"Danny, Jack And I"

“Tom, I don’t care who you bring, I just want you to be on time, please?” I was practically pleading down the phone now. “Yes, of course Danny can come. So what if he doesn’t have a girl? I thought Harry was single too? Martha?! Ha! Okay, yeah, if you say so love. See you. Six! Please come on time? I realise it’s only a couple of friends ‘round for a chat and a film, but come on love, give me a break? Thank you. See ya later. Bye.”

*

“Alright?” Tom smiled at me in the doorway.

“Ten past – not bad, Tom. Close enough anyway.”

“Blame Danny!”

“Danny, I’m blaming you!” I had only met Danny once before, but we really got on well, so I could instantly display my humour.

He gasped in mock shock and I led the three of them (Tom, Danny and Tom’s girlfriend Joanna) into the living room. Harry and Martha were flirting mercilessly in the kitchen.

“Film time!” I called and everyone assembled on the chairs and floor. Everyone had paired up, leaving Danny and I to sit together.

*

“This is awful!” Danny exclaimed.

“It is pretty bad,” I laughed, agreeing. “Anyone want to put a different one on? Or should we not bother?”

“Let’s not bother…”

“Okay. How’s the building coming along?” I asked my architect/builder friends.

“Good, thanks! It’d be awesome if you’d come and see it one day…” he blushed slightly, “I mean, Tom says you’re interested in that kind of stuff…”

I blushed too and nodded, “Yeah, I’d love to.”

By now, everyone else was having their own little conversations, totally uninterested in us.

“So…” I giggled.

“What?” he smirked, seeing my awkwardness.

“Everyone seems paired off, that’s all.”

He laughed, “They do, don’t they? Have you…?”

“Have I?” I questioned, then understood, “Oh, no!” I giggled, “Not at the moment… You?”

“Nope.”

“Fancy anyone?” he asked playfully: suddenly feeling childish and nudging me.

“Um…” I mumbled, giggling and undoubtedly scarlet.

“Ooh…” he smiled, “Who is it then?”

What was I supposed to say? I could hardly tell him that during only our second meeting I had started falling for him..?

“Jack,” I invented wildly, deciding to mess with him.

“Who’s this Jack fellow then?” he chuckled, taking a sip of his drink.

“Oh, he’s dark, handsome and very loving.”

“Yeah? What does he do?”

“Oh… different things… you know, this and that.”

“Great,” he looked around the kitchen, being polite about the huge idiot I was being.

“Mhm.”

“So, are you interested in anyone?”

“What?” he asked, as if caught of guard, “No, no, not me.” I could tell he was lying, but at least it was better than my lie.

*

“Who’s this Jack then?” Danny asked Tom randomly.

“Jack who?”

“This Jack she loves so much,” he poked me. I cringed because Tom knew exactly who Jack was.

“Jack? You love a Jack?” He noticed my blush and grinned, “Oh, that Jack?!”

I nodded sheepishly.

“Who is he?” Danny asked, thoroughly intrigued.

“I’m not saying.”

Without a moment's thought for me, Tom ruined it, “I’ll tell you… follow me.” Danny shrugged and followed Tom to my bedroom. “If you want to see him, he’s in there…”

“What?! Why isn’t he downstairs with the rest of us?!”

“You’ll see.” Tom chuckled, winking at me. I cowered behind a plant on the landing.

“He’s not dead or anything, is he?”

“Just go and look,” Tom opened the door and shoved Danny in.

“You git!” I breathed at Tom.

“Love you too,” he breathed back and we heard Danny burst into laughter.

We entered my room and Danny said, “I see what you mean, he’s dark, cute rather than handsome, I would say, and he is certainly loving!”

My little black puppy licked Danny’s nose as he held Jack in a hug.

“It was a joke, Danny,” I tried to explain.

Danny just laughed and replied, “This mean you’re free?”

*

“Tom? Tom?!” Harry shouted at Tom, who was so, um, interested, should we say, in Joanna, that he hadn’t noticed that everyone was now staring at him. “Tom?!”

“What?!” he asked, exasperated.

Everyone just laughed.

Ignoring the fact that he received no answer, he continued, “Right, Jo and I are off home now…”

Danny wolf-whistled and I couldn’t help but giggle. Tom and Joanna got up and left, everyone saying goodbye.

*

“Oh, crap!” Danny stopped suddenly. We were now the ones in the kitchen, while Harry and Martha flirted some more on the sofa.

“What?” I giggled at the face he was pulling.

“I’ve just realised something.”

I stopped putting the lemonade in the fridge and looked at him, listening.

“Tom’s gone.”

I openly laughed, “Yeah…?”

“How am I going to get home? He was my ride!”

“Damn,” I laughed.

“It’s not funny!” But he couldn’t help laughing himself.

