help and expects nothing in return. I hope you know that in the short time we’ve known each other, you’ve become so important to me.” I tell him honestly.
“I do know. I hope you know the feeling is completely and utterly mutual.” he smiles.
“I do.” I smile back.
* * *
“Thank you for a wonderful day, Daniel.” I sigh, as we pull up outside my house several hours later.
“Thank you for asking me and for letting me beat you on the dance mat.”
I laugh. It was hilarious watching Daniel try and work out what he needed to do on the arcade game. I had taken pity on him and slowed my moves. Eventually, he remembered enough to do it properly and he won. He was beaming by the end of it and his happiness was infectious. I found myself grinning for a long time after.
“You’re welcome. Next time, I won’t let you win!”
“I wouldn’t expect you to.” he grins, shaking his head.
Just as I’m about to get out of the car, my phone buzzes. I fish it out of my bag and read a message from Ginny.
Ginny: I want 2 invite u 2 a BBQ Saturday. Please bring that gorgeous man u’ve been telling me about. I won’t take no 4 an answer, I expect u here @ 12.30. Cu then gorgeous! x
“We’ve been invited to Ginny’s for a barbecue.” I look at Daniel who has a shocked frown on his face.
“Me?”
“Yes. And me. Saturday lunchtime.”
“Why me?”
“I’ve told them about you, I told them about you the first day we met, you don’t realise the change you’ve made to my life, Daniel.”
“I know the change you’ve made to mine.”
“So…. Do you think you’re brave enough to meet my best friends?”
“I’m not sure.”
“I think you are. It will be fun and it will be filled with the most delicious food you’ve ever eaten in your life!” suddenly remembering Aidan, I scowl, “And..Well… They have a little boy.”
“And?” he asks, seeming to not understand why that would be a problem.
“I thought I’d best warn you, I didn’t want it to upset you.”
“Katie, I volunteer with children, three days a week. It’s okay, honestly.”
“I know but, I just wanted you to know. So? Saturday?”
“Count me in.” he smiles.
“So, I’ll see you at the hospital tomorrow?”
“You will. It’s party day remember?” he grins.
“I think someone might like the parties more than the children!” I laugh, opening the door to get out.
“There are hats and food and games, it’s the best way to spend the afternoon!”
“Have a lovely evening, Daniel. You know where I am if you need me.”
“And you know where I am. Goodnight, Katie.”
For the first time, in a long time, longer than I care to remember, when I let myself into the empty house, I don’t automatically feel a sense of loneliness. Daniel’s words from earlier come back to me; but being here with you, spending the day like a normal person, that helps. It helps me remember that life does go on, it is going on. That I’m living and breathing and even though I hurt, I’m surviving. I was surviving too, and each day gets a little easier thanks to him.
* * *
“Should I be nervous? Why am I nervous?” Daniel asks me as we pull up outside Ginny’s.
“No, you should absolutely not be nervous. Ginny and Ryan are two of the best people in the world. You’ll love them and they will love you.” I take his hand in mine and squeeze it.
“But they… They knew Richard too.”
“Yes. We’ve been friends since school. Richard was Ryan’s best friend. But it’s okay.”
“Does Ryan… I mean, will he be okay with me being friends with you?”
“We’re friends, of course he will be. He wants to meet you.”
“Okay.”
“Come on, before you vomit all over your nice car.” I grin. We get out of the car and walk up to the door, before we get even half
“I do know. I hope you know the feeling is completely and utterly mutual.” he smiles.
“I do.” I smile back.
* * *
“Thank you for a wonderful day, Daniel.” I sigh, as we pull up outside my house several hours later.
“Thank you for asking me and for letting me beat you on the dance mat.”
I laugh. It was hilarious watching Daniel try and work out what he needed to do on the arcade game. I had taken pity on him and slowed my moves. Eventually, he remembered enough to do it properly and he won. He was beaming by the end of it and his happiness was infectious. I found myself grinning for a long time after.
“You’re welcome. Next time, I won’t let you win!”
“I wouldn’t expect you to.” he grins, shaking his head.
Just as I’m about to get out of the car, my phone buzzes. I fish it out of my bag and read a message from Ginny.
Ginny: I want 2 invite u 2 a BBQ Saturday. Please bring that gorgeous man u’ve been telling me about. I won’t take no 4 an answer, I expect u here @ 12.30. Cu then gorgeous! x
“We’ve been invited to Ginny’s for a barbecue.” I look at Daniel who has a shocked frown on his face.
“Me?”
“Yes. And me. Saturday lunchtime.”
“Why me?”
“I’ve told them about you, I told them about you the first day we met, you don’t realise the change you’ve made to my life, Daniel.”
“I know the change you’ve made to mine.”
“So…. Do you think you’re brave enough to meet my best friends?”
“I’m not sure.”
“I think you are. It will be fun and it will be filled with the most delicious food you’ve ever eaten in your life!” suddenly remembering Aidan, I scowl, “And..Well… They have a little boy.”
“And?” he asks, seeming to not understand why that would be a problem.
“I thought I’d best warn you, I didn’t want it to upset you.”
“Katie, I volunteer with children, three days a week. It’s okay, honestly.”
“I know but, I just wanted you to know. So? Saturday?”
“Count me in.” he smiles.
“So, I’ll see you at the hospital tomorrow?”
“You will. It’s party day remember?” he grins.
“I think someone might like the parties more than the children!” I laugh, opening the door to get out.
“There are hats and food and games, it’s the best way to spend the afternoon!”
“Have a lovely evening, Daniel. You know where I am if you need me.”
“And you know where I am. Goodnight, Katie.”
For the first time, in a long time, longer than I care to remember, when I let myself into the empty house, I don’t automatically feel a sense of loneliness. Daniel’s words from earlier come back to me; but being here with you, spending the day like a normal person, that helps. It helps me remember that life does go on, it is going on. That I’m living and breathing and even though I hurt, I’m surviving. I was surviving too, and each day gets a little easier thanks to him.
* * *
“Should I be nervous? Why am I nervous?” Daniel asks me as we pull up outside Ginny’s.
“No, you should absolutely not be nervous. Ginny and Ryan are two of the best people in the world. You’ll love them and they will love you.” I take his hand in mine and squeeze it.
“But they… They knew Richard too.”
“Yes. We’ve been friends since school. Richard was Ryan’s best friend. But it’s okay.”
“Does Ryan… I mean, will he be okay with me being friends with you?”
“We’re friends, of course he will be. He wants to meet you.”
“Okay.”
“Come on, before you vomit all over your nice car.” I grin. We get out of the car and walk up to the door, before we get even half
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