Teacher: Act Two (A Hollywood Rock n' Romance Trilogy Book 2) (7 page)

Danny’s alarm went off at 7:00 and we both sat up straight. He smiled at me, hopeful. I leaned over to kiss him lightly on the cheek. He climbed out of bed, stretched his back, raised up on the balls of his feet, then strode across to the slider. He started to slip his boxers off and thought better of it. He turned and grinned, whispering, “Be right back.”

He was out the door and flying into the pool. I laughed and watched him cut through the water, swimming laps fluidly. I got out of bed and did my own series of stretches. I felt even better this morning, surprisingly, since it was only four hours prior that we finally fell asleep. I used the bathroom, and when I returned to the bedroom, Danny was just climbing out of the pool. The morning sun glistened off the droplets of water, making him appear to be encased in crystals. He shook out his hair and pushed it back. I grabbed a towel for him and greeted him at the door.

“Good morning, Sunshine,” I said. “You look awake and ready to go!”

He kissed my cheek and stepped hurriedly past me. “I’m going to hop in the shower. I’ll meet you in the kitchen for breakfast. If I don’t keep walking I’m not going to be able to keep myself from dragging you in here with me.” The last he called over his shoulder and then shut the bathroom door firmly.

I chuckled at his determination to be good this morning. I strolled out to the kitchen, peeking in Jane’s room on the way. She was dead to the world at this hour. I admired her ability to sleep so soundly.

“Oh good, you guys are up. I was going to come check on Danny to be sure he was ready for his big day.” Nora was getting breakfast started and waved off my offer to help.

“I've got this, you just relax. You look better this morning, how do you feel?”

“I feel good, almost back to normal, but I’m definitely going to call the doctor. Hopefully I can get an appointment today or tomorrow and see what’s going on with me.”

Nora nodded over a cup of coffee. “See what your doctor says and then ask about alternatives to drugs. I know a great acupuncturist we can go see.”

I smiled. “Thank you. You guys have been so supportive and took such good care of me. I think that’s why I feel so much better today.”

She smiled. “Good enough for Connie to come work on you?”

I shrugged. “If she’s available. I don’t think I could turn that down. She is nothing short of miraculous with those hands of hers.”

“I’ll call her in a bit. I know she’s working today, but she could come tonight or I could take you to her.”

I told her whatever would be the least intrusive, which earned me a smirk. Danny came in from his shower, dressed in black jeans and a black Judas Priest t-shirt. I was pleased to see he was still barefoot. Someday I’d have to confess my fascination with his bare feet in the morning and give him something to tease me about.

“I’m ready for school, ladies! Feed me and I’m outta here. Gotta get me a diploma!”

Nora smooched him on the cheek and handed him a cup of orange juice. “Sausage will be done in a minute. I’ll scramble you up some eggs. You want toast, too?”

He nodded. “You’re the best, Nora! You could ask me for anything right now and it would be yours, you know that?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Well... I was thinking about signing up for a new series of cooking classes.”

“Done,” Danny said, took the last swig of his juice. “Pay for it out of my account. Take yourself to the spa or shopping while you’re at it. You deserve it after putting up with my grumpy ass.”

She ruffled his hair and said, “Yeah, I do. But you’re a sweet man, Danny Black. I don’t care how grumpy you get, you’re a sweet and generous man.”

He winked at her and turned a heated gaze on me. “So what’s your plan today, gorgeous?” Butterflies erupted in my stomach from his tone. Nora put a plate in front of him and he ate quickly, never taking his eyes off of me.

“I’m going to get myself to the doctor and then I’m going to be waiting for you to come home to see how your tests went?”

“Great answers. Come here,” he motioned me over to him at the bar. I stepped up to him and he pulled me close. “I love you, honey. Don’t push yourself, ok? Nora? Can you see if Connie can come over this afternoon? I want Jesse to have some work done, and I could use some myself.”

“Already gonna call her. And I’ll take Janey up to the ranch whenever she wants to go today.”

Danny thanked her and turned to me. He pulled me in for a kiss and whispered, “For good luck.”

