Chapter 62 (1/2)

”So,” Dan started hesitantly, drumming his fingers against his thigh.

”So...” Abby echoed, bouncing her heel nervously against the floor.

The two of them sat in Dan's hotel room, side by side at the foot of his bed. They were close enough for their shoulders to brush, the occasional contact serving only to ratchet up the tension between them. Dan struggled to find the words he needed.

”I'm not—” Abby started.

”We should—” Dan began.

They both paused.

Abby brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. ”What were you saying?”

”No, that's, um. You can go first,” Dan offered courteously. At least, that's what he told himself. In reality, he was terrified that he'd mixed up Abby's signals, and was about to be gently let down. Gibbering incoherently would probably not help him, though; he'd take whatever she had to say like a man.

Abby smiled weakly. ”I'm not very experienced at, at this.” She gestured between them, and Dan's heart skipped a beat. ”I've never— That is, I haven't really had a chance to... um.” Her fumbling words and reddening face somehow endeared her even more to Dan. In that moment, his hesitation fell away.

All of his hard work, his studying, his training, it all had a purpose. He wanted to become, if not the best version of himself, at least a version who could look in a mirror with pride. This dithering weakness did not suit that image. Confidence, Daniel. You are what you want to be.

He took Abby by the hand, bringing her rambling to a grinding halt. Her mouth clicked shut with a gulp, as he met her eyes and gave his most charming smile. Dan was, as he often realized, an idiot. He didn't need any grand speech or flowery words. This was Abby. His closest friend. All she had ever asked from him was honesty.

So that's what Dan would give her.

”You are my best friend, Abby,” he said softly, pronouncing each word with care. His voice was filled with affection. ”You are, quite literally, the most important person in the world to me.”

Abby's eyes glistened, and her smile was blinding. She sniffled wetly and replied, ”Y—you're really important to me too, Danny.”

Dan gently squeezed her hand. ”I think... that we can be more. I want us to be more.”

Abby nodded unconsciously along with his words.

Dan's back straightened at the motion, his spirits buoyed higher than they'd ever been. ”I want to take you on a date.”

”Okay,” she replied instantly. Her eyes widened as soon as the words left her mouth, and her cheeks blushed crimson. She buried her face in Dan's shoulder with a groan. ”That was too eager. Was that too eager?”

”I'm not sure you can be too eager,” Dan responded, feeling like he'd just taken a hit of laughing gas. Everything seemed light and floaty and happy.

”You have to pretend I was more composed, when we tell this story in the future,” Abby muttered into his shirt. Despite her embarrassment, she seemed perfectly content to stay latched onto his arm like a limpet.

”Anything for you, Abs,” Dan replied fondly, ruffling her hair.

Abby made a yelping noise, pulling away from Dan with her face resembling a lobster. She jabbed an accusing finger at Dan, loudly proclaiming, ”I know what you're doing! I'm on to your tricks! I'm not so easy to woo, y'know!? You're gonna have to work really hard!”

Dan did not reply to her babble. He simply stared at her, entranced by her beauty, and thrilled to see this side of her. Abby was effortlessly pretty in every day life, but seeing her so flustered was a rare treat. Dan considered it a sign of trust; she felt safe enough around him to let down her guard and be free with her emotions. He couldn't help but adore her for that.

”Stop staring at me like that!” Abby squeaked, her blush creeping down past her neck. ”You keep your— your bedroom eyes to yourself, mister!”

Dan felt a grin creeping across his face.

”Don't you dare laugh!” Her imperious demand was undermined by her own wide smile and luminescent blush. She playfully slapped at Dan's chest, stuttering out, ”You save that, that, that flirting for later!”

”Fine, fine,” Dan conceded, easily fending off her clumsy attack. ”No flirting, no looking.” He snagged her hand, wrapping it snugly in both of his own. ”No touching?”

Abby's breath fluttered as her eyes locked onto their joined hands. ”Maybe a little touching. In private.” She made no effort to free herself.

Dan couldn't stop smiling if he tried. ”There's a carnival going on this week. I was thinking we could go there—” He blinked. ”Wait a minute. How long are you in town for?”

Abby blinked innocently. ”I haven't scheduled a return flight yet.”

Dan stared at her, then sighed. Such were the privileges of the privileged. As a financially stable adult with a planet-sized safety net, Abby was free to indulge herself whenever and however she pleased.

Though Dan was hardly one to talk. He was about to buy a house with the funds he'd earned from delivering spare parts and fried chicken to a cranky old man in space. That wasn't a situation that most people would experience in their lifetime.

Ignore it and move on, Daniel.

”Right,” he said, recovering his train of thought. ”So, the carnival.”

”I don't think I've ever been to a carnival,” Abby mused thoughtfully, still clinging to his limb.

”It'll be great,” Dan assured her. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. ”You'll have fun, I promise.”

Hopefully.

She returned his gesture with a devious grin. ”I always have fun when I'm with you, Danny.”

It was his turn to blush and stammer. ”I— I think we should shoot for Friday night, if time isn't an issue. A carnival sorta loses its effect if there aren't people around.”

”Aww,” she groaned, leaning herself into him. ”That's two entire days from now! What are we gonna do before then!?”

Dan was going to need to take a shower in the Arctic Ocean after he was done here.

”The same things we always do. We're basically dating already, we've just never put a name on it,” Dan pointed out.

”Nuh uh!” Abby pulled away, jabbing Dan in the sternum with her index finger. ”No sir! We have not been dating! Girlfriend Abby is much different from best friend Abby! I expect flowers and chocolate and, and pampering!” Her declaration was punctuated by widened eyes, a pointed finger, and an outrageous pout. Such a demand called for an appropriate reply.

Dan tackled her onto the bed. She squawked as she fell, but quickly regained her bearings. They wrestled briefly, ineffectually in Dan's case, and Abby had him pinned beneath her in short order. This was nothing new. They sparred regularly, and Dan had restricted his power use ever since Graham had beaten him into the ground. Grappling was fair game, and physical contact was to be expected. This was nothing new.

This was definitely new.

Abby's hair hung around his head as she loomed over him, with a flushed face and dilated pupils. They were both panting, far more worked up than such a brief fight should have warranted. Her thighs were locked around his waist, with her weight resting on his chest. Her eyes hungrily roamed his face, before locking on his lips. She swallowed heavily, a move mirrored by Daniel, and slowly leaned down.

Something in her jeans vibrated, and they both jolted in place. Abby leapt off Dan like he was on fire, retreating across the room with an embarrassed squeak. Her hand dipped into her back pocket, the motions seeming automatic, and withdrew a cell phone. Dan sat up, watching her as she halfheartedly checked her messages.

Abby slumped. ”Nana wants to know if we've arrived yet.”

Dan had never hated Margaret before. It was an odd feeling.

”It's okay,” Abby said, her breaths coming in light gasps. Her voice was apologetic, and her eyes were fixed on Dan's face. ”It's fine. We, uh— I think we need to cool off.”