To Be With You- Chapter 8
TW: This chapter contains smut. (Descriptions of consensual oral and penetrative sex.)
End of The World As We Know It
You sat in your first-class seat, looking out the window at the London- Heathrow airport. Outside it was gloomy. The plane taxied, winding its way back to the airport. You watched raindrops race down the window pane.Â
The flight had been easy. You had never flown in first class domestically, let alone on an international flight. For the first two hours, you found yourself fighting the imposter syndrome. It felt unnaturalÂ
Prior to leaving Michigan, Danny had their tour manager email you the details of your trip. For a few moments, you had thought they had mixed up your flight details with his. Danny, after receiving your messages about the supposed mix-up, had simply replied âEnjoy yourself, Y/N.â So despite the initial discomfort, you did.
Now, as your plane finished its trek, you packed your things in your old carry-on backpack and waited for the cabin door to open.Â
You recognized your decision to come was impulsive. When Danny called you had been overwhelmed; flooded by many conflicting emotions. The loudest of them all was the grief.Â
Despite all your reasons or justifications, you missed him. You missed catching up with his stories. You missed the quiet support he always gave you, his hugs and his laugh. While the romantic heartbreak had subsided, the grief of losing a friend was still fresh and painful. All at once, that dull ache you had felt had swelled, overtaking in one single call.Â
You knew nobody else would understand exactly what this feeling was. Half of it was logical; the part of you that valued your history and promise to your old friend. The other half you continued to deny even to yourself. You ignored it, but deep down, there was a flame. A flame within you that flickered, buried deep beneath layers of guilt, shame, and fear. This flame, a glimmer of hope that this trip would be different for you and Danny.Â
You exited the plane, following the signs for baggage claim and customs.Â
Dannyâs last interaction had been short, a simple heart reaction to your photo out the planeâs window. You knew better than to read into his messages but against your better judgment, you were considering many interpretations.Â
You grabbed your checked bag and headed for the exit. You scrolled through your emails on your phone as you walked; looking for the one from Simon, Gretaâs tour manager for the European leg. Along with your plane ticket and hotel information, he had included information about who was picking you up from the airport. The name of the driver was not familiar to you. You assumed it was one of the various drivers hired to drive the boys throughout their time in the area.Â
You approached the pick-up area with your luggage in tow, looking out for the grey van described in the email.Â
You turn to the voice, spotting the grey van in the pickup line. A tall figure with dark curls exited the van quickly from the passenger side, crossed in front and swiftly headed in your direction. You froze, slowly taking him in as he came towards you.Â
He looked different than you had last seen him, more mature and somehow taller. You scanned him up and down, noting his black âThe Thing With Feathersâ t-shirt from his friend Daveâs band.Â
He smiled before extending his arms out to you for an embrace.Â
You swallowed hard, feeling your heart race in your chest. When he was within reach of you, you dropped your hold on your suitcase and went to him. His arms wrapped around you, encasing you in his familiar cologne. You rested your head against his chest, allowing yourself for a moment to forget the tension and enjoy the comfort you missed. You held him tight, feeling the speed of his own heart against your cheek. You closed your eyes, taking a stilling breath before releasing him from your hold. He followed suit, pulling back from the embrace with a smile, looking you up and down.Â
You smiled at him back, feeling your cheeks heat slightly under his gaze.Â
âYou look great.â He broke the silence.Â
You blushed deeper, motioning with your hand to him.
âYou do too, Dan. I like your hair.â
He laughed, running a hand over the tight curls.
âThank you. Itâs amazing how much better hair looks when you donât use 3 in 1 shampoo.â
You scoff, looking back at his grinning expression with genuine surprise, âThere is no way you were using that- were you?â
Danny shook his head with a laugh. He reached for your shoulder, taking your backpack strap off and placing it on his.Â
âOh you donât have to-â You reached for your bag, but felt your hands batted away.
âIâve got it.â He reached for the handle of your suitcase and pushed it in the direction of the van. You thanked him quietly and followed.Â
He continued, âNo. Not exactly 3 in 1, but whatever I was using wasnât working. Letâs just say that. I have a robust and top secret routine these days.â
You chuckled and shook your head.Â
Out of the corner of your eye, two girls catch your attention. You turned to look, seeing them whispering and pointing towards Danny. For a brief moment, your stomach dropped as you recalled the time you had been seen by fans. Danny looked behind at you, following your gaze and seeing the girls. As if sensing your unease he turned his back to them, positioning himself to block you from their view.Â
âHey, do you want to go to the van? Iâll say hi for a quick second. You can come with me too if you want.â
You raise your eyebrows, peaking around him to spy on the two nervous girls talking quietly to one another.Â
âItâs fine. Iâll go. Letâs see you in action, Mr. Rockstarâ You teased.
You motion towards the girls, taking your suitcase handle from him as you walk.
âHi!â Danny approached with a big smile.Â
âOh my god.â The blonde turned to her friend and covered her mouth with her hand.Â
âHi, Danny.â The girl beside her smiled, transfixed on him. Her hands shook at her sides.Â
You stood off to the side, smiling awkwardly as Danny handled the interaction with ease. He asked them if they were coming to the show, and listened as they told him how they had met through the band. You watched as his eyes danced, genuine joy pulling at the corners. Throughout the brief conversation, you watched as the girls calmed; a usual side effect of being around Danny.
âDid you guys want to take a picture? Y/N, can you do the honors?â He offered.Â
You cleared your throat, giving the girls a quick hello before reaching for the phone.Â
Danny posed in the middle of the two girls with one arm draped around each of their shoulders.Â
You took the pictures, moving the phone around for different angles.Â
âThere you go!â You smiled, handing the phone back to the blonde.Â
âOkay, it was great to meet you both. I hope you enjoy the show.â Danny finished as he turned back to you, reaching for your suitcase.
He stood beside you and turned back to the girls. âOne last thing. Youâre welcome to post the pictures Iâm in with you, but if you have one of Y/N and I from over there- I need you to delete it.â
You held your gasp and looked over at Danny in surprise.Â
âOh! Yes, of course. Iâm sorry.â The blonde scrolled through her phone, quickly turning her phone to show her deleting her photos and emptying them from the recently deleted folder.Â
âIâm sorry we took them. We werenât thinkingâŚâ
Danny smiles, âItâs okay. It was so nice to see you both. We have to get going but Iâll see you tomorrow!âÂ
He gave the girls a wink, laughing when they both giggled and turned to each other.
