Like You Mean It

“He kicked me out,” Justin said when he joined Danni in the room once more.

  “You can’t always be there to keep him from falling,” Danni said.

  “I know, but it doesn’t mean I’ll stop worrying about him.”

  “You can worry, just from a safe distance. Let him learn his limits.”

  Justin raised his eyebrows. “Are you sure you’re only seventeen?”

  “Last time I checked.” Danni laughed.

  After a few minutes, the running water fell silent. Justin’s face pinched with concern as he glanced at the closed door, but he stayed put.

  “My brother trusts you, Danni,” Justin said.

  “I know, J.J.” She looked straight into his eyes as she spoke. “I won’t hurt him.”

  “You won’t, but the other kids at school might.”

  “I can’t stop that, but I can promise you he’ll always feel safe with me.”

  In the moment of silence between them, he searched her eyes, but Danni didn’t look away. She needed him to know she meant what she said. No matter what happened, she couldn’t imagine hurting Darren. It wasn’t until Darren called out Justin’s name that Justin broke the gaze he’d concentrated on her.

  “Duty calls,” he said, grinning at her.

  Though Danni could hear both of their voices, she couldn’t make out what they said. More than fifteen minutes passed before the bathroom door opened. Justin came out first with Darren following. When Justin stepped aside, Danni caught her first full glimpse of Darren. For the first time in more than a month, he was wearing regular clothes.

  “Wow, you look great,” she said, smiling.

  “Are you sure?” Darren asked with a self-conscious glance at the empty sleeve to his left.

  “I’m sure,” she replied as she moved to embrace him.

  “I don’t look like a freak?” he whispered in her ear as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

  Danni stepped back and looked him up and down. “I think you look great.”

  “J.J. had to tie my shoes,” Darren admitted.

  “I never thought about that,” Danni said.

  “There are a lot of things I hadn’t thought about either,” he agreed.

  “Look at you,” Ann cried as she stepped into the room with Gerald.

  “You look good, son,” Gerald said.

  “We brought your letterman’s jacket,” Ann said, holding it out for him.

  Darren stepped back. “I don’t want it.”

  “But it’s cold outside,” Ann protested.

  “Give it to Danni,” Darren suggested.

  “That’s a fine idea,” Gerald said. “I gave my girl my letter jacket in high school.”

  Ann’s lips curved into a wry smile. “What was her name?”

  “I don’t know.” Gerald winked at Darren and Justin.

  Justin laughed. “Too many girls to count, huh, Dad?”

  “Yep, I was a regular lady killer,” Gerald said as he grinned back at his son.

  “Oh, stop,” Ann admonished. “You’re making a fool of yourself in front of Danni.”

  “Well, if Danni’s going to be in this family, she’ll have to get used to that,” Gerald replied, and Danni’s eyes widened.

  Ann handed the jacket to Danni. “Here, hon.”

  “Are you sure?” Danni kept her eyes on Darren.

  “Yeah, put it on,” Darren said.

  The moment she slipped into the jacket, Danni felt swallowed up by its weight. She had no idea letter jackets could be so heavy.

  “It looks good on you,” Darren said.

  “I see the gang’s all here,” Dr. Forbes observed as he walked into the room. “Are you ready to blow this popsicle stand, Darren?”

  Darren shrugged. “I guess.”

  “It’s understandable to be concerned,” Dr. Forbes advised. “However, you’ve got a great family here and I’m sure you’ll do fine. There are just a few things I need to discuss with you before you leave.”

  Thinking Darren might not want her to hear what his doctor had to say, Danni started for the door, but he reached out and caught her hand. Keeping a tight grasp on Darren’s hand, Danni listened to Dr. Forbes’ endless advice on everything Darren was required to do. He needed to take his antibiotics every day and visit his regular doctor to get the stitches removed. Most important of all, he needed to keep up with his therapy, both physical and psychological. Danni didn’t let on that the idea of Darren seeing a shrink surprised her, but she wondered why he never said anything about it before.

