They finished their meal and then Daniel stood outside for a smoke, while Lisanne paid the check.
They’d had a short but heated argument – she’d persuaded him that as it was her family they were visiting for Thanksgiving, she should pay for any food on the journey up. Daniel agreed only after insisting that he pay for gas.
Lisanne felt like a fool – gas would cost way more than food. Daniel was so much smarter than she was when it came to anything to do with money. Perhaps because he’d had to manage by himself. She couldn’t imagine Zef did much to help. The thought made her frown. She didn’t want to know exactly what Zef did, and Daniel said it was better that way – she believed him.
When she followed him outside, he was sucking the last hit of nicotine out of his cigarette before grinding the butt with his heel. He saw her and smiled, blowing the last lungful of smoke down his nose like a lazy dragon.
She wondered when would be the right moment to try and persuade him to give up smoking.
“Ready for the next slice of road, baby doll, or do you want me to rub your ass some more?”
Lisanne held in a groan. The truck stop hadn’t sold cushions – she’d checked.
Daniel pulled her into a hug and kissed her hair, letting his hands drift down over the curve of her ass. He rubbed slowly and Lisanne felt her body shiver with longing.
He pushed her away gently to see her face.
“Can I come to your room tonight?” he said, holding her hips tightly. “I’ll be quiet.”
“Um… I don’t know.”
“Don’t you want me, baby?”
“Yes, but…”
He leaned down and kissed her. She could taste coffee and smoke and she still wanted him.
“Tonight,” he said, daring her to disagree.
Lisanne didn’t answer. She was pretty certain her parents wouldn’t make it that easy. In fact, now she thought about it, her mom hadn’t said where Daniel would be sleeping.
Things were sure going to be different this Thanksgiving.
Reluctantly, she climbed back onto Sirona, and Daniel steered them out toward the Interstate.
After another hour of riding and wondering if she’d ever be able to feel her ass again, she would have quite happily dumped his beloved Harley into Peachtree Lake, never to see her… it… again.
She was glad mind reading wasn’t among Daniel’s many talents.
They’d pre-agreed signals so she could direct him to her parents’ house. Two taps on the left arm meant turn left; two on the right, the opposite; and a squeeze of his waist, slow down; three taps meant stop.
Soon they were traveling down familiar suburban streets, the occasional golf cart crossing their path. It felt strange to be home – even stranger to be arriving on the back of a motorcycle with her boyfriend.
She tapped his shoulder, and Daniel pulled up outside a large, modern house, painted pale blue. The yard at the front was tidy with a large peach tree shading the lawn on one side – it reminded Daniel of how his home had been before his parents died.
They’d just managed to dismount and pull off their helmets when Lisanne’s mother came charging down the driveway.
“You’re here! I was so worried!” and she pulled Lisanne into the tightest hug, kissing her eldest child repeatedly.
Daniel stood awkwardly, suddenly not knowing what to do with his hands, but wishing he’d had time for a soothing cigarette. He knew that wouldn’t be a good start to the visit, and he was still holding their helmets.
Damn it. He badly wanted a cigarette.
Then Lisanne’s mother released her, and surprised the shit out of Daniel by giving him a quick hug, too.
“Welcome to our home, Daniel.”
“Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Maclaine,” he said, shyly.
“Oh, please, call me Monica.”
“Okay,” he smiled, nervously. “Um, Lis, could you hold these while I get the luggage, baby?”
He handed her the helmets then pulled out Lisanne’s small backpack, his own messenger bag, and another plastic bag. Lisanne didn’t know what was in that one.
She put the helmets away, then led him toward the front door.
Mrs. Maclaine smiled approvingly when she saw that Daniel was still carrying Lisanne’s bag, as well as his own.
Then Ernie came out, and Daniel froze mid-step.
He glanced severely at Daniel before kissing his daughter.
“Good to have you home, honey,” he said.
“Thanks, dad. Um, you remember Daniel?” she replied, somewhat gingerly.