He pushed your suitcase and slung an arm around your shoulder as you both walked.Â
He laughed, âYou okay?â
He drops his arm from your back, adjusting your backpackâs strap over his shoulder.Â
âGreat! Well, Arvilâs holding up the line there. He went around once, we should probably go.âÂ
You laughed and followed him in a run to the van.Â
Danny ushered you to the van, pointing you to a seat before packing your bags in the back. He closed the door and returned, hoping into the seat beside you.Â
âThank you, Avril! Avril this is Y/N, Y/N, Avril.â Danny introduced you before buckling his seatbelt.Â
âThank you for coming. Sorry about the delay.â
âIt is no problem, Ms.â Avril nodded his head to you in the rearview mirror before merging out of the pickup lane.Â
When you turned your attention back to Danny, he was watching you in amusement.Â
âWhat?â You asked quietly.Â
He shrugged, âNothing. I just canât believe youâre here.â
You looked away and nodded, unsure how much of the conversation you were ready to have. You sensed his jovial mood and sensed he was not opening the discussion now. You pushed down the feelings and decided to play along.Â
âI know. Who would have thought?â
Danny scoffed playfully, âYou did, actually. I didnât believe it at the time, but something about how adamant you were about it- I always leaned on that and felt we would. I donât think we could have ever pictured it like this though.â
âNo. I donât think so. Things have changed a lot for you guys since I have last been to a show.â
Danny nodded, âI think you missed a couple of tours.â
You noted the sadness in his tone and returned your gaze out the window. The conversation lulled momentarily. You cleared your throat and pushed through.Â
âI suppose I have some catching up to do before the show then. Based on some videos Iâve seen, I canât just wear a band t to the show anymore.â
Danny laughed, clearly grateful for the change in topic.Â
âYou can wear whatever you like, Y/N. But yes, itâs become very theatrical in the last few years. I guess you can blame Josh for that.â
You smile, enjoying the familiarity of the conversation.Â
âIâll have to hit him up for some gems before the show I guess.â
Danny flashed you a smile, âHeâd be really excited about that. But just know he doesnât do them himself. He may do a bad job.â
âSo, I know the time change is going to be interesting for you. Itâs 4:30 here. Weâre probably going to go out tonight and get some drinks. Maybe celebrate a little before the big day tomorrow. Do you want to go with me? I know everyone wants to see you.â
You looked away. You had slept well on the flight and could use a full meal. However, the thought of facing the full band and their families made you uneasy. There had been too much time and too many unanswered calls and questions for you to feel comfortable jumping back in like nothing happened.Â
You gave what you hoped appeared to be a lighthearted frown.Â
âI probably need to sleep. Thank you though, Dan. I appreciate everything.â
He nodded, but you could see the disappointment in his body language.Â
âItâs okay, Y/N/N. Weâll all see each other tomorrow.â
As if on cue, Avril pulled into the parking structure of a hotel. He parked in between two tour buses, in front of a large metal door.Â
âHere we are.â Danny said while hopping out of the van. He walked around to the back to open the hatch. Avril exited the vehicle and beat him to the luggage.
âNo, no Mr. Wagner. I will take these. You help your lady inside.â
Danny patted Avril on the shoulder and returned to the open van door.Â
He pretended to bow and extended his hand to you, âMiâlady.â
You pushed his hand to the side and laughed as you exited, heading for the metal door. Avril walked behind, pushing your suitcase with your backpack resting on top. As you approached the door, it opened, revealing a bellhop pushing a bell cart.Â
He greeted each of you with âGood eveningâ and a nod as he held open the door. Inside the hotel lobby was stunning with bold-colored couches, white marble pillars, and wainscoted walls. You did a full 360, admiring the artwork and unique detailed furniture throughout the space.Â
âWow. This is gorgeous.â
Danny nodded and gave a quick look around the space, âIt is. Simon is great at what he does. He used to live around here somewhere too.â He reached into his pocket, pulling out two room keys.Â
âI believe this one is yours. I am on the same floor down the hall. We can switch if I got that wrong.â
You nodded and took the key from his outstretched hands. Your fingers brushed slightly against his, causing goosebumps to rise on your arms.Â
You pulled back quickly, hoping he had not noticed.Â
âIf you change your mind about tonight, I am in room 48 down from you. We can go together.â
âThank you. I think I am going to try to get some sleep.â
Danny nodded, placing a hand on your lower back and guided you to the elevator. Avril walked with the bellhop to the front desk with your bags.Â
You and Danny entered the elevator. He pressed the button for floor 2.Â
âItâs odd to leave my bags. I could have taken them up myself.â You puzzled.Â
Danny laughed, âI know. I still find it really strange when we stay in places like this. It is nice but always feels a bit unnecessary.Â
The elevator doors opened. Danny motioned for you to exit first and you did.Â
âWell, I am down this way. I believe youâre right there on the left.â Danny hesitated in the hall.
After a moment, he pulled you into a hug.Â
âI know Iâm going to probably say this again, but I am happy youâre here.â
You gave him a squeeze and backed away.Â
âI am too. Thank you. For everything⌠The flight, the hotel- Seriously. I feel bad having you cover that.â
Danny shook his head, âNo, donât think that. Iâm really happy to do it. I couldnât play this show without you here.â
âYou could. I donât know if anyoneâs ever told you this but youâre like⌠a really good drummer. Some would call you drummer of the year.â You joked.Â
Danny smiled wide and shook his head.Â
âOkay, Y/N. Sweet dreams.â
You both turned and walked down the hall. You resisted the urge to look over your shoulder to watch him go. Reluctantly, you walked and entered your room.Â
Your suite was just as beautiful as the lobby. Each of the walls were painted a textured baby blue. The fourth wall, behind the four-poster bed, was wallpapered in a bold floral print. Ordinarily, this would have felt gaudy, but paired with the unique furniture and crystal light fixtures it felt rich and very British.Â
You crossed the room and collapsed face-first onto the queen bed, enjoying the unnecessary but welcomed extra space.Â
Beyond the bed, there was a quaint balcony overlooking the Kensington street below. On it, sat a single chair and table, perfect for morning reading and coffee. You sighed, rolling over onto your back and looking up at the ceiling.Â
âWhat am I getting myself into?â You asked yourself.Â
You reached into your pocket, fishing for your phone. You clicked the side button, illuminating the screen and revealing your notifications. You scrolled them, swiping away the ones from apps you never care about. You opened Messenger and replied to your missed texts from your mom and Alex. You frowned, clicking on Kyleâs text thread, and noted he had not replied to your last three messages. You frowned, rereading the messages and noticing the odd time stamps. You rolled your eyes, remembering the adjustments your phone makes for the time zone.
