Danny sighed deeply as the familiar chime of the elevator doors opened to reveal his penthouse apartment. Home sweet home.
“Hello.” He walked with Marnie into the living room and waited for his guest to show herself.
“Hi.”
Danny winced as Marnie and Jessica shrieked in unison. The two women hugged each other as they jumped up and down. He kept his surprise in check as a man stepped from behind Jessica.
“Danny, this is my boyfriend, Lem.” Her voice wavered as she made the introductions.
She must really like the guy. He couldn't see why though. Lem was a bean pole, who wore a plaid shirt, coke bottle glasses, and had a messy spiked hairstyle that was begging to be cut out of his eyes. He was used to her being with clean cut men, but this was a boy he was staring at. To each his own, though.
Her eyes lit up when she looked at him, and that was certainly worth something.
“What are you doing here?” Marnie asked.
“Well…” she looked at Danny for help.
He lightly shook his head no. He didn't want Marnie to know he'd asked Jessica to help him with suicide watch. They'd gotten so close over the tour, he was hoping Jess could help Marnie get over the painful memories Danny had brought forth by ambushing her with the family reunion. At least until she saw a therapist.
He hadn't told Jessica about her attack, though. That was Marnie's secret to share. He didn't even let on that Adam had told him about her assault. Marnie would tell him when she was ready, and he could tell she was a long ways away from that. He reasoned that if he was in her shoes, he'd never tell anyone either. But he hoped one day, he earned her trust.
“Come on. Let's go to your room.”
Jessica linked an arm with Marnie's and winked at Danny. She was merely here to keep an eye on her and to try to cheer her up. But why had she brought her boyfriend?
Danny plastered a smile on his face then turned to Lem.
“So… Nice pad,” Lem said, snagging the seat on the sofa Marnie usually occupied.
Fuck. He did not feel like entertaining this dude. His head hurt, and he was tired.
He grabbed the remote and stood up. “Here, watch whatever you like.”
In his office, Danny took a seat in the chair behind his desk. He slid the drawer across the track at warp speed. He pulled the coveted pill bottle out and poured a line.
A sigh escaped his lips. Just looking at the line gave him a buzz. He bent down and sniffed. Leaning back in his chair, he began to relax. More like melt. An overwhelming sense of peace claimed him. The vitamins made him feel invincible. The depression lifted and he wasn't tired anymore. He didn't need to worry about Marnie, she was inconsequential—he needed to focus on himself.
Danny did another line and leaned back in the chair with a grin. He was relieved Jessica was there to keep an eye on her for a few days. The scene in the bathroom still haunted him, but he figured three more lines would make it all go away. And that's what he needed for a moment, to just go away.
“So, sweetie, what's up?” Jessica lay on the bed next to her, and together they looked through the skylight.
Marnie sighed. She wasn't sure how much Danny told her about the incident.
“I got a little banged up.”
Jessica grinned, eyeing the bandages on her wrist and forehead. “I gathered.”
“He sounded so frantic when he called me. I didn't know what was going on. I just grabbed some clothes and hopped on the train.”
“Who was frantic?”
“Danny. He was so worried about you, I thought you were on your deathbed, to hear him tell it.”
Jessica was misguided. Danny wasn't worried. He was only frustrated. She hadn't thought about it at the time, but if she died, his little experiment of turning her sober would be a bust. He was probably worried about that.
“Get some rest. We'll hang out in the morning, if you're feeling up to it.”
Danny was startled awake by a cool hand caressing his face.
“Hey. You okay?”
Jessica's green eyes greeted him. They shone bright and complemented her killer smile. She leaned over his chair close enough for him to smell her sweet candy scented perfume and admire the cleavage that barely peaked out of the tank top she wore.
He glanced at the desk and was relieved he'd emptied the pill bottle and removed any traces of powder.
He sniffed a few times to try to prevent his nose from running. Jessica took a napkin from her purse and wiped it. As she removed her hand, Danny firmly grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a soft kiss.
Jessica plied his lips apart with her tongue and let out a low soft moan. She placed her right knee on his thigh, positioning herself on top of him. Danny ran his hand under her top and began to massage her nipple. She quickly grew hard in his hand.
“Stop,” she whispered in his ear. He ignored her protest and began work on the other breast.
Jessica pulled away, but Danny yanked her back into a kiss, this time more aggressive. Jessica tried again, and this time Danny felt the sting of her protest across his face.
The two stared at each other, their breath coming hard and fast, matching beat for beat.
Danny looked at her incredulously. What was the problem?
“Danny, I can't. I'm with Lem now.”
“He doesn't have to know.”
“He's in the other room.”
“We'll make it quick.” He reached for her, but Jessica stepped away.
“I need you.” He pleaded in a soft whisper.
He hadn't simply called Jessica for help with Marnie. He needed her too. He needed to get lost in something or someone before he went crazy.
“I'm sorry.”
She quickly exited the room before he got another word out.