Cocktails & Emotions ~ [DR3]

18. Chaser

"You stay on the phone just to hear me breathe" - telepatía, Kali Uchis

I had barely pressed send on the text when my phone began to buzz in my hands, Daniel's name in bright white letters at the top of my screen. I can only bring myself to stare wide eyed whilst sliding off my shoes, feet aching from another night of wearing heels. We've not done this before, not whilst Daniel's been away at least. I haven't even walked down the hallway when I'm pressing on the green button to answer the call, inhaling slowly in anticipation.

"You're keen." I enthuse, the video connecting just in time to see his grin at my taunt on the other end of the line. The words, despite being joking, are true. Daniel has almost sent more messages this evening than the whole of the last five weeks. Before his questioning on my whereabouts earlier I almost forgot that we hadn't spoke for a week, time slipping by so easily with everything going on.

Almost.

"Hey G!" Daniel beams on the other side of the call. His hair is a little longer, curling out in directions it wouldn't normally when it's here but he looks bright (as always), refreshed. Daniel is smiling softly as I fall down onto my couch, a navy polo on his top half holding the Red Bull logo. "How ya goin'?" He asks in his usual tone that has me feeling warm and familiar. It's been so long since I heard it, five weeks to be exact. The time since Melbourne has passed in so much of a blur that in any other situation I don't think I'd be able to pinpoint the last time I heard it. Only this time I can because the last time I heard any mumble from Daniel was beside me in bed. The memory is ingrained in me, never to go away because it might be one of the most confusing nights of my life. If it weren't for the half bottle of wine I've consumed tonight my cheeks could just about burst into flames at the memory of him in his boxers beside me.

"Aren't you busy?" I ask skeptically whilst  carefully leaning up on my hand as I readjust my dress so that it lays better over my chest, more appropriate. The initial nerves over wearing the dress has worn off by the time I met Codie and watched his eyes bug out of his head a little. His obvious approval was just about all I needed to walk with my head held high into the fancy restaurant.

"That's nice G," Daniel quips dryly, I can't help but roll my eyes. I didn't mean it like that, at all, and he knows it. "We haven't talked in over a month and this is what I get." I sigh playfully, and his eyes flash at me sensing the rising frustration and grumbled words. How can he possibly frustrate me after so few words?! Daniel knows the exact buttons to press to...

"We've talked." I defend with a frown. I hate that I'm buying into this, entertaining this trap that he's clearly laid just to piss me off and start a conversation that isn't awkward.

It should be awkward.

"Here and there." Daniel mumbles, turning his head away from the camera. The call muted if only for a few seconds as he says a few words to someone else before tossing a thumbs up in the direction of whoever he's speaking to. I readjust myself as he speaks, leaning on the thick cushions of my couch instead of my arm as I dream about the soft material of my pyjamas (or better yet my bed).

"I'm sorry." I apologise weakly, the tiredness suddenly hitting me. It's just gone midnight, I didn't even realise the time until Lucas pulled up outside my front door with a gentle smile that had me leaning into his lips. "I didn't mean it like that, I just mean..." I sigh kicking up my feet so that I'm bundled onto the seat completely, the soft silk material of my black dress brushing against my toes which still ache from the heels. "Aren't you busy at the race?" It's a genuine question, Daniel has been gone so long it only feels fair to assume they need him at these weekends. And out of all the days over the last five weeks that he could have called, he chose today -the first day of the Miami Grand Prix- to call.