Off Sides

chapter 9




Ryan



I'm driving to Danny's apartment to pick her up for the frat party. I’m excited and nervous. I cannot wait to see her.

Last night was amazing. It was one of best sexual experiences of my life and I didn't even get off. Watching Danny though—watching her break apart under my hands—was an incredible rush and I know beyond a doubt that when we actually have sex, it will probably shatter me.

I'm nervous about how my friends will treat her. I know Mike and Carter will be respectful and I even know Mike's girlfriend, Cameron, will be nice—as long as Angeline isn't there to taint her.

I actually like Cameron. Mike met her our freshman year at Northeastern and they've been together ever since. He's confided in me that he's going to pop the big question on graduation night. He's asked me to help him look at engagement rings in a few months.

Cameron is the one that introduced me to Angeline. She thought we would be perfect together and we were—on paper. Oh, there was a time when I was hot and bothered by Angeline. What nineteen year old guy isn't around a gorgeous college girl. And in the early months of our relationship, we actually got along very well. Once my parents checked out her pedigree, they fell in love with her and my mom was constantly talking about what beautiful babies we'd make.

But over time, the shine wore off. I have a theory that when you start dating someone, you are always on your best behavior. As you get more comfortable with a person, you start relaxing your guard and letting your true self shine through. The one thing that rang through too loud and clear for me with Angeline was her shallowness.

Oh, in our circle she was fine. Angeline comes from the richest of rich in New York City and she is used to the finer things in life. And when people get in her way who are not worthy, she has no problem in letting them know it. I guess if I had to admire anything about her, is at least she's honest to people's face when she says something about them. She doesn't hide behind whispered gossip.

Our relationship met its demise when one evening, as we were kissing on my bed, I literally couldn't get excited for her. It may have been because just two minutes before she was whining because her daddy didn't buy her a diamond necklace that she wanted, or maybe it was the way she made fun of our assistant coach's disabled son. But something in me just snapped and the attraction I held for her was gone.

Angeline did not take the break up well. She cried and begged. Then she screeched and threw things at me. Then she cried some more before finally threatening me. It was brutal but once she walked out of my room that night, I felt utter relief and I knew I had made the right decision.

Here's the thing about Danny. She's seen me at my worst already. I hurt her for no good reason other than protecting my own heart and she forgave me. And I know how vulnerable she is but it doesn't scare me. I want to protect her. In all the months I had been with Angeline, I never had the desire to put her needs above my own, yet that is all I can think about with Danny.

***

We arrive at my frat house and we know the party is in full swing because we can hear the beat of the music inside of my car. I open Danny's door and she steps out. She is simply stunning even though she's wearing just a simple pair of jeans, a dark green blouse and black boots. Her hair is long with large waves running through it. She's wearing no makeup except her lips look shiny with gloss and I want to kiss them. I pull her to me and instead kiss the tip of her nose.

"You put every woman on the face of this earth to shame, Miss Cross."

Danny giggles. "I want to jump your bones too, Mr. Burnham."

I bust out laughing and pull her in for a hug, rocking us back and forth while our chuckles wind down.

Kissing her fingertips, I lace mine through hers and we walk in. I take her up first to my room so I can show that to her. I took a few minutes to clean it up, which basically meant I had to throw all of Mike's dirty clothes into the closet. The guy is a complete slob.

Danny walks around the small room, looking at all of the hockey photos and memorabilia I have. She asks if I have a pictures of my family and much to my chagrin, I don't. My parents aren't the casual-photo type of people.

Before we walk out, Danny sits on the edge of my bed and bounces up and down a few times. I look at her quizzically and she gives me a saucy wink. "Just seeing how loud it squeaks."

"You're rotten, you know that?" I ask.

"I know it."

Back downstairs, I get us each a beer and we make our way over to Mike. He and Cameron are talking to Carter.

As we approach, I put my arm around Danny's waist to make it clear to anyone and everyone that she is with me. I told Mike I was bringing her tonight, and he in turn told Cameron to be on her best behavior. But Carter is definitely surprised.

I make formal introductions and we all make small talk. I had told Mike that Danny was a music major which gives him something to talk about with her as his mother is an executive in the music business with Sony. I sit back and just enjoy watching Danny's naturally effervescent personality win Mike and Carter over. When Carter steps away to get another beer, he punches me in the shoulder and snarls in my ear, "You're a bastard for getting her before me."

I grin at him. He doesn't need to tell me how lucky I am.

Cameron is being polite and actually engages Danny in some small talk about Julliard. Then to my surprise, she asks Danny about her piercings because she was thinking of getting her belly button done. That leads to a fifteen minute discussion about piercings that actually leaves me a bit nauseous about the whole thing. I'll admit I’m a wuss.

The evening was going better than I had expected. All of my friends and teammates are being very nice to Danny, which isn't too hard once they get to know her. Again, she could win anyone over.

At one point, I get called away by Carter who wants me to help him get one of our drunk fraternity brothers up to bed. He apparently vomited his guts up and was passed out in the downstairs bathroom. Danny assures me she is fine hanging on her own.

When I return, my stomach churns because I see Reece Malone talking to her. And he is all up in Danny’s personal space. I can tell by her posture that she doesn't like how close he is and unfortunately, I can tell he is drunk. I know I will have to handle him with kid gloves so he doesn’t make a scene.

