Leah had no idea why she even cared what he thought of her, but she did.

She sat up quickly, tossing the pillow off the side of the bed as she reached for her phone, staring at the screen for a few seconds before she opened a new text message to Danny.

Sorry about that text last night. I meant to send that to someone else.

She hit send and closed her eyes, dropping back onto the bed as she brought her fingertips to her temples, massaging slow circles. A minute later, the soft double beep of her phone caused her eyes to flip open and her stomach to drop.

It was her text message alert.

Leah held her breath as she opened his reply.

Hold on—you don’t love me? I’m in a jewelry store picking out your ring, so if you don’t love me, tell me now.

A slow smile spread over her lips. This wasn’t angry, standoffish, daffodil Danny. This was Cheesecake Factory Danny.

She hit reply.

Hmm. Well, before I decide, how big is the ring?

Leah placed her phone on her stomach before she stretched her arms over her head, biting her lip to fight the goofy smile she felt forming on her face. The sound of her phone ringing startled her, and she slapped her hand down on her stomach, bringing the phone to eye level as her bottom lip slid out from between her teeth.

He was calling.

She took a breath as she hit the button to take the call, hoping it was still Cheesecake Factory Danny.

“Hello?”

His laughter floated through the phone. “So, I guess size matters to you?”

His voice was playfully suggestive, and she felt her cheeks flush with heat as her stomach fluttered. “Happy New Year, by the way,” he said.

“You too.”

“I’d ask if you had fun last night, but your sloppy texting kind of answers that question.”

Leah laughed, combing through her hair with her fingers. “It really wasn’t as sloppy as you’re making it out to be. I was trying to text my father. Dad and Danny are right next to each other in my contacts, and it was almost four in the morning. Cut me some slack.”

“Ah, so that text was for your father?”

“Mm-hm,” she hummed, wondering if she imagined in the hint of relief in his voice. There was a stretch of silence, and Leah began to chew on her lower lip again.

“So you should probably erase it,” she blurted out suddenly.

“Why?”

“I…I don’t know. I don’t want to, like…get you in trouble or anything.”

“Get me in trouble?” he asked. “How would you get me in trouble?”

“I mean, some random girl, texting you that she loves you…” She trailed off.

“I don’t have a girlfriend, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

She could hear the amusement in his voice, picture the smirk he was probably wearing.

The one that brought out his dimples.

Heat flooded her cheeks again. He was right; that had been what she was getting at, and she couldn’t believe she’d gone about it in such a childish way. Why didn’t you just write him a note? she thought. Do you have a girlfriend? Circle yes or no.

Leah heard a muted banging through the phone before Danny called out, “Come in, it’s open!”

“Company?” she asked.

“Just a couple of the guys from the shop. We have money on today’s game, which means we all have to watch it in the same place so we can humiliate and degrade each other over it.”

“Sounds fun,” she said with a laugh, reaching over to grab the water bottle off her nightstand. “Well, I’ll let you go then.”

“Alright. Oh hey, Leah?”

She froze with the bottle at her lips. “Yeah?”

“Maybe you should erase that text from your sent messages. You know. So you don’t get in trouble or anything.”

She lowered the bottle from her lips as a smile curved her mouth. “I don’t have a boyfriend, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

He laughed lightly into the phone. “Talk to you later.”

“Bye,” she said.

She dropped the phone to the bed and brought the bottle back to her mouth, nibbling on the rim.

He said he’d talk to her later.

She pressed her lips together, fighting the squeal she could feel building in the back of her throat.

Oh, Leah, she thought. You are so screwed.

“Hey, Gram, can you hand me that flashlight?”

Danny shifted as the ledge of the cabinet dug into his lower back. He was three seconds away from ripping the goddamn sink out of the wall and throwing it across the room.

“Here you go, love,” she said, holding it out for him.

“Thanks,” he said absently, placing the wrench on his chest to free his hand for the light.

“I don’t know why you won’t just let me call a plumber.”

“Gram, you’re bruising my ego,” he said, although he was seriously beginning to wonder the same thing.

She leaned down and swatted his knee. “Oh, stop it with your ego. I know you’re capable of doing it. I’d just rather you didn’t.”

“Why?” he grunted as he worked the wrench to loosen a nut.

“Because there are better ways for you to spend your afternoon.”

Danny lifted his head slightly, peeking out from under the sink. “You know nothing trumps you,” he said with a wink, and she chuckled.

“Stop schmoozing me. Who do you think you’re talking to?”

Danny laughed as he positioned the flashlight near his shoulder. As much as he made jokes, what he’d said was the truth; there was nothing that took precedence over her, no matter how much she tried to urge him to feel otherwise, and she knew it.

“Alright, I need a different wrench,” he said, sliding out from under the sink and rubbing his lower back. “I’m pretty sure I have the one I need in my car.”

“Why don’t you take a break?” she said, handing him the glass of iced tea he hadn’t even seen her pour. He took it gratefully, leaning his back up against the cabinet and taking a large sip.

“Thanks,” he said, wiping the back of his hand over his mouth.

She nodded with a smile, shuffling over to the chair near the table. “So, did you ever get in touch with Leah?”

“What?” he asked, startled.

“For the flowers,” she said, taking a seat across from him. “Did you thank her for me?”

“Oh,” he said. “Yeah, I did.”

“She seems sweet.”

Danny took another long sip of his drink. “Yeah,” he said, reaching above him to place the glass on the counter near the sink.

“Beautiful too,” she said innocently, looking at her pants as she brushed away invisible lint.

“Gram.”

“What?” she said.

Danny opened his mouth, only to close it without answering. He shook his head as he pulled himself to his feet. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it does.”

He leaned down, saying nothing as he sifted through the toolbox.

“You deserve to be happy,” she said, and he laughed bitterly.

“That’s debatable,” he said as he straightened, turning to walk toward the door.

“Daniel,” she said firmly, and he stopped in his tracks. “Please don’t leave while I’m having a conversation with you. It’s rude.”

He looked down with a nod. “Sorry.”

A second later he heard her come up behind him, and then her hand was on his bicep, turning him back around to face her. “You do deserve to be happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”

His teeth came together as he tried to smother the surge of frustration he felt at her words. “Yeah?” he asked tightly. “And what about Leah? Does she deserve to be happy?”

“Daniel,” she said softly.

“You think getting involved with someone like me would make her happy?” he continued. “You think she’d just overlook everything that comes along with it?”

Gram looked down, twisting the ring on her left hand. “Everyone has baggage, Daniel.”

“Gram, come on,” he said.

When she didn’t lift her eyes, his voice softened.