Glow? his mind questioned, but Damian shrugged it off. He was still jittery from his recent encounter, and needed to calm the hell down. The transition from dark hotel room to bright hallway was causing him to squint. He rubbed at his eyes, begging them to adjust, and considered what else to say.
Don't let her in, Inigo reminded.
Duh, Damian answered. But why is she here?
As if in compensation for the fading brilliance, Genny’s smile put in an appearance. “Am I interrupting?” she asked.
“Ah...” Damian fumbled. “I was just…” –he pulled his head back in and looked at the bloody mess– “… working.”
Genny raised an eyebrow. Then, she glanced to the side.
Do not let her leave, Inigo pounced. She must have come to see you! “But I could use a break,” Damian added. Then, he slithered out of the room and held the door cracked behind his back.
Genny backed up to allow him space in the narrow hallway. “You sure?” She seemed uncertain and uncomfortable.
Damian nodded. “Yeah, I was thinking about, um, getting some dinner.” As soon as it was out, he remembered the cancelled date. It was supposed to be this evening. Dinner.
He had cancelled, hadn’t he? Hopefully she wasn’t upset. It’s not like he had much of a choice.
Perhaps she thinks you are a popular man and have chosen another, Inigo said. Do not underestimate the wrath of a spurned woman!
You’re not helping, Inigo.
“Alone,” Damian said. “By myself.” –Duh– “I mean… they sent me to this work thing. Last second notice. You know how it is. Or do you? I don't know. Probably wouldn't happen where you work. I mean the bar is a nice place and all, I like it, but I doubt they send you out to customers. Mostly they'd come in, I think. It’s probably illegal the other way. Did you get my message?”
Damian came up short of breath, and paused. In the silence, he realized he was dressed poorly. He had on the same T-shirt from the drive in. The shirt had a picture of the Kool-Aid man on it and read: Oh Yeah! He hadn’t been thinking. He’d grabbed the first thing he could find. Please God let there be no blood on this, too.
Damian looked down and found only Kool-Aid. He returned a thanks for that. And for pants. His jeans were still clean, and –more importantly– on.
Genny giggled. “You look fine.” She took a step forward and laid warm hand on Damian’s shoulder. A jolt of paralyzing electricity skittered through him. “And, yes, I got your message,” she added.
He let his tingling brain process that. “Then, why are you here?” he blurted. He slapped a hand to his mouth.
She giggled again, bless her!
Looks like she is as crazy as you are, Inigo chimed in. If she had any sense, she would be running. Not laughing.
Shut up, Inigo.
Genny shifted her feet and Damian’s heart fell with her eyes. “I'm sorry, Damian,” she said. “I just thought… maybe we could still have dinner? If not, I completely understand. It was sort of a crazy impulse, you know? And I wouldn't normally do something like this, but just thought that, well, it'd be nice.”
Damian stared. She was the one rambling now. To him. Could he be making her feel uncomfortable?
Big, brown eyes rose to meet Damian’s. In them, he saw what his mind refused to process. Vulnerability.
How could I say no?
He forced himself to start breathing again. Normally. In and out.
“Dinner. Sure. Of course. I didn't even think– I certainly didn't mean to– I mean…”
You’d love to, Inigo helped.
“I'd love to.”
The door clicked behind him as he closed it the rest of the way.
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