âHey K, I head out this evening for London. I text Angela from the running group. Sheâs going to take over my Friday run like we talked about. Hopefully, itâs not too crazy while Iâm gone.â
âAlright, Iâm boarded. Are you working still? Iâll have wifi on the flight. Maybe we can catch up?â
*A photo of your drink and food on the plane*
You chewed at the inside of your lip. For the past couple of months since Kyleâs trip back to Italy, things had been rocky between you. Despite the rapidly approaching one year anniversary of your first date, things were not progressing. You and Kyle continued to have your sporadic get-togethers, but you no longer spent your weekends out with friends.Â
Kyle worked long hours. You had taken up covering some of his shifts at the gym and eased off some of your hours at the coffee shop. You still had not met his parents, and because of it- you refused to introduce him to yours despite your motherâs pestering.Â
You wanted to be upset about the arrangement. Part of you was. Kyle was hot and cold. When he was with you, it was hot. You felt on top of the world; desirable and valued. You enjoyed his company, even if it was just watching a movie on your couch. In those times, you convinced yourself that you could see the relationship building over time. You justified the pace by seeing his growth at work and his focus. Additionally, you took responsibility for your own busy schedule and your lack of effort in pushing for the relationship to move forward. You knew a conversation was needed, and despite your significant growth in boundaries, you still dreaded the difficult conversations.Â
Since your call with Danny in May, Alex had been pressuring you to talk to Kyle. You were irked by this. Alex had never been a large supporter of your new relationship. Despite Alexâs (justified) anger towards Danny, she insisted you had moved on too quickly. As this relationship continued to take its unusual form, she continued to doubt the merits of Kyleâs feelings. While in Michigan, you didnât see it. You continued to have your dates and fun and chalked up her reservations to being protective after what happened to you with Danny.Â
Now, while laying on your lush bed in London, reading the empty messages between you and him- you questioned if Alex had been onto something.Â
You rolled over, swiping through apps and opening Instagram. You searched for Kyleâs page, viewing his story posted a few hours before. It was simple, a repost of his gymâs recent promotion. The next story played, showing Dannyâs picture of his view of the London Eye from the day before. You sighed, exiting out of stories.Â
You clicked on Dannyâs profile, scrolling through his recent posts, reading comments, and chuckling softly. You scrolled back to the top, noticing for the first time in a while the âtagged photosâ page. You scrolled, careful to not accidentally like any fanâs pictures, but screenshotted a drawing of him as a mermaid you planned to tease him with later.Â
You clicked back on the search bar, looking for Kyle once more. On his page, you clicked on the âtagged photosâ tab. You scrolled past the gym promotional photos and froze. Posted just a day before, a throwback group photo from Italy. In the photo, his friends and family were gathered on the beach, drinks in hand and formal wear rolled to avoid the sand.Â
Kyle stood off to the right side in the picture, looking nice in his grey tux for the wedding. Beside him, stood a tall, thin woman with long black hair. His arm wrapped around her waist, with his hand resting dangerously low on her hip. She leaned her head against his shoulder, and with a fire burning deep in your gut, you looked at him pressing his lips to the side of her head.Â
You clicked on the picture, searching through the tags to find the mystery woman, but came up empty-handed. You looked through the people in the comments, looking through their profiles for any pictures of the wedding. You found some, but none contained the mystery black-haired woman.Â
You rubbed your hands over your face roughly with frustration, checking the time.Â
âI have to tell Alex.â
You clicked Facetime, waiting to unload what you had found. She answered on the third ring.
âHey!â She greeted you cheerfully.Â
âYouâll never fucking believe what I just found.â
Alex narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brow. âWhat? And where are you, what the fuck?â
You looked behind you, âWeâll get to that⌠Look. Here, Iâll share my screen.â
You opened Instagram and scrolled back to the tagged photo. You hit the button to share and waited for Alexâs reaction.Â
âNo fucking way. I TOLD you I hated that guy! Who is that?â She exclaimed.Â
âI donât know. Iâve been trying to find her anywhere and Iâm coming up dry.â
You watched as Alexâs video feed blurred.Â
âAre you looking?â You asked.
âOf course. You donât think sheâs family? A sister?â She questioned.Â
You shook your head and then remembered she couldnât see, âNo. No sister. Too young to be an aunt.â
âMaybe an old childhood friend.â She countered.Â
âAl, look at his hand placement. Thatâs intimate⌠Danny would never grab me like that.Â
Alex scoffed, âY/N, do I need to remind you just how intimately that man has grabbed you?â
âOkay, no. Not right now. I want to get to the bottom of this. Itâs been so weird between us. I canât help but think something happened on that trip. He hardly contacted me then, and ever since heâs been more distant. Every time I think itâs just going to fizzle out he comes back we⌠you know⌠and go out and do something and it like resets a little.â
You heard Alex cringe,âJeez, donât ever talk about sex like that again. That was painful. Okay, I found her.â
You took a deep breath, âIâm here, sorry. What did you find.â
âStop sharing your screen. Iâll show you mine.â
Alex returned to the video call. You ended your screen share and waited for hers to load. When it did, you were faced with the highly aesthetic profile of the black-haired woman, Brielle. Her bio was written in both English and Italian âMed Student UNIFI. Amore Mio 05-14-2017â with a heart emoji.Â
Alex scrolled to her photos, revealing she and Kyle posted together throughout Italy. Some of the photos were ânow and thenâ showing her and him as teens in the same spot now as adults.Â
You felt sick to your stomach. Alex scrolled and remained silent on the other end of the call, waiting for your response. Words escaped you.Â
âOkay. Screenshot and send me, okay?â
Alex ended the screensharing and nodded.Â
âIâm sorry, Y/N/N. I know you liked him.â She apologized.Â
You sighed and rolled your shoulders around to ease tension.Â
