DANI RILEY

“He may have good advice, the problem is will I listen to his advice and not think about him naked? It’s more a me issue than anything. My mind wanders.” she shrugged. “I mean okay sure.” Alexa listened to her call Grant and nodded when she said she’d help and if she didn’t know she’d ask someone. Alexa was kind of skeptical that just saying someone’s name would bring them to you. But her eyes did widen when she saw Grant within a matter of maybe two minutes tops. She frowned. “Well shit…that’s…weird. He actually can find you anywhere.” 

Grant felt the call, and immediately followed it straight to his wife. He wasn’t sure what was going on but she needed him so he was there within minutes. But he saw no immediate danger and instead just saw her talking to Alexa. “I thought I was going to have to kill someone. What’s up?” 

“Porque no los dos?” Dani asked. “I mean who cares if you’re thinking about him naked if you still listen to the advice, right?” She offered up with a shrug. A smile breaking across her face when Grant appeared; pressing a light kiss against his cheek as she greeted him. “Hey babe. And payback,” She told her husband with a playful grin. “I was showing Alexa how the sire bond works. But, seeing how you’re already here and all, mind getting me a coffee? And actually now that I think about it, Alexa might want a coffee too.”

“Drug overdose. You’d think we’d learn from dad. But we all fell into his escape. Except Heather. She doesn’t drink or do drugs. She never has. But it’s my fault. Heather died and I was supposed to be there for him, but instead of got busy with work, and making my dreams come true. So much so that he got lost in the fray. And I couldn’t see the signs.” 

“I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what that’s like. But, Jackie- I know it’s not my place and I’m one to talk, I mean I’ve never even had a sibling, but, don’t you think you’re being a little hard on yourself? I mean you just said it yourself- you fell into his escape too. That was back before you chose to be sober yourself, wasn’t it? I mean I get feeling like you missed the signs and what happened to your brother was horrible. It really was, but you didn’t cause him to overdose and yes, maybe if you saw the signs sooner things might have been different, but they also might not have? Coming from someone who died fairly young, sometimes life just has other plans and nothing anyone can say can change the course of them.”

“If you slap me, I’mma slap you back. So that ain’t an option here. The problem with compulsion is, Jackie can’t see or hear or have any memories of what I’m doin’. The only way we communicate is with this compact that the Alliance gave us from that wish…makes me wonder now just what the hell they were givin’ out wishes for.” 

“I’d like to see you try. Super speed, remember? And okay, so why not talk to Jackie over the compact? Or I could compel you to shift into- Jackie can shift into a tiger was it? Could at least buy you some more time until Jackie wants to come back out? And... holy shit. I need to- I need to call my husband right after this...”

“You’re not but you’re Dani Montez actress that I know has been on the cover of magazines. You’ve probably got that whole, smiling with your eyes thing down with little to no effort.” She felt like she was going to be in over her head. She bent down and picked up her daughter. “What do you think, T? You think mommy can do it?” The little girl looked at her and said ‘no’. Roni burst into laughter. “Well…so much for your vote of confidence. Aunt Dani would you like another member of the Riley family?” 

“I mean that’s true. I have been on quite a few covers. You mean smizing? Oh! I had smizing down long before I was famous. Thank you ANTM,” Dani said, smirking at the thought. A laugh escaping her lips as T said no. “I mean I’m not going to say no to taking in your little cutie here. That is unless it comes with Carter attached. Because in that case, I’d have to pass. No offense. Your homeboy is fun and all, but I don’t need a squatter.” 

“Grant? Riley, we need talk like now,” Dani said, the anxiousness practically spilling out of her as she began to pace back and forth. “Why would the Alliance grant wishes?” She asked, not being able to calm down since Heather put the thought into her head. Especially not when their son of all people was one.

“No I don’t wear sweat pants. I’m just saying I don’t really always wear designer dresses like the ones I’ve been sent for the awards occasions.” Roni smiled when she told her she did seem happier. “I guess I can see it. He makes me less broody and angry. But that’s probably because he gets me. And it’s easy. No super high expectations. Just us being us together. I don’t know if I’ll be out of the honeymoon phase with that man. It’s hard to keep my hands to myself. But I have calmed down a little from when we were first having sex. I can actually hold a whole conversation with devising a plan to pounce on him. “Okay that works for me. But now I’m drawing a blank on key designers and thinking about old brands like Apple Bottom Jeans, and Baby Phat.”

“Oh. Makes sense. But, you know designers don’t just have to send you dresses right? You can get the latest leather jackets or shoes or make up or anything really. And I get it. It’s like with Grant, I feel like I’m more chill, but also more confident than I was before? And I’m impressed. I still can’t hold a conversation without pouncing on my man, so you have me beat there. But, then again, patience was never one of my strong suits. And... how about I just add you to all of the lists I’m on and call it a day?”

Alexa grimaced when Dani mentioned the set therapist. “Um…the only thing I would generally see Hale for was sex. I kind of forgot he was the set therapist if I’m being honest. But I might try that.” Alexa laughed when she said Grant used to call her all the time for coffee. “That happens…wow almost makes me want to see who wants some immortality so I can make someone get me coffee.” She was joking. She would never do this to anyone. “How can I call my sire and I don’t know their name? Is it a different tone? I just…” she sighed. “I feel like of all the things there are to know about being a vampire, I know maybe half of them and there’s still so much I don’t know.” 