“Daniel,” said her father, shortly.
“Mr. Maclaine,” Daniel answered, equally shortly.
After a brief pause, her father held out his hand. Daniel put the bags on the floor, and the two men shook hands.
Lisanne’s mother let out a sigh of relief.
Stage one complete. No blood was drawn.
“Where’s Harry?” said Lisanne, looking around for her little brother.
“Oh, he’s over at Jerry’s house. You’ll meet my youngest later, Daniel. You’ll be sharing his room. I hope you don’t mind, but Lisanne’s grandparents are in our guest rooms. You’ll be okay on a cot?”
“Sure,” said Daniel, glancing at Lisanne, guessing she’d known about the sleeping arrangements but not told him. “Yeah, a cot’s fine, thank you, Monica,” he answered politely.
He decided not to tell her that if he could sleep on a thin mattress in a police cell, he could sleep anywhere.
That kind of shit didn’t go down well with parents, he figured.
“Lisanne, if you could show Daniel where he’ll be sleeping, I’ll make you both a drink. Iced tea okay for you, Daniel?”
“Um…” he hesitated, throwing an appalled glance at his girlfriend.
“I think Daniel might prefer coffee,” said Mr. Maclaine.
“Uh, yeah, great,” said Daniel, blinking in surprise.
“Coffee for the men folk, honey. You ladies can stick to tea.”
Even Lisanne looked surprised, then she enveloped her father in a hug.
“Thank you, daddy.”
“Sure, baby,” he said, sounding pleased.
Daniel shut out the fact that Lisanne’s dad called her ‘baby’, as well. That shit was too weird.
Lisanne led Daniel up the stairs and opened a door on the left.
“Um, this is Harry’s room,” she said.
“You knew about this, didn’t you?” he said, accusingly.
Lisanne shook her head.
“Not exactly. Mom didn’t say. But I was thinking about it on the way up and I figured it would be either this… or they’d put the cot in the living room.”
He sighed.
“Guess I’m lucky it’s not in the backyard.” He looked at Lisanne. “I want to know where your room is.”
She laughed nervously, and showed him into a room across the hallway.
It wasn’t the frilly, girly room Daniel had half expected. The only word to describe it was peaceful. It wasn’t large, but it felt comfortable. There was a closet by the far wall, a chest of drawers, a bookshelf filled with musical scores and ratty paperbacks, and a full-size bed, covered with a pale yellow quilt.
“Nice,” he said approvingly, and laid her backpack on the only chair in the room, which was standing next to a simple desk. He stood looking out of the window into the backyard. It was neat and tidy with a freshly mown lawn, and trimmed flower beds. He could see a basketball hoop fixed to the garage wall that formed the edge of the large patio.
Daniel turned to see Lisanne watching him.
“Your folks have got a nice place.”
“Thank you,” she said, unable to read his expression.
She walked toward him and he looped his arms around her waist, then leaned down to kiss her.
It felt strange kissing him here, in her bedroom, and she pulled away.
“What’s the matter, b… Lis?”
She shrugged, and h
e looked at her warily.
“You… you’re not regretting inviting me, are you?”
Lisanne shook her head immediately, and tightened her arms around him.
“No! Of course not. I just… I feel like I don’t know how to behave in my own home. It’s hard to explain.”
Daniel nodded.
“I get it. I felt like that the first time I came back from boarding school. It took a while to feel like home again – I’d changed and I noticed small things that had changed around the house. It was the same but different. It felt weird.”
“Yes, exactly!”
She was relieved. He understood.
“Hey,” he said, a wicked gleam in his eye, “have you had a guy in your room before?”
“I haven’t had a guy anywhere before I met you, which you know very well!”
He laughed. “So that’s a no?”
“Yes, that’s a no.”
He smiled his sexy smile, and Lisanne felt her knees tremble. He leaned down and kissed her, his tongue seeking permission.
She opened her mouth and he claimed her.
She knew that’s what he was doing, here in her family home, in her bedroom.