âI am not as surprised as youâd think I would be. I think I knew. I was happy just enjoying the company, but it was getting harder to just do that. Especially with this trip looming.â
Alex nodded. âYouâre in London already?â
âIâm happy to be here. I hope we can settle some things. Unfortunately, this complicates things further. Is it crazy to say I feel really bad for her?â
âNo. I mean a little bit because Iâd definitely be jealous first, but I know you were already on your way out.â
You frowned, âShould I let her know? I mean Iâve never posted him to Instagram, only Facebook sometimes but that is private. She probably has no idea what heâs been doing back in Michigan.â
Alex shrugged, âI donât know. She may not believe you. I worry about you going back home and him being really angry. I mean you donât know him that well, Y/N. Heâs kind of a meathead. Who knows how he would respond to this.â
You sighed and laid back on the bed, holding your phone up to face you.Â
âWell, heâs been ignoring me so much anyway. I might as well enjoy my trip and deal with it later.â
A knock sounded from your hotel door.Â
âOh, hold on. I think thatâs my luggage delivery.â
You padded across the floor to the door. You opened it a crack and were surprised to see Danny standing with your luggage, âOh!â
âWhat is it? Youâre moving the camera and itâs making me sick.â Alex chirped from the phone.Â
âItâs Danny, Iâll call you back.â
You ended the call before Alex could give a retort.Â
âHi, sorry. Alex. What are you doing here?â You asked, pushing the luggage inside the doorway.Â
âI decided not to go out. It just felt weird for you to be alone here.â
âI hope thatâs okay?â He looked nervous in the doorway, rocking his weight softly from his heels to his toes.Â
âYeah, of course. I mean, come in. If you want?â
Danny passed you in the doorway, taking in the view of your room.Â
âWow, this is nice. I like your balcony.â
You smiled and nodded, pushing your bag to the corner of the room.Â
âYeah, it is very nice. Thank you again. Is your room similar?â
He nodded, taking off his shoes and leaving them on the tile near the bathroom door.Â
âSimilar but different layout and color.â
âNiceâŚâ You crossed the room and leaned on the edge of the bed.Â
âWhat do you want to do?â You asked.Â
Danny pointed towards the bed, âMay I?â
You blushed as he pointed but nodded.Â
âI was thinking we could watch a movie or something. Order room service. Iâm sure thereâs some kind of streaming on here. We never ended up watching that horror movie we wanted to see.â
âWhich one?â You asked.Â
âThe Jordan Peele one.â
âOh, Nope. Yeah, we could do that.â
Danny frowned and shifted his body to face you.Â
âItâs nothing. Itâs complicated.â
âI know things are weird for now-â
You cut him off with a wave of your hand, âNo, no really, Danny. Itâs not that.Â
Danny looked back at you with concern written all over his face.Â
You sighed, weighing the cost and benefit of telling him what was on your mind. You resolved, knowing you needed the venting space and support he used to provide you.
âThat guy Iâve been seeing, Kyle. I found something.â
You watched as his concern turned to anger, âFound what?â
You returned to chewing on the inside of your lip. You shook your head and searched for the picture on his Instagram.Â
Danny was silent as he looked, zooming in on him and Brielle.Â
You took the phone back from him and pulled up the screenshots sent to you by Alex. He shook his head back and forth as he swiped.Â
âSeven years? Jeez, Iâm so sorry, Y/N. I know you must be crushed.â
You were surprised by the visceral reaction you had to his statement.Â
âYou know, I thought I would be. Weâve been seeing each other for almost a year. Iâm hurt, but I am not surprised. I guess I feel a little stupid more than anything?â
Danny shook his head back and forth violently, some of his curls falling into his face.Â
âI know exactly what you mean. It is not your fault you didnât notice, Y/N. Youâre a good person. You donât expect people to do shitty things like that. I know I felt that way too⌠We donât have to get into that. But donât feel like you should have known.â
You gave him a weak smile. You had forgotten the extent of his relation to your plight.Â
âWell, it was fun for the time. Luckily, it never got too serious. Itâs not like we live together or anything. I donât even know if we have exchanged âI love youâsâ this whole timeâ
Danny lifted an eyebrow at you in return. âNever?â
You thought back through your relationship and shook your head.Â
âNo. Oh well. Forget him. Iâm happy to be here. And you did not have to cancel going out for me, but I appreciate your company.â
Danny pushed himself up further on the bed, taking his place leaning against the headboard and pillows.Â
âWell, you were there for me in the hardest times. I thought I needed to be there for you if I could. I didnât think it would be because of heartbreak though. I would have brought booze.âÂ
You laughed and took your place beside him. He reached for the remote on the nightstand and took to looking for the movie.Â
For the rest of the evening, you ordered room service. Instead of bringing just a cart, the staff brought in a table and set it up for a dinner for two, Fully equipped with a single candle and rose in the center. You and Danny joked and carried your plates from the set table to the bed, finishing your dinner in front of the TV.Â
The conversation carried on smoother as the night progressed. Danny caught you up on the latest band drama. You told him about the books you had finished in your series since you had last seen him. You laughed a bit freer than you had expected. During graphic scenes of the movie, he laughed and covered your eyes like he had when you were young. He told you stories about crazed fans breaking into his backyard in Nashville. You told him about your fitness journey and you throwing up at the end of your first race. By the end of the night, it felt like just like it had been years before. You had built this friendship on a shared history that ran deeper than most others in your life. It felt good to clear out the past and to fill the gap in time that left you both feeling empty.Â
âDaniel, itâs midnight. You have like the show of a lifetime tomorrow. You gotta get to bed.â You looked over at him. His eyes were closed as he was falling asleep beside you.Â
You poked at his forearm.
âDanny, come on. If you wake up Iâll show you a picture of you as a mermaid.â
He opened an eye and frowned.Â
You laughed, âI knew that would get you.â
Danny sat up and stretched, setting his dessert plate precariously on the side table. You pulled up the picture on your phone.