  At the end of his speech, Dr. Forbes asked whether anyone had any questions. Darren didn’t, but Ann sure did. She wanted to know everything, from when he could go back to school to what he should eat, what activities he could do and which ones to avoid.

  “Well, I thought we’d all go out for breakfast,” Ann suggested when the doctor left. “I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m starving.”

  “Me too,” Danni said.

  “I love this girl,” Gerald remarked, wrapping an arm around Danni’s shoulders.

  “I already ate,” Darren said.

  “Then you can keep us company,” Gerald replied. “We don’t want this young lady to starve.”

  A nurse came into the room. “So, you’re going home today, cutie?”

  “Yeah,” Darren answered as his ears turned red. “Thanks for all your help, Alice.”

  “You’re welcome.” The nurse handed a stack of papers to Ann and pointed out all the places where she needed to sign. “Okay, I’ll be right back with your wheelchair.”

  Darren frowned at her. “What?”

  “Hospital policy,” Alice assured him, disappearing for just a moment before she returned with a wheelchair.

  As they made their way down the hall, several of the nurses stopped to say goodbye to Darren and Justin. While Justin soaked up the attention, Darren kept his head down, staying silent as their group rode the elevator to the lobby for the last time.

  “Okay, honey, you’re all set,” Alice said when they passed through the front doors of the hospital. “Good luck.”

  “Thanks,” Darren replied as he rose from the wheelchair.

  “Okay, are we ready?” Gerald asked. “I assume Darren is riding with Danni and Justin brought his own car, so let’s all meet up at The Breakfast House over on First Street.”

  Danni slipped out of Darren’s jacket and tossed it in the back seat before she got behind the wheel. Darren climbed into the passenger side and closed the door. Out of the corner of her eye, Danni could see him struggling with the seatbelt, but she didn’t move to help him. Instead, she waited until she heard it click in place.

  “That sucked,” Darren said as she started the car.

  “But you did it.”

  “There’s something I need to tell you.”

  “What is it?”

  “I haven’t been in a car since the accident and I’m kind of freaked out right now,” Darren admitted. “I just want you to know it’s not because I think you’re a bad driver.”

  “I understand,” she said, making a silent decision to be extra careful.

  “I know you do,” Darren replied and then snorted. “I can’t even touch you right now.”

  “That’s okay. If you did, I might get too excited and crash the car,” Danni joked.

  “That’s not something you should say to a guy who’s been in a huge car accident,” Darren said, although he offered her a wry smile.

  “Sorry,” she said and then giggled. “Would you feel better if I said we’re here?”

  “Yeah.”

  Danni pulled the car into the first empty spot in the restaurant parking lot. “We’re here and it looks like everyone else is too.”

  “That’s because you drive like an old lady,” Darren teased. “No need to worry that I’ll die as long as you’re behind the wheel.”

  The moment they stepped out of the car, his grin faded.

  “You can do this,” Danni told him.

&n
bsp; “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Promise you’ll stay with me the whole time?” Darren asked, grasping her hand.

  “What if one of us has to use the bathroom?”

  “The whole time, Danni.”

  “The whole time, D.J.”

  As Danni led him toward the restaurant, Darren took his first steps toward facing the world with only one arm.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Where were you yesterday?” Chelsea asked.

  Danni didn’t even make it to the sidewalk where her friends stood in front of the school waiting for her when Chelsea sprung the question on her. “Darren got out of the hospital and my mom let me be there for it,” she replied.

  Marcy’s eyes widened. “When is he coming back to school?”

  “I don’t know,” Danni answered.

  “You do realize how weird this is, don’t you?” Chelsea said.

  Danni frowned at her. “How weird what is?”

  “When Darren comes back to school, it’s going to be official that you two are dating,” Chelsea explained.

  “It’s been official for a while,” Danni said.

  “Yeah, but everyone will actually see you two together.”

  “So what?”

  “So, you’re going to have the most sought after boyfriend in school. You’ll be popular by association and you could end up leaving us behind,” Chelsea pointed out.