But then all thought fell away and she allowed her body to react the way it craved. She grabbed the front of his t-shirt and lifted it up, so she could run her hands over his hard stomach.
He groaned and deepened the kiss further, but then Lisanne heard her mother calling and she pulled away again.
Her face was flushed and Daniel was breathing heavily.
“Mom’s calling,” she said huskily.
“Can we ignore her?” he whispered, licking her neck.
Lisanne shivered, and pushed him away for a third time.
“No. She’d send a search party.”
“Tonight,” he said.
It wasn’t a question.
When they reached the kitchen, a tall skinny kid was sitting at the table drinking a soda.
“Hey, loser,” said Lisanne, with a smile.
“Hey, nerd,” said the kid, without turning around to look.
Daniel hadn’t heard the response, but Lisanne’s greeting made him smile.
Their mother, on the other hand, was less impressed.
“Honestly, you two! What sort of impression will you give Daniel?”
“The right one,” said Lisanne.
“Who?” said the kid.
Lisanne rolled her eyes and poked him in the back.
“This is my brother, Harry.”
“Hey, man,” said Daniel, holding out his hand to shake. “‘Sup?”
Harry stared openly at Daniel’s pierced eyebrow and tattoos.
“Jeez, Lis. I thought you only liked nerds.”
Daniel smiled and raised his eyebrow at Lisanne. She was about ready to thump her little brother.
Looking all types of gangly and awkward, Harry shook hands with Daniel.
“Is that your Harley out front?”
“Yep.”
“No way!”
And Harry insisted on talking motorcycles for the next 15 minutes.
Lisanne sighed. She wished her dad were as easy to please.
Mr. Maclaine re-entered the kitchen and Daniel stood up abruptly, making Lisanne jump. Her father seemed surprised, too.
He nodded at Daniel, who looked about ready to make a run for it – or swing a punch – Lisanne wasn’t sure which, but his tension was making her nervous. Her mother looked at them both sympathetically.
“Um, I brought this for you, sir, ma’am, uh, Monica,” said Daniel, thrusting the plastic bag at Mrs. Maclaine.”
“Why, that was thoughtful of you. But please sit down, Daniel: you’re our guest. We want you to relax. Don’t we, Ernie?” she said, throwing a meaningful look at her husband.
Lisanne’s dad grunted in reply.
With an exasperated sigh, Monica opened the bag and took out a rather squashed box of chocolate covered pralines.
“Crap,” said Daniel. “It’s melted. Shit. Sorry.”
His ears went red when he realized he’d just sworn twice – in front of Lisanne’s parents.
Monica’s face was a little tight, but Lisanne thought it was because she was trying not to laugh.
“Um, yeah, they were my mom’s favorites, so I thought…” his words died away.
“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Monica said with a heartfelt smile. “And I think this is for you, Ernie,” she continued, passing her husband a bottle of Jack Daniels.
“You’re not old enough to buy liquor,” he barked.
Daniel’s face closed down. “My brother is,” he said quietly, neither admitting nor denying that he’d bought the whiskey.
“Ernie!” Monica hissed.
“Hmm, very thoughtful,” Lisanne’s dad bit out.
Lisanne wanted to drop her head in her hands. She thought Daniel had had the best idea, when he looked like he wanted to make a run for it.
She held his hand under the table and squeezed his fingers.
“Should we go for a walk?” she said.
What she really meant was: should we get the hell out of here so you can have a cigarette before you blow like Krakatoa?
Daniel nodded, gratefully.
“Yeah, thanks, baby doll.”
Lisanne’s father didn’t look very happy at hearing his daughter’s nickname, but after a stern glance from his wife, wisely decided to say nothing about it.
“We’re going out for a while, mom.”
“Of course, honey. I’m sure Daniel would like to see the lake. Why don’t you take my car? Dinner’s at six.”
“Thanks, mom,” said Lisanne, kissing her mother on the cheek.
Daniel almost sprinted to the front door as Lisanne collected her mom’s car keys. He’d already lit a cigarette by the time she closed the door behind them.