âNo comment.â He joked groggily.Â
He sat opposite of you. His back rested against the headboard as you sat beside him, your knees bent and feet tucked under the pillows. For a moment you both looked at each other, too tired and tipsy to analyze the length of time that was appropriate.Â
Danny broke the silence first, placing a hand atop one of your knees and giving it a squeeze before standing.Â
âThank you for tonight, Y/N.âÂ
You nodded, turning your body to face him, and swinging your leg over the edge of the bed. You watched as he put back on his shoes and lingered by the door.Â
âIâll have a strange schedule tomorrow. Iâm going to try to see you a bit before we go on, but if I donât- wish me luck. Know Iâm going to be thinking about all the times we talked about this.â
You tried to smirk but were stopped by a yawn.Â
Danny laughed and looked down. He crossed the room back to you and reached for a hug. When he pulled away, you felt him place a quick chaste kiss on your cheek.Â
You were stunned as he turned and left the room.Â
The next day went by in a blur. Danny had called you in the morning, inviting you to join him for breakfast. Unfortunately, the jetlag had caught up with you. You did not wake until 1 in the afternoon, laying on top of the sheets having not changed into pajamas the night before. You responded quickly to his messages advising him on the situation and took to getting ready.Â
Back in Michigan, you had toiled over what to wear to the show for weeks. You were used to casual outfits for concerts, but given the occasion and the grand box seat- you knew you would have to adjust.Â
You had settled on a long-fitted cocktail dress with a deep slit in the side. Its fabric was soft, an almost silky midnight blue. It was an outfit you wouldnât find yourself typically wearing, but in the past months, you had found yourself embracing as you experimented with styles.Â
You hung your dress in the bathroom as you showered for an hour and fixed your hair. It was getting closer and closer to the time of the show. You anxiously adjusted your hair over and over, settling on curling it and pining it all to one side. Danny sent you silly photos from backstage, one showing Josh sitting on the floor meditating while Sam mocked him behind.Â
You were relieved to see they still took time to goof around together. Over the past months, you had worried things were becoming too formal as their social media posts became more serious and music-focused.Â
You finished the last touch of your makeup and pulled on your dress, taking a moment to turn in the mirror and check from all angles. At last, you dotted a few spots of your signature concentrated perfume to your neck, wrist, and inner thighs.Â
Daniel Wagner: âAvrilâs going to come back and get you around 4. Is that enough time? I was hoping youâd be here for soundcheck and I can show you around the hall a bit.âÂ
Y/N: âPerfect timing. I am ready now.â
Daniel Wagner: âIâll have him head there now. See you soon.â
You pushed down your nerves, checking yourself again and spraying another spritz of hair spray for good measure.Â
Given the traffic, you arrived at the venue moments after soundcheck. You only had a few short minutes to see the backstage area before the show was to begin. Simon met you at the backdoor with a curt greeting and ushered you inside. You looked around in amazement, finding the hall even more beautiful than you had expected.Â
âY/N!â Danny called from down the hall. You smiled, passing Simon and reaching for a hug.Â
You smile sheepishly, âThank you.â
Danny shook his head, âWow, wellâŚThereâs some crew I want you to meet. And I know the boys want to see you before they go on.â
You nodded and allowed him to guide you back to the green room. Danny knocked at the door twice before opening it.Â
âNobodyâs naked in here, right? I brought a surprise.â
âIs the surprise that you are naked?â You heard Jake joke from around the corner.
Danny opened the door wider and stepped to the side to reveal you. You saw Sam seated on the couch with his dog Rosie, Jake standing off to the left with a drink in his hand, and Josh standing at the mirror fussing with his hair. They all turned and stared.Â
âWell, isnât that a fucking Christmas miracle!â Josh yelled from across the room. âHowâs my hair?â
You laughed and shook your head, âYou guys donât change. It looks amazing as always Josh.â
Jake crossed the space to give you a side hug.Â
âItâs very good to see you, Y/N. Itâs been too long.âÂ
You bent down to greet Rosie as she jumped at your feet.Â
âYes, it has! Hi, girl. Yes, I am so happy to see you too.â You cooed.Â
âOkay, down girl. Come on, Rose.â Sam laughed as he took hold of her leash and reached for a hug.Â
âI didnât know if youâd come. Iâm really glad you did.â
âThank you. It still feels a little unreal, but I am excited.â
The four chatted with you, catching up on some of the latest news for you and them. When Sam brought up Kyle, you and Danny exchanged a brief glance.Â
Without any reasonable reason, you lied. Answering that things were good, and changed the subject. You werenât sure if it was the impending show, or your need to process the night before a bit further before discussing it with others, but you felt the need to carry the secret of your impending breakup a bit longer.Â
âAnd itâs time boys, stage ready in 10.â A voice called from the door.Â
The boys rose and headed towards the green room door.Â
âWell, thatâs show biz babe. Weâll catch up with you later. Weâll go for drinks?â Josh questioned and pointed back and forth between you and Danny.Â
Danny shrugged and nodded.Â
Josh, Sam, and Jake filed their way out the door and down the hall.Â
Danny lingered, his expression and body language similar to the night before.Â
âHold on. Take a walk with me, quickly?â
You looked out the door towards where the others had gone.Â
âDo you have time?â You asked anxiously.Â
You nodded and followed his pace quickly, trying to keep up with his long stride while in heels.Â
He turned to his left in front of a door with a sign: âDressing room: Jake and Josh Kiszkaâ He used a key card and turned the knob.Â
Your heart beat fast as you entered the room.Â
âWhere are we going?â You questioned.Â
Danny flipped on the light, revealing a room decorated with portraits along all the walls. You walked, silently looking at each of the artistâs photographs, seeing the transitions from black and white to color.Â
Danny walked silently behind you, looking as you did.Â
âThereâs Adele.â He pointed.Â
You looked around the room and stopped, seeing where the photos ended, and space left for the future artists to be added. You turned back to Danny with tears brimming In your eyes.Â
âThank you.â You spoke quietly.
He smiled back at you with more warmth than usual. He pulled you against his chest, resting his forehead atop your head.Â
âIâm so proud of you, Danny. I know you hear everyone say how amazing you are all the time, but I have to say it. Iâm so proud of you. I canât wait to see you up there tonight. Donât think about anything else but what you guys have done together. Itâs incredible. You four weirdos from Frankenmuth.âÂ
You wiped your tears quickly and hoped your mascara was waterproof. Danny let you pull away.Â
âThank you.â Danny went to say more but pushed his in ear in further.Â
âI need to go. I just wanted to show you this room. They took our picture just before you got here. Weâre going to go right there.âÂ
You smiled and squeezed his forearm before you exited the room.
You followed him back down the long hall, hearing the team running around preparing the last-minute stage setup.Â
Behind him, the orchestra overture began to play for the audience.
âListen, I know this is terrible timing because I have to go in a minute but listen. I need you to know, that Iâm sorry. You tried to warn me about Kayla and I-â
Your stomach sank. For the last two days, you had allowed yourself to forget this elephant in the room. Now, minutes before he was to take the stage, you felt the anxiety return; covering you like a weighted blanket. You shifted your weight as he spoke, trying to ease the discomfort. You looked back at him, not hearing his words, but looking at the softness and genuine grief etched on his features.Â
Before thinking it through, you spoke.
 âOh, Danny. You canât possibly still think thatâs why I leftâŚâ
You watched him freeze mid-rehearsed speech, his eyebrows knit together in confusion. He stepped closer to you in the hall. He shot a glance behind him towards the stage, seeing crew running around down the hall.Â
âY/NâŚFuck!â He pulled out his in ear and let it dangle before leaning closer to you.Â
Behind him, Sam ran back down the hall, âDANIEL! Weâre on. Youâre gonna miss the fucking cue!âÂ
Your heart pounded as you hear the overture nearing its close. The music swelled in tune with your nerves. Sam ran towards the door, leaving Danny hovering between running and staying to finish your conversation.Â
He returned his gaze to you, taking a deep breath as if to calm his own nerves.Â
You paused, looking over his features, realizing that for the first time in a long time- he was present. At this moment, he was choosing you. Your nervousness turned to ice in your stomach and pumped through your veins. You looked up at him, meeting his warm, chocolate eyes. The overture swelled in the distance, ringing its final tones. With a shallow breath, you leaped.Â
âDanny, I left because I love you.â
The result was instant, you watched as his eyes widened in shock, the track behind him finishing its final note. He raised his arms halfway as if frozen in place. He looked your face over once before quickly turning, and running towards the stage, leaving you without any resolve.
