’re doing today?”
“Nope, you’ll see. Are you not big on surprises, Disney?”
“Yes and no. I love good surprises. I get ants in my pants but I don’t like the lingering fear from knowing most of them don’t turn out that way. I have to really trust the person to know the surprise will be good.”
“I hope to make everything wonderful. If it’s not, you tell me, okay, Laney? Today and always, just tell me, and I’ll fix it.” He smiles warmly and I see sincerity in it, warming me to the idea of more time with this guy.
Our food arrives and it smells wonderful. Blueberry stuffed strudel, and the first bite confirms it— Dane has excellent taste. “Mmmmm,” escapes me despite the mouthful.
“You like?”
“Oh my God, like is far from the right word. It may be the best thing I’ve ever eaten.”
“Yeah, I love this place. Next time we’ll get the strawberry chip pancakes. You can go ahead and thank me now,” he laughs as he puts a piece of heaven in his mouth.
“Thank you,” I say, a bit embarrassed, looking down at the table. Of course I was going to thank him at the end of the meal.
“No, Laney.” He drops his fork and reaches across for my hand with a soft chuckle. “I meant you’ll be thanking me for introducing you to the pancakes.”
“Oh, well, thank you for that, and this.”
He kisses the back of my hand he’s holding. “Thank you for joining me.”
I look down, focusing on my dish rather than the rush of emotions surging through me.
“Laney, how is it possible you have no idea how captivating you are?”
Evan asked me something similar once, I remember it melted me to learn he thought that way...Evan.
“Knowing me so little, what can you possibly mean?” This is a test. If he leads with the word hot, smokin’, tits, or ass, he’s taking me home.
“Girls came in and out of that room all night. The only one I noticed was you. Not just that you
’re gorgeous, you are, but a lot of them were pretty.” He glances out the window briefly before turning back to me with a serious tone to his expression. “But you, I remember you asked, ‘so you live three to this room?’ and your voice, I couldn’t have not turned around. The more we all talked; your wit, your sarcasm, and the innocent but curious sparkle in your eye...I don’t know, I just found myself dying to hear what you’d say next.” He takes a deep breath, like a witness would when their testimony is finally over. “Oh and then the princess pajamas; I can’t remember ever seeing anything cuter in my life.”
We both laugh at that. “Dane, I...”
“Don’t be nervous, Laney, I just want to spend time with you. I want to get to know you.” He leans over the table on his elbows, bringing his face closer to mine. “There’s something great about you, the way I feel when you’re in a room. I want to see if my instincts are right about you, and those tell me that any kind of time with you is worth spending.”
“Okay, we’ll spend time together. I’d like to get to know you, too.” I offer him a tentative smile and take another bite so I don’t have to talk anymore.
He leans back in his chair, folding his hands behind his head and crossing one leg over his knee. “Best news I’ve heard all day,” he coyly replies.
MK Studios is the sign on the building we pull up to and I turn to Dane. “What is this place?”
“It’s our first stop on Laney Day.” His lips curve up a bit hesitant of a full smile; he’s nervous.
“Breakfast was our first stop, and an excellent one at that.”
“I stand corrected; this is stop two, come on.” He comes around to open my door, extending his hand to me.
The receptionist greets him immediately. “Mr. Kendrick, so good to see you.”
Mr. Kendrick? He’s like twentyish years old.
“Thank you, Angela. I believe Paul is expecting us.
This is Laney Walker.”