  “I’d never do that,” Danni assured her. “You two are my best friends and nothing is going to change that.”

  Danni didn’t add that she doubted whether Darren would be as popular as he once was. As cruel a thought as it was, she already knew it was true, based on his friends’ desertion of him and the reactions of Marcy and Whitney.

  * * *

  Darren didn’t come to school that day. Not that Danni expected him to after what he said about never wanting to go back. Still, she hoped he’d change his mind and surprise her by showing up. All day she looked for him, but he never appeared. Danni thought about calling Darren as soon as school let out, but she didn’t have time. Chelsea and Marcy were already waiting by her car.

  “Are you okay?” Marcy asked her.

  Danni frowned. “I’m fine. Why?”

  Her friend shrugged. “You look kind of down.”

  “I’m fine,” Danni repeated.

  Just as she slid behind the wheel of her car, her cell phone rang. The phone was hooked via Bluetooth to the stereo.

  “Incoming call,” the car announced.

  Chelsea giggled. “No shit.”

  “Hello?” Danni answered.

  “Hey, baby,” Darren said.

  Chelsea and Marcy covered their mouths with their hands to suppress their giggles.

  “Hey,” Danni answered. “Before you say anything else, you’re on speaker phone.”

  “Oh, um, can you get me off?” Darren asked, and Danni’s friends cracked up laughing. “Shit, I mean can you, you know, take me off the speaker?”

  “Hang on a second.” Danni fished her phone from her purse and switched the audio source. “Okay, you’re good. Sorry about that. The car does that on its own whenever my phone is inside. Are you still there?”

  “Yeah, I’m here. You sure I’m off the speaker?”

  “I’m sure. What’s up?”

  “I was hoping you’d come over tonight,” Darren answered.

  “Your parents won’t mind? I don’t want them to get sick of me.”

  “My parents love you.”

  “What about you?” Danni asked.

  “What about me?” Darren echoed.

  “I don’t want you to get sick of me either,” Danni said.

  “No chance of that happening,” Darren assured her. “So, can you come over?”

  “Just tell me where you live.”

  Darren rattled off the address and Danni programmed it into her GPS before hanging up.

  “I’m guessing you’re going to Darren’s house now,” Chelsea said.

  “Yeah, but I can drive you home first,” Danni told her.

  Since Chelsea’s home turned out to be the closest to her destination, Danni dropped Marcy off first. Ten minutes later, she made her second stop.

  “Thanks for the ride.” Chelsea unfastened her seatbelt. “Don’t forget to stop at the store.”

  Danni frowned. “Why?”

  Chelsea flashed her a wicked smile. “If you’re going to get Darren off, you might need some condoms!”

  Danni’s face flamed. As soon as Chelsea got out of the car, Danni stomped on the gas pedal and sped off with the sound of her friend’s laughter chasing her down the street.

  In another fifteen minutes, Danni made it to Darren’s home. Like most everything else about her boyfriend’s life, the house was perfect. Even the yard was neatly trimmed. The building was split-level with a brick façade. When she glanced at the trees out front, Danni was surprised to find there wasn’t a tire swing hanging from one of them.

  Within a few seconds of her ringing the doorbell, the door swung open. Darren stood on the other side wearing jeans and a sweatshirt and looking even better than she remembered.

  “Hey there,” he said.

  “Hey,” Danni repeated. “Do I get to come inside, or are you going to make me stand out here all night?”

  Darren grinned. “There’s a cover charge.”

  “How much money are we talking about?”

  “Just give me a good kiss and we’ll call it even.”

  “How good?”

  Darren reached out to grab Danni by the waist and pulled her body against his. “This good,” he replied, bringing his lips down on hers.

  “Is that Danni?” Ann called. “For goodness sakes, Darren, let the girl inside and close the door. It’s freezing out there and you’re letting all the heat out.”