For a moment, you stood frozen in the hall. Your heart beat fast, competing with Dannyâs drums in the distance. You knew there was no sense standing and missing the show. Waiting in terror would not make the answers come any faster.Â
You took a moment to collect yourself, leaning against the wall and listening to them play. After a moment, you realized this was your first show where you had not heard the album as it was created. Behind you, they played The Falling Sky, a song you had only heard in passing a few times. With this realization, sadness touched you. For so many years you had sat crosslegged in someoneâs living room, listening to each of them offer riffs or lyrics as they built the songs. You had laid on Dannyâs bed as he sat in a chair and played you what would later become Broken Bells. (Naturally, your favorite song from the last album.) You sighed, taking your grief and choosing to find your box.Â
You climbed the stairs, you found the the box fuller than when you had initially seen it from the stage. As you opened the curtain, you smiled, meeting the excited eyes of Dannyâs mom, Lori.Â
âY/N! Oh my god!â She bounced from her place and enveloped you in a hug.Â
You smiled and embraced her, letting her rock you from side to side. She released you, holding your arms out and looking you up and down. You laughed shly. So often her mannerisms reminded you so much of her son. Seeing her here was a warm welcome. As if the past had never happened and you were just another one of her kids come home.Â
âYou look amazing! Ah! Iâm so happy you made it. They just went on. Here we have a spot for you here.â
Lori ushered you from the door and pointed you to seat on her left. You smiled, seeing Jita stand in the spot next to you.Â
âY/N, Hi! Oh my gosh, I didnât realize you were coming!â Jita hugged you quickly.Â
âItâs so good to see you!â You hugged her back.
âIâve missed you!â She shouted.
You smiled, âI missed you too!â
You took a moment after your greeting to look around the hall. Every seat was full. Each fan was dressed to the nines, sparkles shining off of them all as the lights rotated the venue. You stood stunned, watching as they screamed the words to the songs, recording videos of each of the boys and they jumped around the stage.Â
You swallowed a lump in your throat, tears returning to your eyes as you looked around.Â
You looked, catching Lori watching you out of the corner of her eye. She reached a hand across the aisle between you and squeezed your hand gently.Â
âI know. Theyâre incredible, arenât they?â
You laughed, feeling a tear escape over the edge and run down your cheek. You wiped it quickly and nodded. Behind Lori, Dan gave you a smile and nod.Â
On the stage below, Danny played. Hitting the drums harder than you had seen in years, his curls bouncing. Josh engaged with the crowd as he sang, eliciting a chorus of screams from the front row. You watched as each of the boys played with a new verve and brio.Â
Sam stepped to the front of the stage and sang into his mic.Â
âOh my god! Sam!â You yelled and cheered.Â
Jita laughed beside you and pointed.Â
You felt the energy in the room swell as the show went on. Josh played his harmonica, Jake took his solo, walking to the edge of the stage, and pointed his guitar up at the box. Jita smiled, blowing him a dramatic kiss, and watched him laugh.Â
âI hope we passed the audition!â Josh yelled into the mic.Â
You laughed, feeling yourself a little breathless.Â
âWhat an event we have tonight⌠and I donât mean the football game⌠lots of events.â Josh continues.
You hear a chorus of cheers from the crowd.Â
âAnd here we all are tonight⌠in this one space. Thereâs lots of rafters to scale. So this will be fun. Lots to climbâŚ.â
You laugh and lean into Jita, âIf anyone was gonna climb their way up here itâd be him.â
âI hear thereâs Talk On The Street.â Josh finished.Â
You gasped, throwing a hand to cover your mouth. Below you caught a quick look from Danny, a large smile plastered across his face and he lifted his drumsticks and pointed at you.Â
Many years ago, when you were just a teen coming to their gigs, Talk on the Street had been your favorite. You danced in seedy bars, singing with their families and cheering them on. Eventually, as their discography grew, other songs took its place. It had been many years since you had heard them play it, let alone them play it live.Â
Part of you dared to wonder if it was Dannyâs influence that resurrected your favorite song for this show. Your cheeks burned as you considered. Â
You watched Danny hit his sticks and count them in. Within a few lyrics, you allowed yourself to move freely. You screamed the lyrics and danced alongside Jita and Lori as you had years before. Both laughed, mouthing lyrics along with you.Â
You felt two strong hands grasp your shoulders from behind and give them a shake. You looked over your shoulder and gasped once more.Â
âItâs your song!â She screamed back.Â
You laughed and shook your head, silently taking the validation. You gave her and Kelly a quick hug. The music blasted, making conversation difficult. Karen grasped your hands, using them as her silent communication as you both yelled to catch up.Â
âAnd look whoâs here!â She yelled back, letting go of one of your hands to motion to her side. You looked to her left, suddenly noticing who was beside her for the first time. You felt yourself chill as you met the glare of Callie Kiszka.Â
You looked back to Karen, realizing quickly that she expected you to be excited, or at the least, cordial. The news of your falling out had clearly not reached her as she guided your hands toward one another.Â
You fought your feelings to give a courteous grin to her.Â
âGood to see you again.â You yelled with a nod of your head.Â
Callie returned your greeting with an icy smile and nod.Â
âLikewise.â She returned her view back to the stage.Â
You noted the quick motherly squint from Karen as she looked back and forth between the two of you, catching the tension. You squeezed her hand and gave her a smile before turning your own attention back to the stage.Â
âCallie fucking Kiszka in the flesh.â You thought as you watched the boys and cheered. âAnd no wedding ring to be seen.â
The stage lights dimmed, casting a dark blue hue over the stage and crowd. There was a pause before they transitioned.Â
Suddenly, Danny began a steady beat of the kick drum. Lights flashed with each pound as the audience clapped along in time. He increased his beats as fans cheered and clapped. You screamed along, the tune suddenly becoming familiar.Â
âOh wow! Black Smoke too! This feels like old times, doesnât it?â You leaned into Jita once more.Â
She nodded with a smile and clapped along.Â
The show continued with fervor. Each of the boys took their moment to shine in the spotlight, soaking in the moment as they scanned the hall. You knew this was not just any show to them, but one that would be etched into history long after they played their final chord. You took the moments with them, watching the faces of all the girls standing and screaming in their seats. You and Jita took turns pointing out different outfits that stood out to you, smiling, and appreciating the love that was so palpable in the venue.Â
Fans screamed at the top of their lungs as Runway Blues finished. Sam, Jake, and Josh all exited the stage, leaving Danny alone under the spotlight.Â
You felt your hands get clammy. You knew he had played for audiences much larger than the Royal Albert Hall before and that he was more than capable, but you were nervous for him.Â
He played harder than you had ever seen. He kept his eyes down and focused as he played. He varied the tempo and patterns. Building the solo to an edge and then backing off of it.Â
You felt yourself smirk as he played with the sound, effectively edging you and every audience member with his performance. You scanned his body over, taking the time to appreciate the swell of the muscles in his shoulders and arms as he played. He wore a red sequined top, a loose chain connecting the front and back panels. As he moved, the fabric swayed, giving you a peek of the toned stomach beneath.Â
You swallowed hard, reminding yourself of his parents sitting less than a foot from you. You took a moment to collect yourself, ordering a drink to be delivered to the box.Â
Danny threw his head back, his chest heaving from the exertion. The fanâs screams intensified. You watched as a smirk grew on his face. You glanced at the front row, noticing more fans pulling out phones to record. You shook your head and grinned.Â
âYou cheeky fuck.â You thought with amusement.Â
Your drink arrived as his solo concluded. Danny rose from his kit, brushed his sweaty curls from his face, and lifted his arms in the air. You stood and screamed, waiting as he panned his gaze across the venue before locking onto you. He tilted his head and raised his eyebrows to you as if to say âHow about that?â You laughed and raised your glass to him with a cheer.
