Off Sides (Off 1)

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 fucking, asshole," 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.

CHAPTER 10

Danny

I think I might be on the verge of completely losing myself in Ryan. While our time alone has been like a fairy tale, I'm surprised how much fun I had the other night with Ryan and his friends. Everyone was really nice...well, with the exception of Angeline and that creepy teammate of Ryan's. I shudder when I think about the conversation I had with Reece Malone. He wasn't very subtle in making his moves. I had been standing by myself, sipping a beer when he had approached.

"It must be my lucky night, finding the most beautiful girl here all by herself," he had said with oily charm. I could tell he was drunk or high by the hazy look in his eyes and deliberate way he was trying to talk.

I smiled at him politely and took another sip of my beer. I've had to deal with my share of suggestive lines by drunks and I knew it was best not to even engage.

Swaying slightly while he peered at me, he stepped very close and I could smell the liquor on his breath. He leaned in and whispered in I'm sure what he thought was a super, sexy voice, "I have about twenty different ways I can make you scream."