Coach had an “intervention” with me and Reece the other day, and basically demanded that we kiss and make-up. Under Coach’s glaring eye, we had to shake and grumble apologies to each other. It did nothing to cool the animosity between us but at least we were putting on good appearances.

I walk up to where they stand and I notice from my peripheral vision that Mike is walking over to join us. I decide to play casual so as not to incite Reece. Walking up beside him, I clap him on the back and say, "Hey, man. How's it going?" I even manage to plaster a smile on my face that I hope doesn't come across as fake as it feels.

Reece looks at me skeptically but then sticks his hand out to shake. I grasp it and give it a quick pump, then immediately step over to Danny. While I am all for being nice to Malone to avoid a confrontation, I still want to make it clear that Danny is mine. Looking down at her I see relief in her eyes and my blood instantly boils because I know he must have said something to make her uncomfortable. I place a quick kiss on her temple then turn back to Malone. His eyes narrow at me.

"So, you ready for the opening game next week?" God it’s painful trying to make conversation with this guy.

He doesn’t respond but turns his gaze back to Danny. I can see understanding dawn on his face. "Hey, you're the girl that works at the diner, right?"

I feel Danny stiffen beside me and before I can launch myself at him before he says something hurtful, Mike is there pulling Reece away. I hear Mike say, "Hey, Malone. I need you to come over here and settle a bet between Carter and me over who the leading goal scorer was in the NHL last year."

I take a deep breath in and let it out. My blood pressure starts coming down and I turn to look at Danny, ready to apologize.

"That guy is a f*cking, a*shole," she says before I can say a word. Then her face instantly colors red and she has a sheepish grin on her face. "Oops. Sorry. I normally don't use that word."

“Did he say something to upset you?”

She shakes her head. “He was just drunk. No worries.”

I start shaking my head back and forth with a smile on my face. Danny isn't stupid. She knows Malone is the guy that had called her a whore and yet she’s standing strong. I'm not sure if this girl ever lets anything get her down.

I lean down to kiss her. "You're incredible...you know that?"

She gives a little moan of appreciation against my lips. "Mmmmm...you're my... boyfriend, boyfriend, boyfriend."

"Yup. Still a turn on." And I kiss her more deeply.

She laughs against my mouth and I have an overwhelming and sudden urge to yell out to the world that Danny Cross is my girl. All I need now is a caveman club and I will be complete.

It's getting close to midnight and we need to leave. Danny has to be to work at Sally's early. We purposefully didn't drink that much tonight since she has to work and I am driving. We make our goodbyes and I am pleased when Mike and Carter both lean down to give Danny brotherly hugs. They have welcomed her into the fold. While Cameron doesn't give her a hug, she does shake her hand and tells her how nice it is to meet her. That’s at least a start.

Just as we are approaching the door to leave, we’re brought up short by Angeline who steps right in front of me and plasters herself to my body. She throws her arms around my neck and is hanging on like a leech. I have to release Danny's hand so I can peel Angeline's tentacles off of me.

Holding her wrists, I push her back away from me and I instantly see that she's drunk. When I release her hands she starts swaying back and forth.

"Come on, Ryan. That's no way to treat an old friend." Her words are slurred and I'm afraid she's going to fall over. Which might be good. At least we can step over her and make our way out.

I sigh. "If you'll excuse us, we are just leaving."

Despite how drunk she is, she moves surprisingly fast and steps in our way as we try to walk by her. Turning her beer goggled eyes to Danny, she focuses on her. "Hey, I know you. You're that waitress from Sally's."

Danny sticks her hand out to Angeline. "That's right. I'm Danny Cross. It's nice to formally meet you."

I'm amazed. Danny is actually trying to be polite to her. She has more self-control than I do. Angeline just looks down at Danny's hand and curls her lip up in a snarl. "As if I'd shake hands with someone like you. And before you think you are all high and mighty, just know that Ryan's infatuation with you is just a passing thing."

Angeline is still swaying back and forth but she looks tremendously pleased by what she has said to Danny and is waiting to see if her venom hits the mark.

I see red and I open my mouth to lay into Angeline, which I know will be useless because she's drunk. But Danny gives a small shake of her head and I hold my tongue. Instead, Danny just takes my hand and gives Angeline a polite smile. "Well, it's nice meeting you but I have to get going. I have work tomorrow."

Danny walks around Angeline and I, of course, eagerly follow. Angeline just stands there dumbstruck that she doesn't get a rise out of Danny. And really, she should know better than to try to dual wits with Danny. Danny would chew her up and spit her out if she had it in her to do so.

As we walk toward my car, our hands clasped and gently swinging back and forth, I'm silent.

"Is something wrong?" Danny asks.

"No. Actually, everything is just right. You're amazing you know. You completely charmed my friends and even though you had every right to punch Angeline in the face, you were polite to her. You are a class act, toots."

"I had fun tonight. Thank you for inviting me. I really like Mike and Carter. I can see why you are friends with them. Even Cameron was really nice."

"It was fun tonight. But you know what would be even more fun?"

"What's that?" she asks.

"Making out with you in my car when we get back to your place. You know, to see how foggy we can get the glass?"

"That does sounds like fun. Count me in."

By the time I walked her to her door, I couldn't see anything outside of my windows.