Danny laughed before sitting behind the kit once more.Â
Sam took to the keys, playing a low melancholy tone. You looked over your shoulder back to Karen with a quizzical look.Â
âAge of Man.â She whispered back to you.Â
âOh!â You replied with surprise.Â
You watched as Jake returned to the stage with a solo, Josh walking in behind him. A white light from the right of the stage cast Josh in a bright glow as he sang.Â
You felt a soft tap on your shoulder. You turned, seeing Jen, the bandâs stylist behind you in the aisle of the box. She waved you over, walking back towards the exit. You looked around at Jita and Lori with confusion. Jita shrugged and motioned for you to follow Jen.Â
You rose, grabbing your clutch purse and readjusting the side split in your black dress. You exited the curtain, giving the Royal Hall employee a nod as you passed by. Jen waited for you in the hallway.Â
âIs everything okay?â You asked.Â
She nodded and smiled, âOh, of course! Theyâre about to go to intermission. Danny just asked me to grab you for him.â
You sighed as the anxiety once again took you on a rollercoaster. For a moment, you had forgotten the open conversation youâd had before the performance.Â
She nodded, âYep. Iâll take you to the dressing room.â
You followed behind her quickly. Jen cast compliments to the fans as she went.Â
âIâll never stop appreciating how creative these fans are with their fashion. Makes the shows so much fun.â
You were too nervous to give her a response, instead settling for a half smile and nod. You entered a backstage door, Jen scanning her badge and ushering you in. You winded through the back hall before stopping at a door with a laminated paper taped to it. On top, the Starcatcher logo and below in bold letters âDressing Room: Daniel and Samâ
Jen used her badge once more, pushing open the door to reveal a simple, tan room with two large green velvet couches and a coffee table. To the right was a counter, lined with snacks, an espresso machine, an ice maker, and a mini bar.Â
âMake yourself at home. Heâll be right in.â Jen closed the door behind you, leaving you standing awkwardly in the doorway.
You looked around the room further, seeing the clothes rack where Danny and Samâs alternate stage outfits hung. On the edge of the couch, two folded stacks of casual clothes sat, no doubt folded by Jen after each discarded them to the floor to don what they wore for the show.Â
You crossed the floor to the bar and took a moment to down a shot of tequila to calm your nerves. You gagged and shook your head before tossing the evidence into the trash. Distantly the music ended, and the crowd cheered.Â
You took a seat on the couch facing the door and took calming breaths. Your hands felt clammy. You laid them flat on your dressâs skirt. You heard steps approaching quickly.Â
You stood up nervously and shifted your weight between your feet, unsure how to approach this.Â
The door beeped as it unlocked and swung open. For a moment, you both stood frozen, waiting for the other to make a move. You searched frantically throughout your mind for the right words to say but found none.
Danny was locked in on your eyes. He stepped forward, allowing the door to close behind him and lock with a click. Â
Without warning, he rushed towards you, wrapping an arm around your waist and a hand behind your head.Â
You gasped as his lips met yours. You collapsed into him, deepening the kiss. You wrapped your arms around him, letting your hands explore the bare skin beneath the shawl he wore on stage.Â
You heard him groan into your mouth. His hand tightened on your hair as you raised your hands higher, feeling the valley of the muscles in his shoulders.Â
Your thoughts raced. Daniel. The one plays for thousands of adoring fans. Daniel. The boy who came to your rescue at the cabin as children. Daniel. The one laughing with you last night. Daniel. The man who broke your heart. All versions of him stood before you now. Your bodies intertwined, feeling the karmic debt between you finally being settled.
He released his hand from your hair, lowering it until both hands reached the base of your ass. In one swift move, he lifted you and wrapped your legs around his waist. You pulled away from his lips momentarily with a surprised laugh. You tucked your face into the crook of his neck. He walked you back to the counter and rested you on its edge. His skin felt hot. You glanced down at your legs, seeing how far your dress had risen. You blushed.
Danny reached for your face, lifting your chin to look up at him. His expression was dark, the corner of his mouth pulling up into a sly grin. You felt your stomach tingle, a wave of renewed bravery washed over you.Â
You leaned towards him slowly, watching his eyes flit down to your mouth. You kissed him hard before taking his bottom lip gently between your teeth. He huffed, taking his hands from your back to brace himself on either side of you on the counter. You explored his mouth with your tongue, dragging it across his sharp canine teeth with a shutter.Â
He released the counter, leaning his full weight against you as he reached for the fastens on the side of his top. He struggled, finally taking the bottom of the shirt and pulling it up in one aggressive motion; the chains at the sides snapping with the force. He pulled the fabric over his head and let it fall to the floor behind him. You leaned back resting your arms behind you, taking in the sight of his bare torso. You noted the beat of his heart visible in his chest.Â
Danny looked you up and down, tentatively taking his hands and sliding them slowly up the sides of your thighs. Your dress rose higher with his touch, his eyes lifted to meet yours.Â
You nodded, encouraging his movement. He looked back to your legs, running his hands up the length of them before resting at the hem of your thong. He leaned his body against you, resting his forehead against your shoulder as he pulled them down.Â
He guided your knees together and rested them against his chest. He pulled your thong down the full length of your legs before discarding it to the floor.Â
You took stilling breaths as he pulled your knees apart, his eyes raking over you. Slowly, he kneeled before you, settling himself between your legs. You gasped, reaching a hand to the top of his head.
