The Arrangement

The Agreement

After David left, we were alone at the house. Daniel took Hershey for a walk and I worked out using the porch rail as my barre.

I wasn't sure for how long Daniel watched me. The minute I was done, he and Hershey came out on the porch.

He handed me a water bottle. "Can we talk?"

The plastic bottle was cold in my hand. I nodded just before I drank the refreshing water which cooled me down from the effects of the hot sun.

"Shoot."

I knew I could have easily said something to turn the mood, but the weekend had been okay in the end. Besides the energy, it took to annoy him, was exhausting me.

My mother had always told me it took more energy to hate. She must have imparted her wisdom on Patricia, because she had said the same phrase to me the other night. I had been angry with Daniel, because of his involvement with Nate.

He paused as if he was gathering his thoughts. Finally, he said, "I'm sorry about the whole thing with Landry. I overheard him talking about using you. I should have gone to you with the information."

"Why didn't you?"

He looked down. "I was trying to protect you."

"That's not your job. I can take care of myself. There were signs. I think I would have eventually moved on myself."

Nate hadn't even been concerned about the limitations placed on our seeing each other. In retrospect, his interest was in my salary when I took my father's job.

Daniel look up. "Just so you know, not that it's your business, I'm not into booty calls."

David had already set me straight. "Sorry, I assumed. You are out a lot."

"We both have our lives. Just like you never told me you dance on Tuesdays, I haven't told you my schedule."

"Did Patricia tell you about dance?"

"No, your clothes gave it away. I always thought you were a really good dancer."

He shifted in his seat as he stared out at the river.

"I thought you preferred Ashley's dancing." I exaggerated the last word.

His head jerked away from the view. "I don't know what she told you. We never. Not that it's any of your business. We went to your recitals for years, because my mom made us. David didn't mind them, big surprise." He rolled his eyes and chuckled. "I only liked when you were on stage. I could tell you were so much better than the rest of them, even Ashley."

"Thanks, I guess. I still like to dance, but I found I enjoy teaching the kids. That's what I do on Tuesday nights."

"I still swim. I have a swim spa at home."

"Is that where you go?" If we were opening up, I wanted some answers too.

"Yeah, home mostly. I still have to mow my lawn and keep up with things."

I nodded. Living in a condo, my only concern was my plants and I did a good job of killing them when I was home.

"Maybe we should concentrate on our ideas. If we can figure out how to pay for them and present them together, neither of our fathers will be able to say no."

"You've met my father, haven't you?" He sounded bitter.

The joy I originally felt, because Jim didn't believe in Dan had dissipated. Still, our fathers wanted us to prove we could work together and this was a perfect way.

"I say let's prove them wrong. Let's show them we can agree and get along. We can can't we?"

Dan thought for a moment and smiled.

Damn, that smile.