He blew tension out of his body along with a lungful of smoke. Lisanne stroked his back, as if calming a wild animal.
He shook his head.
“Fuck!”
Lisanne gave a small laugh. “It could have gone worse.”
“You think?”
“Yes, they could have walked in on us having sex.”
Daniel burst out laughing, relieved that Lisanne wasn’t pissed at him for swearing, or the way he’d behaved.
“Yeah, that wouldn’t have gone down well.”
Lisanne wound her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his chest. She looked up as he blew another puff of smoke away from her.
“Thank you for coming,” she said.
He smiled as he stubbed out his cigarette.
“‘S’okay, baby doll. Come on, let’s go see this lake.”
Monica’s car was a red Honda hatchback and Lisanne couldn’t help luxuriating in the wide, comfortable, cushioned seat. So different from Sirona’s questionable charms.
She pulled her seatbelt on and waited, while Daniel worked out how to shift the seat back and make room for his long legs.
“Oh God!” she said, as she turned on the engine.
“What, baby?” he said, frowning at her, as she pulled onto the road.
“I can’t believe mom is listening to this radio station! The music is so…”
Lisanne choked on the words when she saw Daniel’s face.
“Oh, I’m so sorry! Daniel…”
He nodded at her apology and stared out of the window. Lisanne reached over to turn off the radio, but he placed his hand over hers and pushed it back.
“Lis, I don’t expect you to live without music just because I’m around.”
“I don’t, I…”
“I’ve seen you do it, baby doll. I’ve seen you turn off your iPod and stop talking about bands while I’m around. I know music is important to you. Shit, I totally get that. Don’t stop listening to music because of me. Fuck, if anything, you have to listen to it for both of us.”
Suddenly Lisanne’s eyes were too full of tears for her to carry on driving in s
afety. She pulled over to the curb and covered her face with her hands, sobbing.
Daniel unclipped his seatbelt, moving across to pull her into his arms.
“Don’t cry for me, baby doll. Please don’t cry.”
He spoke the words into her hair as her tears soaked into his t-shirt.
For several minutes, Lisanne cried out all the stress and tension of the day, and the pain she felt from Daniel’s words.
He was right, of course. She had avoided listening to music or talking about music when he was around, because she hadn’t wanted to hurt him, to remind him of what he’d lost. She felt bad enough that he picked her up from all her rehearsals, and had come to all her gigs.
When she was finally hiccuping the last of her tears, Daniel hitched up his t-shirt and wiped her eyes.
“Better, baby?”
She nodded.
“Sorry.”
He kissed her hair again. “Don’t be. Not for me. Not for caring about me.”
Finally, she was composed enough to drive again, but they didn’t do much walking when they reached the lake – they simply found a shady tree to lie under. Lisanne rested her head on Daniel’s chest, and he drew lazy circles on her shoulder with his fingers.
It was a moment of much needed peace.
Eventually, Lisanne struggled into a sitting position and Daniel opened his eyes, smiling up at her.
“There’s a place near here, a sort of outside mini-mall, where we can get a coffee if you like?”
“Yeah, I could definitely go a coffee. This is your home town. Let’s see the sights.”
Lisanne laughed. “Well, we’re sitting by the lake – that’s about it. Unless you want to see the golf course?”
“Wow, life in the fast lane,” Daniel deadpanned.
Lisanne smiled shyly. “Small town girl, that’s me.”
He sat up and kissed her on the tip of her nose. “Wouldn’t have you any other way, baby doll.”
At the mall, they strolled hand in hand to the nearest coffee shop and sat down outside, enjoying the warm afternoon sun.
Lisanne was hoping that some of the girls she’d known from high school would just happen to walk past. Daniel looked so hot sitting with his Ray Bans covering his eyes, and his t-shirt tight across his muscular shoulders and back. Just once she’d have liked to have been envied by the girls who never gave her the time of day – just for a change. Completely shallow – and she didn’t care.