  Stepping inside the house, Danni swept her eyes all around. The entryway was tiled as was the spacious kitchen to her right. Beyond it, she caught a glimpse of the living room, complete with a large screen TV mounted on the wall. The dining area was on the other side of the kitchen. To her left was the family room, and while the TV in there was smaller, the furniture was bigger. Its well-worn look suggested it was used more than the living room.

  The staircase ahead of her, like the floor of the family and living rooms, was a dark hardwood. The first four steps turned to the right while the rest of the stairs went straight up to where Danni guessed the bedrooms were. Framed family photographs lined either side of the hallway, and she couldn’t wait to get a look at them to see what Darren looked like when he was younger.

  “Hi, Danni,” Ann greeted her with a smile. “You know, this is nice.”

  “What’s nice?” Danni asked.

  “Now that Darren is out of the hospital, you can visit him here, and we can all spend time together,” Ann replied, and Darren’s face flushed.

  Gerald suddenly popped into the room. “Ann, I need your help with something.”

  Ann frowned at him. “What do you need help with?”

  “Something in the, uh, living room,” Gerald stammered.

  “Right,” Ann said, smiling. “We’ll just be in the next room if you kids need anything.”

  “Did you want to sit down?” Darren asked Danni.

  “Not yet,” Danni said, and he raised his eyebrows. “I want to look at the pictures first.”

  Darren turned on the hall light and Danni moved in for a closer look. The photographs were carefully placed as opposed to being hung in random fashion. One area was devoted to Justin while the other was for Darren. Then there was a grouping of the two boys together as well as one for Ann and Gerald and a separate place for the family photos.

  As she took in the pictures, she couldn’t help the stab of envy in her stomach. The walls mapped out the happy journey the whole family had taken, starting with Ann and Gerald’s wedding and going all the way through to Darren’s senior picture. Glancing from Justin’s to Darren’s
senior photo, she couldn’t get over the resemblance.

  Danni’s breath caught in her throat as her eyes landed on Whitney and Darren’s junior prom picture. They seemed to belong together. Whitney looked beautiful in a red dress and matching shoes and her hair pulled back in an elegant French twist. Darren was beyond perfect in a red tie and cumber bund and that winning smile of his.

  A Night to Remember had been the theme of the prom. Danni didn’t go to that prom. Instead, her friends came to a slumber party at her house and they all tried to make themselves feel better by saying they didn’t care about the prom and it wasn’t important. Danni did care though. She closed her eyes and imagined herself standing beside Darren instead of Whitney. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t picture herself looking as good as the other girl.

  “I keep telling my parents to take that piece of shit down, but my mom won’t,” Darren said. “She says it’s part of my memories, whatever the hell that means.”

  Danni turned to smile at him. “I’ve noticed something about you.”

  “Oh, yeah, what’s that?”

  “You swear a lot when you’re mad about something.”

  “I do not,” Darren insisted, following the words with a guilty grin.

  “Yeah, you do, but that’s okay. It’s actually kind of cute,” Danni said.

  Darren laughed. “So, you want to sit down now?”

  “Sure.”

  Danni started to follow Darren toward the family room when he stopped and turned to face her. “You want something to drink first?”

  “That’d be great,” she said.

  “We’ve got water, soda, tea, milk, juice – just about everything, I guess.”

  “Water’s fine.”

  “Cool, you can go ahead and sit in there if you want,” he offered.

  While Darren headed into the kitchen, Danni stepped into the family room where the plush, blue couches were soft and welcoming. The entertainment center held various video game consoles as well as music and movies. Moments later, Darren appeared. Somehow he had managed to hook two bottles of water into his hand. Despite how precarious his hold seemed, Danni resisted the urge to help him.

  “You’ll have to grab this,” Darren said, dangling his hand in front of her.

  Danni freed one of the bottles from his tenuous grasp. “Thanks.”

  “No problem,” he said, taking a seat beside her.

  She twisted the cap off and took a long drink. “Your house is nice.”

  Darren shrugged. “I never really thought about it but thanks.”

  “Have you always lived here?”