Page 65 of Be My Vengeance

“Which one are you?” he asked, and I assumed he meant my name.

“Danny.”

He dipped his chin. “Do you know who I am?”

“I do.”

He took a couple of steps toward me. “And do you know why I have changed my plans to be here?”

Was this twenty fucking questions? “It has something to do with me, I’m guessing?”

“Your boss has gone out of his way to get my attention, something many people try to avoid.” He slipped his hands into his pockets and canted his chin. “Well, now he has it and you, Danny, are going to be my response.”

That didn’t sound good at all.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Alex

When I walked into Leslie’s office, I figured I’d just rip it off like a Band-Aid. I told her about my Danny-sexual epiphany and how I’d realized Mila would hate what I’d become. Throughout my word vomit, she didn’t even blink. There was a smile or two, and I was sure I had a long way to go in her eyes, but it felt huge to me.

“These are some big realizations, Alex. Last we spoke, you confided that Danny had blurted out that he loved you. While you said to me that you loved him as a brother or best friend do you think, perhaps, there was always more simmering right under the surface?”

It was a great question. “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m not even sure I could examine this as intricately as maybe I should. I like being with Danny. It feels right. The only other person I’ve ever had similar feelings with was Mila.”

She pursed her lips and adjusted her red glasses. “I’m going to ask you the hard questions, Alex, but please understand that at no time am I trying to stomp on your progress. People are made in layers, and sometimes two get stuck together. Do you feel that maybe it’s not Danny, it’s just human touch? Is he maybe filling a void that has been empty since Mila passed, and he’s the one person you’re most comfortable with that you chose him to make you feel something more than rage and loneliness?”

That was a lot to take in, but I also knew the answer. “No, Leslie. Danny isn’t some replacement for Mila because I miss sex or intimacy. I wasn’t even looking for anyone. Hell, a couple of days before Danny and I did anything at all, I was consumed with guilt because I had a thought about kissing him, and I didn’t want to betray her.”

“Can I ask what changed? Why two days prior you were adamant not to do anything with anyone and then the sharp twist?”

I scratched my chin and took a moment. While Gideon had explained that Leslie was well aware of what we did and all that, I didn’t want to get descriptive.

“Something tragic happened and as I stopped and evaluated myself, something clicked. I don’t know what it was. Fuck, if you asked my friend Rita she’d get religious and tell you that it was angels or even Mila herself pushing us together.” I chuckled. “That is totally something she’d do.”

“Okay, you certainly sound sure that you want to explore whatever is happening with Danny, and of course I support you. Please understand I have to examine our conversations from every angle.”

“No worries, Doc. I get it, and you ask great questions.”

A knock on the door interrupted us and judging by the irritated expression on Leslie’s face, this wasn’t the norm.

“My apologies, Alex.” She stood and went to the door, only opening it a crack to speak to whomever was on the other side. I couldn’t hear them, but the cadence of Leslie’s voice meant it wasn’t good. Likely, something had happened with one of her other patients.

A minute later, she shut the door and sat down again. “Alex, there’s a situation.”

“Oh, yeah. If you need to cut the session short to deal with the emergency, I completely understand.”

She shook her head. “No, I mean the session will end now, but the situation I need to discuss with you.”

“Okay.” Worry swirled in my stomach.

“One of the building security said there appeared to be a carjacking outside, but the car is still here, meaning that wasn’t it. The glass was shattered and the driver’s side door was open. Security said it was the car you arrived in and that maybe⁠—”

“Danny!

“He drove you?”

“Yeah, he didn’t want to come up, probably didn’t want me to feel weird.” I stood. “I have to go.”