“You don’t need it, but I’ll be sending you good vibes.”

He stood up and walked towards the door. “How long do you think it’ll take?”

“The test should only take you a couple hours at most. You might even finish in an hour and a half. It takes a while to get started, but then it goes quick.”

He nodded and left to finish getting ready.

“I can’t believe it’s already here,” I whispered to Nora.

She smiled. “You two worked so hard. I’m sure he’ll be happy when it’s over.”

He came back in, kissed us both, and ran out the door.

After he left, Nora told me she’d washed my clothes and hung them in Danny’s closet. I thanked her and left to take a shower. When I was finished, I called the doctor’s office and they wanted me to do a fasting blood test today and come in for an appointment. Luckily I hadn’t eaten yet, so I told Nora I was headed to the lab. She asked if I was ok to drive. I assured her I was.

It felt weird to be going about my life alone today. The past couple of months had been all about Danny and getting his work done. Now that I had some time to myself, it really hit me how much my life had changed! I don't think I could have admitted to myself just how much I needed something positive to happen, needed a second chance. I had been in a real rut; I was lonely, stagnated and wasn't taking the best care of myself. Being with Danny motivated me to do more for myself, rather than being another drain on my energy. He was easy to make happy as long as he got what he wanted, and usually what he wanted was for me to be happy and taken care of. I'd never hoped for love like this before, never been much of a romantic. I just hoped I didn't screw it up!

I checked my phone while I waited my turn at the lab and found a message from the studio.

“Hi Jesse. Just wanted to let you know that we have decided to cancel classes for the month of August. We are going to replace the floor and paint so we won’t need you until the first week in September. Sorry this is such short notice, but the owners just came into some money and wanted to make some improvements. Enjoy your time off and we’ll see you soon.”

That certainly took some pressure off, although I knew Jane would be disappointed. Perhaps when I was feeling better I could work with her and teach her some basics so she’d be even more ready when classes started. There was plenty of room for us to practice at Danny’s. When I felt better.

The phlebotomist went easy on me. I probably wouldn't have much bruising from the needle after six vials were drawn. The doctor requested my results STAT so I went over to her office directly after. The nurse took me back after a short wait and the doctor strolled in looking at her clipboard.

"The good news is that I don't have to hospitalize you, though I'm not pleased with these test results." She did a quick physical exam followed by a check of my joint mobility. She questioned me the whole time about this weekend's flare-up.

"I was well taken care of. My boyfriend's housekeeper is also a nurse and she did her best to keep me hydrated. It wasn't fun, but I'm still here."

Dr. Rosenberg looked at me over the top of her glasses. "We need to start talking about real medicine, Jesse. I know you haven't been excited about taking anything stronger than Aleve, but we're past that."

I knew she was right, but I wanted to explore all of my options. "What do you think about acupuncture?"

She shrugged. "It could possibly help with inflammation, but only a drug regimen is going to keep the flare-ups at bay and keep the damage to a minimum. You have to think about your future."

It was only because I'd had a real glimpse at a future with Danny that I refused to fight her on this. "You're right. So now what?"

She went over some treatment options and we decided on two disease-altering drugs to start with and a third drug if the first two didn't give the desired results. She also gave me the names of a few acupuncturists in the area she trusted and told me to come back in four weeks for more blood work and a follow up.

"This boyfriend is a new development I take it?"

I felt my cheeks flush. "Yeah. We've known each other a couple of months, but only recently took that next step. There were, um, complications?"

She barked out a laugh. "When is that not the case?"

I giggled, but then sobered up after recalling this weekend. "I sure did not like being sick in front of him. He really freaked out over my weight loss."

Dr. Rosenberg gave me a hard look. "He was right to be concerned. I've always told you that a 10lbs weight gain would be in your best interest. At this point, 20lbs would really make me happy. This medicine might tax your system, Jesse, and if you don't have any reserves, if you're in the negative like you are now, then you're looking at possible kidney and circulatory damage, too. I know it's hard for you, but you really need to work on it."