He paused, looking up at you from behind the edge of your dress.Â
âIs this okay?â He whispered, breathlessly.
You caught your breath, glancing from him to the door.Â
âYouâre sure, Sam is not coming in?â You whispered back.
Danny flashed you a white smile before shaking his head.Â
âY/N, Iâve thought about this for years. Iâm going to take my time.â
Danny lowered his lips to the side of your knee, trailing kisses down the inside of your thigh. He reached up, wrapping his arms around your thighs, pulling you closer to his face.Â
You let your head fall back as he reached the center, placing a kiss against your sensitive clit. Gently, he swiped his tongue over it, electricity shooting down your legs. Without realizing it, your hand closed around his curls, pulling them. He moaned, tightening his grip on your thigh as he changed patterns, switching between up and down and circled movements. You shifted beneath him, feeling the tension build within you.
He increased the pace of his tongue, bringing you closer to your peak. Your back began to arch, and you braced yourself against the counter, pushing yourself closer to his mouth. You shuttered, feeling the rush of hot air brush against your skin as he worked.Â
âFuck, DannyâŚâ You inhaled.Â
You reached for his head, tapping him. His dark eyes rose to meet yours, his lips plump and shiny.Â
You took several heavy breaths as you watched him, debating what to do next. He paused, waiting for your direction.
âCome here.â You surprised yourself with the strength in your voice.Â
He stood, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand before leaning in to kiss you once more.Â
You laid a palm against his chest, feeling hammering from within. You turned your hand, gliding it down his chest and abdomen, gingerly approaching his waistband.Â
He hissed, laying his head against your shoulder, his hips involuntarily moving towards your motion. You reached in, allowing your fingertips to drag along the base of his erection, savoring the moan that escaped him.Â
You felt your nerves returning. Despite over a decade of being close friends, this was a line neither of you had crossed. What lay beyond the thin fabric layer of his boxers was a mystery to you.Â
You pulled your hand back and rested it on the top of his pants button. He raised his hand and covered yours, guiding you to undo them. You obliged. With trembling hands, you removed his stage pants, slowly moving the tight fabric down his toned legs.
You paused, looking him over in his state of undress. He reached for you, gently pulling the straps of your dress over your shoulders and exposing your chest. You snaked your arms around his neck, pulling him flush against you. He looked down at the view of your breasts against him and placed a kiss on the top of your shoulder.Â
He moved his lips to your cheek and kissed before lowering them to your ear.
He spoke in a husky tone you had never heard before, âDo you want this?â
You nodded fervently, leaning your cheek to rest against his.Â
He reached down, freeing himself from his boxers. You kept your arms around his neck as he positioned himself, scared to look down and lose your nerve.
Danny was gentle, he held you, bracing an arm against your lower back as he guided himself up and down through your slick folds. You collapsed against him, allowing him to support your weight as he moved. He pushed in; the two of you synchronizing in your sharp inhales.Â
He returned his lips to yours; his kisses much more gentle than before. You rocked with him, allowing your bodies to flow together as you worked together.Â
His pace quickened. A soft moan escaped you before you could stop it. He laughed, answering with a quick squeeze of your ass and a harder thrust. You rested on his shoulder, gently biting down as the pressure built.Â
Danny reached his hand around to the front, pushing your dress roughly up away from your joined bodies. He rested his hand across your hip, allowing his thumb to rest lazily across your clit, barely grazing the sensitive spot. You wiggled, begging for relief from the friction. As if sensing your need, he raised his hand to his mouth, spitting quickly onto his fingers before bringing it down to you. He rubbed steadily, causing stars to explode in your vision. You panted, rocking and bringing your hips crashing against him. His thrusts quickened, never losing the steady rhythm on your clit.Â
You laid limp against him, moans quickly becoming harder to conceal as he worked.Â
He breathed hard, sweat accumulating against his brow. You tucked your face into his shoulder to try to dampen your noises.
He spoke in a desperate cry, âLet me hear you.âÂ
You cried out as you broke, feeling yourself tumble over the edge with him. His thrusts falter as you cling to one another.Â
You stay here, slick bodies pressed against each other in the dressing room for several moments as you come down. When you are ready, you release your arms from his neck, pressing one last kiss to the top of his shoulder as he pulls away.Â
He looked you up and down, a smile pulling at the corner of his lips.Â
You hesitate, tempted to cover yourself before he speaks.Â
âI love you too, Y/N.â
You open your mouth to respond as a soft knock sounds at the door.Â
â5-minute warning, Daniel.â You hear Samâs voice sound from outside the door.Â
You stifle a laugh with your hand, looking back at Danny and he smiles back at you and laughs.Â
âWell⌠We made good use of the intermission.â He jokes.Â
You shake your head and push yourself off the counter and stretch. You readjust your dress, pushing it down at the thighs and tucking your arms back into the straps.Â
âHow do I look?â You asked.
âLike youâve just been fucked.âÂ
You felt your cheeks burn from embarrassment and exertion.Â
Daniel reaches to the floor and hands you back your dark maroon thong hooked on one finger.Â
You grin, and take them from him. You watch him don his boxers and leather pants. Without explaining, you come to him, reaching for his front right pocket before tucking your panties deep inside.Â
He looked down, watching you with a sultry grin.
He laughed and batted your hand away, âCareful. I might not make it back to the stage.âÂ
Danny picked up his broken shirt from the floor and tossed it onto the nearest couch. Quickly, he crossed the room and pulled a black beaded shawl off the clothes rack. He draped it over his shoulders and fastened it at his neck.
He returned, reaching for his in ears on the counter to the left of you. He returned it to his ear, looking off to the side at the dressing room clock.Â
He closed the distance between you, taking you into his arms and kissing you deeply. He pressed his sweaty forehead against yours.Â
âI know we will have to talk. I have to go. But⌠Y/N⌠My only regret is not doing this sooner.â
Your heart fluttered as you watched him leave. You took a deep breath, knowing that nothing in your life would ever be the same.Â