“It’s fine. I have a car.”

“You mean you’ll take me home?”

“Yeah, why not?”

“Thanks.”

*

After Danny and I explained to the others, who obviously laughed at Danny, Harry announced that he too was leaving. He stood up.

“Martha, where are you going?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“Oh, I’m going home too. Harry is giving me a lift.” I couldn’t help but notice their entwined hands.

“Okay...” I winked, laughing.

“Night.” Danny added, “You kids have fun.”

Harry scolded us and left with a heavily blushing, but ever so happy Martha.

“I’ll get my stuff and you can take me home then!” Danny smiled cheekily.

“Indeed,” I answered with a sigh; I knew he had left the room.

*

“Ready when you are!” he grinned.

“Good! Jack’s coming with us, if you don’t mind?”

“’Course not, I love Jack.” He spoke in a baby voice at my excited puppy.

“I think he likes you too,” I smiled as we made our way to the door.

I opened the door and glanced out at the car. It was only little (and old) but it did the job…

“Danny?” I moaned miserably.

“Yeah?”

“Look at this.”

I felt Danny’s chin on my shoulder, and little Jack tug on the lead.

“Oh…” was all Danny could say.

“Yeah… I don’t think a massive and sudden thunderstorm is the best weather to go out in… do you?”

“No, not really.”

“Where do you live?”

“About 10-15 minutes away.”

“Damn. Well, you’re not walking home.”

“And you’re not driving?”

“Nope.”

“So?”

“So, Mr Danny, it looks like you’re staying the night.”

*

“DVD?” I asked, waltzing into the room and seeing Danny and Jack, comfortable on the sofa.

“If you like. Just not that awful one from earlier!”

“Gah, I know, I was really bad, sorry!” I giggled, “Blame Joanna though; it was her idea.”

“I will, don’t worry.”

I smiled and put the Back To The Future on.

*

“This is much better!” Danny announced halfway through the film.

“Yeah, I love these films!” I sat on the armchair, with my legs tucked under me, while Danny half sat, half lay on the sofa, with Jack on his chest, fast asleep.

“You two look cute like that, you know?” I giggled.

“Do we?” Danny laughed, trying not to disturb Jack.

“Yeah, and he really does like you. He’s not usually so friendly – he’s a wimp normally!”

“Aw!” he grinned.

*

A loud crack of thunder made me jump out of my skin and Danny laughed.

“Hey! Not funny.” But I giggled a little too.

“Scared?”

“Yes, actually.”

Another loud bang and Jack jumped too. “And he is, look,” Danny pointed at the cowering dog, now down by his side, squished between Danny and the cushions.

“Jack?” I called him, “It’s alright, love.”

The dog just looked at me. I smiled and made my way over to them. Danny moved his legs and I sat, with Jack between us.

I whispered, “It's okay, Jack,” as I stroked his head calmly. Jack seemed to relax.

“I wonder if that’ll work for you?” Danny joked. He moved the dog out of the way, flung his arm around me, and whispered reassurances in my ear.

His low and hushed voice sent shivers down my spine and funnily, I did calm down considerably.

We settled in each other’s arms to watch the rest of the DVD.

*

Danny yawned loudly as we lay on the sofa together.

I smiled, still cuddled with him, “You can sleep in the spare room, it’s a little cramped, but it’s all yours.”

“Aw, but I’m comfy,” he moaned.

“Me too, to be honest.”

He squeezed me tighter to him and chuckled, resting his head on mine, “You’re cosy.”

“So are you.” I couldn’t resist the sudden urge to run my hand across his chest.

He sighed contentedly and I closed my eyes.

Danny suddenly sniggered.

“What?”

“I was just thinking.”

“’Bout what?”

“Well, we hardly know each other, but I think I… Never mind.”

“Don’t do that, Danny.”

“What?”

“I hate it when people say ‘never mind’.”

“Oh.”

“So…?”

“Well… please don’t get angry or anything?”

“Promise,” I beamed at his blushing face and innocent, pleading eyes.

He smiled too and gently but quickly pressed his warm lips to mine. I was shocked as he pulled away and pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. I tried to speak, but no words came out. Danny looked a little confused until I rested my hand on his neck and smiled once more. He knew how I felt, but I had to prove it, so I rushed my lips back to his to once again feel the bliss of shivers and tingles that surged through my body.

“I know it’s early, babe,” Danny whispered against my lips as the kiss ended, “But this is all so… right.”

I nodded.

We kissed and cuddled for hours – well into the early morning, before falling asleep in each other’s arms. We didn’t move from the sofa, and Jack made himself comfortable with us. The storm calmed a little but with every crack of thunder I jumped, squeezing my new love even harder, at which he chuckled every time.

We all fit so perfectly – Just Danny, Jack And I…