“You okay?” He must have noticed I’ve gotten quiet.
“Yeah, I just don’t have the same sort of closeness with my mom. It makes me sad sometimes to know I haven’t gotten to have what others do.”
“But your dad is badass,” he reminds me.
“He is,” I agree. “But for a girl? There are times when you just need a mom,” I shrug.
“I don’t know what happened between Chief and your mom. Obviously it was before my time, and I don’t like to make myself the center of focus, so I don’t ask a lot of questions at the station. But I’m gonna ask you, because I wanna be here whenever you need me. Do you wanna talk about it?”
“No.” I shake my head, letting go of his offer. It’s sweet, but I don’t want one of the first times we officially hang out to be darkened by her memory. So much of my life already has that stain on it. I’ll never welcome more of her bullshit into my life. “I think I’d rather just spend time with you.”
“Sounds good to me.”
His rough hand slips into mine, caressing softly. His fingers curl around mine with a feeling of protection I’ve never had from a man other than my father. Our palms touch and a spark travels through parts I’d long thought dormant. Dormant isn’t the right word, though. There had been instances where I wondered if I would ever feel the same things other girls my age did. In high school and college, I’d wondered if something was wrong with me. So many times guys would be turned on kissing me and I didn’t feel the same level of arousal. Far too many times I’ve faked feelings. With Danny? I don’t think that’s ever going to be an issue.
Holding hands, we drive to wherever he’s taking me and I don’t think I’ve ever been more content to let someone else take the lead.