I knew she was right, as much as I hated it. I paid my copay and made my appointment on the way out and then headed back to Danny's. I'd texted him to let him know where I was in case he got home before me.

I knocked on the door, feeling worn out from the morning's excursions. No one answered after the second knock, so I gathered that Nora and Jane had gone to the ranch. I was just about to climb back in my car when Danny's Challenger came around the corner. He pulled into the driveway with a wave and I locked my door behind me.

"Dammit! I was hoping I'd beat you," he said as he jogged toward me with a small, paper bag in his hand. He wrapped me tightly in his arms.

"How did you feel about the test," I asked him, inhaling his Danny smell and instantly feeling better.

"Very well prepared," he whispered against my neck. "I realized I hadn't picked up a key for you yet. I stopped and got you a copy and I'm giving you the codes."

It shouldn't have made a difference to me because I knew how he felt about me, but the fact that he went out of his way to give me the key to his home made me feel even more loved, if that was possible.

He slung his arm around my shoulders and walked me to the front door. He was giving me instructions on how to use the alarm on the way in. I tried to pay close attention, I really did.

"Nora left me a message that she and Janey were going to the ranch, out to lunch, and then by the culinary school so Nora can register. We've got some time to ourselves," he said, looking me over, "and you look like you need some rest. Connie will be over for dinner and then she's going to work on us. But first I want to hear everything the doctor said."

I exhaled and told him the whole story, not even leaving out the part about gaining weight because I knew he'd ask anyway.

"I like this doctor already. I'm sorry I couldn't go with you," he said quietly but I shushed him.

"You definitely had somewhere more important to be. It was fine. I just need to run out and pick up my medications tomorrow."

"I'm sorry you have to take the drugs, but I'm glad you will feel better. How about we go together tomorrow after my test and then go see one of the acupuncturists she told you about? We should also check with Nora, she knows a good one, too."

I smiled up at him. "Thank you, Danny. It's much less scary knowing you're here." I'm not sure he understood how difficult it was for me to admit that.

He took my face in his hands and looked me deep in the eyes. "I don't want you to be afraid, honey. I'm going to be here no matter what, ok? You're not doing this alone anymore." He kissed me sweetly and I allowed myself to trust in his words.

"You go get comfortable while I fix us some lunch. You're going to have to educate me on what I should be feeding you." How cute!

"I just need to avoid a lot of starches and too much dairy. But make whatever. I'll just eat what I can."

He rolled his eyes.

I walked out to the backyard and stretched out on the couch we'd had such fun on last night. He returned shortly with iced tea and a platter of fruit, pita chips and Hummus.

"This looks perfect," I said enthusiastically. "I forgot to bring something to eat after my blood test so I'm famished!"

He shook his head, but thankfully didn't admonish me.

He spoke animatedly about his morning. "So there were about fifty of us in that big multipurpose room, and thank goodness it's not that hot today, because it was already sweltering inside. It smelled like I remember the boys' locker room smelled in school! Fucking nasty!" I chuckled around my food, not able to slow myself down. "And some of those kids! Fuck me! You work with some tough customers! But they were all respectful, gotta hand them that. Some very obvious gang members even hugged on your boss!"

"They are really sweet with us. It's hard to picture what they get up to outside of school and realize they're the same big teddy bears we know and love. I never put my guard down, though. Some of them can't help the way they respond to temptation. I've never felt threatened in the five years I've been there."

He nodded, looking satisfied by that. "Good. I don't want to be worried about you being there. I know shit can happen, but I feel better that you are in a good place. There were a few other old folks like me, but most were, like, maybe English learners?"

I nodded. "They make up a large portion of the Adult Ed program. So did you get recognized?"

He shook his head. "Nah. I sat with some skate punks in the back. They seemed a little out of it, totally reminded me of me and Alex, short the uniforms!"

I laughed. "Do you have any pictures of you two back then? I'd love to see them."

He smiled. "I could probably scrounge some up. Or, when we go visit your parents, we can go see mine, too. There you will definitely get to see some embarrassing pictures."