“Porque no los dos?” Dani asked with a raised brow. “Just because someone is good in bed, doesn’t mean they also don’t have good advice. Heck, why not make it a two for one deal? As long as him and Roni have that sort of open relationship since he does now have a girlfriend. And yup. Pretty much. And oh! It is. I don’t exactly know how to explain it. But, I can show you? It’s like this-” Dani said. The tone of her voice changing ever so slightly into a low murmur as she called for Grant. “Come here. I need you,” She called out for him. “And now, we wait. You’re not the only one. I still feel like I haven’t master it all and I’ve been like this for almost eight years now. But, any question you ever have, feel free to come to me and, if I don’t know, I’ll find out from some other vamp for the both of us.”

“He has no choice but to listen. He knows I don’t play with him. I appreciate that you do respect my opinion. But uh…yeah…I was very work focused in my life and I didn’t slow down after we lost Heather, I buried myself deeper in it. But I finally got a leading Actress Tony the night of the show right after my acceptance speech, I got word that my brother had died. It’s why I don’t act anymore. Why I’m not really into getting awards and all that. Because bad shit happens when I’m work-obsessed.” 

“You say that, but this is Grant we’re talking about. And of course! I appreciate you and all that comes with it. And oh... wow. I’m- how did he die, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I like it. I think he might evolve to Ben one day but Benji works too. For all we know he might even move to Skye. But either way our beautiful baby boy has options,” he smiled thinking about it. Their son. Their beautiful baby boy now had a name.  It all seemed like a dream but now was shaping up to be the best kind of dream come true. “Too late. You are already the strict one. Just ask Gabs. Since I have a son now and I don’t want to have to murder a whole bunch of people should we get caught. I say we call in a celebrity favor. I always like to use my name and make extravagant demands.” 

“Works for me! And he would move to Skye won’t he? Probably adopt a whole stage name and everything,” Dani laughed at the thought. “Hey! Not fair! Fine, then I just will stop being strict or organized and we just live in chaos for all I care,” She huffed. The corner of her lips tilting up despite herself. “Whose the strict parent again? I’m just sayin’ I was all for murder and stealing,” She teased, pressing a kiss against her man’s cheek. “Celebrity favor it is. And you really do, The Grant Riley,” Dani couldn’t help, but tease some more.

“My man is blind. So he can’t really see what I’m wearing.” Roni shook her head with a smile. “No. I didn’t notice. I just know when I’m with him I just feel normal and I mean we’ve been spending time together for over a year now. So it’s become more like a norm than anything else. I’ll have to think about that. I don’t know brands that well. See I’m not that great with all the fashion stuff. Unless it’s active wear and sneakers.”

“And? Just because he’s blind, doesn’t mean his hands don’t work. I mean don’t you want to dress up for him or at least feel hot or sexy on a date? Oh god. Please don’t tell me he shows up in a suit, you come wearing sweatpants,” Dani made a slight face at the thought. “Well, you do. Seem happier that is. And I get it. I mean I’ve known Grant for about eight years now. Almost nine, but it’s weird? I mean sometimes I feel like I’ve known him my whole life and other times I feel like we’re still in that just met honeymoon phase. And okay. So how about we start with all of the key designers and go from there?”

“I still tease him for being ‘the Grant Riley’. The minute he tries to give me that “I don’t need any coaching for this scene”. Jackie shook her head. “No, I’m not kidding. Honestly, there’s nothing I’ve done to deserve any praise. And besides, I’d never walk up on a stage and accept it. The last time I received an award, I found out my brother died so it’d be my luck that something shitty happens again.” 

“Says the girl who walks in a room like it’s nothing and tells ‘the Grant Riley’ how to do his job and, more impressively, for him to actually listen. That takes respect. And let’s be real, Grant and I have two fairly big heads when it comes to what we do, so if we respect your opinion on our work, then you definitely deserve it. And wait- what? What happened? That is if you feel comfortable enough with telling me? And I mean our set event success rate isn’t too high, so it’s highly likely shit could hit the fan again. But, there’s always the off chance it couldn’t? However slim that might be?”

“An addiction…with no twelve step program to fix it. No psychological shit to help me cope. Just supernatural bullshit that makes me a monster. You know I thought that if I just did blood bags and sprinkled the blood into regular food it would help. But it doesn’t because it’s my stomach is a bottomless pit and I want more no matter what.” She shook her head when Dani said she wished she could do more. “You don’t have to be sorry. It’s not your burden to bear. But I do appreciate you being there for me. I’d like that. What’s it like? Having a sire? I’ve been told that I’d feel it if my sire died, so I know that whoever it is isn’t dead. But it’s unnerving to never know what that would feel like. I could literally see this person and not know.” 

“I mean I don’t know how much a twelve step program fixes addiction anyhow, but there is psychological shit that you help you cope, you know? I mean we have a set therapist for a reason whose trained in all things bizarre and supernatural and it is supernatural bullshit. I’m denying that. But, it doesn’t make you a monster. And I’m always here for you, Lex. To talk to or to rant to. And... weird? I hated it at first. Grant was always calling me over the stupidest shit. You know, he’d make me halt production mid shot and trek all the way across set because he wanted a coffee? I wanted to kill him and the worst part is I couldn’t even say no, because if you resist the call, your body goes through excruciating pain and nosebleeds. But, after a while, I started to appreciate it? There’s something nice about being able to sense a loved one? To be able to know when they’re in pain and come to their side when they need it and vice a versa. It makes you feel less alone and connected in a way that’s hard to describe? I mean I don’t love being forced to feel whatever he’s feeling all of the damn time. But, being intimate with your sire has its own perks I suppose. But, you know, if you do want to find your sire, you could always try calling them? Nothing will happen to your maker if they refuse the call, but they will able to feel it and the pull to come find you?”

“Hey, Babe. Please tell me you haven’t hit up the photo booth yet? Because if not, we have to get a picture together. Award show tradition,” She told her childhood friend with a bright smile.

Keep reading