Love is Like a Playing Card (J. Daniel Atlas) Chapter XXI
After Lula left, Sutton looked over at Danny, still engrossed in his thoughts as he sat on the chair. She walked towards him, crouching down in front of him. Sutton placed a hand over his phone. Danny looked up at her, his eyes showing his confusion. His lips parted to speak, but he was unable to.
“Just… let me do this, okay?” Sutton told him. Danny nodded, unsure of what she was about to do. Sutton sucked in a breath. She moved to her knees, making herself taller and eye level with Danny. Slowly, she scooted herself closer to him, her hands on his knees for support, afraid that she may pass out from her rapid heartbeats. Sutton sucked in another breath, moving her hands to Danny’s cheeks. She looked into Danny’s eyes, searching for an answer of some kind, whether she should or shouldn’t do this. With all the confidence she had, Sutton kissed Danny, their lips quickly finding their missed places, like two puzzle pieces.
Danny sat in shock for a moment. Once he finally realized what was happening, he pushed himself off the chair, sitting on his knees in front of Sutton. Danny’s arms wrapped around Sutton’s waist, drawing her as close to him as possible, missing the feeling of his body next to hers. Sutton’s body molded into his, her arms snaking around his neck.
After what felt like only meer seconds, Sutton pulled away from Danny. He stared at her, confusion, shock, and utter disappointment from the loss of her lips evident on his face. Sutton shimmied herself out of Danny’s arms, standing up. “Goodnight, Danny,” she smiled.
Sutton turned, heading toward one of the two bedrooms left, leaving Danny to his own thoughts. She put three fingers to her lips, smiling at the moment the two shared. Happiness tingled throughout her body from Danny’s touch.
Danny ran a hand over his face. He found himself laughing at the event that had just occurred. He shook his head, feeling his heart beating fast. Sutton just showed Danny how much she missed him, and how much she still wanted to be with him. She poured her heart and soul into one kiss, and it was everything Danny needed at that moment. It was everything he needed to become the man Sutton knew he truly was.
~~
The next morning, Sutton awoke to the sounds of others talking outside her room. She rubbed her eyes, groggily standing and walking out of the room.
“Shit!” she shouted as she bumped into someone.
“Good morning to you, too,” Danny smiled as he held Sutton’s elbow to support her.
Sutton smiled. “Seems like yesterday I was tripping over you to get to the bathroom.”
Danny chuckled. “Yeah. I wouldn’t trade those bruises for anything in the world.”
The two stood there for a moment, grins plastered on their faces. Danny brushed a few strands of hair out of Sutton’s face. “I always loved your bedhead.”
Sutton involuntarily leaned into Danny’s touch, his thumb absentmindedly grazing her cheek. “I always loved your morning voice.”
“Alright, who wants pancakes?” Merritt announced.
Danny and Sutton turned to see a large stack of pancakes on the counter, Jack and Lula already scarfing down their helpings. The two smiled at each other, walking over to join the group.
“Since when did I lose my cooking job to you, Merritt?” Sutton asked as Merritt poured her a glass of orange juice.
“Since I realized Jack and I couldn’t survive on your meals alone anymore,” Merritt answered. “And, well, those late night calls to you helped, too,” he winked.
Sutton giggled as Danny said, “Ah, yes, the “Merritt emergencies.” How could I have forgotten?”
“Hey, some of us weren’t blessed enough to move in with Sutton,” Jack retorted with a mouth full of pancake. Lula hit him, telling him to not talk with food in his mouth.
“Yeah, she’s pretty amazing,” Danny murmured, just loud enough for Sutton to hear. She smiled at Danny as he patted her bare leg in the shorts Walter “generously” supplied.
As the five of them ate, Danny looked over at Sutton. She pushed the last few bits of pancake around her plate, obviously becoming full. She elbowed Jack, telling him to finish it off, which he happily did. Sutton sipped her orange juice, scrolling through her phone. Danny smiled to himself, realizing that now was the perfect time to tell the others what had been happening and to show her he is trying to get better.
“So,” Danny said, pushing his plate away from him, “there’s something I need to tell you guys.” Sutton locked her phone as the others looked at him. Jack was still engrossed in his food, so Sutton slapped his hand to listen to Danny. Danny glanced at Sutton who looked at him in confusion. “I have been in contact with someone. Someone I believe to be The Eye.”
Merritt and Lula shouted as Jack murmured, “I already knew that,” and shoved another bite in his mouth. “I arranged for them to pick up the stick from us once we have it.”
“How could you not tell us that?” Lula questioned Danny.
Danny sighed. “I’ve been in contact with them for a while now. I’m not proud of it, okay? I thought I was doing what was right for the team. You know, taking charge, getting us out of hiding.”
“Controlling the situation,” Merritt scoffed, “as usual.”
“Guys, just listen to him,” Sutton pleaded, “please.” Jack and Merritt glanced at one another, nodding in silent agreement as they always did at Sutton’s request.
“I agreed to meet with them a few weeks ago, back in New York. I only did it because we,” he looked at Jack and Merritt, “agreed that we were only letting Dylan lead us on for another month, then we were done. We were taking matters into our own hands, remember?” Jack and Merritt sighed, recalling the conversation the three had without Sutton, but her being their soul focus. “I-I was afraid Sutton was going to leave me, leave us, next, if I didn’t do something.” He glanced at Sutton, her smile showing him how proud she was to hear him tell the truth. “So, when I got a message from The Eye, I took the chance. I wanted to help us. I did it for the team, I promise.”
The Horsemen sat in silence for a moment. “So, why didn’t you tell us, you know, when you got the first message?” Jack asked.
Danny sighed heavily. “I don’t know, honestly. All I could think to do was talk to these people, save us, save our sanity.”
“While I hate that you did this on your own, I do respect it,” Merritt told him, receiving surprised looks from everyone. “Sometimes, Atlas isn’t always the asshole we all know he is. Sometimes, he’s a little more like Sutton.” Merritt smiled at his young partner as she mouthed, “thank you.” Merritt nodded.
“So, these are definitely the same people you plan on giving the stick to, right?” Lula asked.
Danny nodded. “Definitely. They’re going to help us stay out of jail.”
“Thank God because this pretty face wouldn’t last a day in the slammer!” Lula exclaimed, pointing at Jack.
The others laughed. Sutton grabbed Danny’s hand, pulling herself toward him. “I’m proud of you,” she whispered, their fingers entwining like they once did.
Danny smiled, staring down at their hands. “That kiss last night,” he whispered, making Sutton bite her lip to hold back a smile, “it made me realize that I needed to tell them. I need to learn to trust them with everything that’s going on. I’m not in this alone.”
Sutton smiled. “You never were,” she reminded him, kissing his cheek.
