unchanged. And yet, everything’s changed. Because Rizzo changed. Or maybe he just showed me who

he’s always been, deep inside. Whatever it is that he’s done, suddenly he’s become this completely

amazing human being that makes me catch my breath just thinking of him. Heart skips a beat,

something flutters inside. It feels amazing, and yet, bittersweet. Because now there’s this craving, like I

left a part of me with him. Does he feel the same?

Danny. Aka the Artist Formerly Known As Rizzo. He’s not the same. I’m not the same. And none of

this really makes sense to me. I can’t even think straight. Right now, I just feel.

He was kissing me when she opened the door and walked in, nearly giving us both a heart attack.

“Jesus Christ!” Danny swore and sat up straight in bed. “Can’t you knock?”

The woman crossed her arms in front of her chest and arched a fine eyebrow. “I don’t see why I

should knock in my own house.”

Her voice was unusually deep, a husky, sexy drawl. Shocked by her appearance, I could only stare at

her stupidly. This was Danny’s mom? Holy shit. I don’t know what I’d expected, but man, she was

gorgeous. Tall and beautiful, like a model. Long, blonde curls and dreamy gray eyes, perfect make-up,

designer dress. Looking so young she could have been Danny’s older sister. So that’s where his largerthan-

life presence came from.

He crossed his arms too and frowned. When he spoke there was a coldness in his voice I didn’t

recognize at all. “Damn it, Lilah. What the hell are you doing here anyway?”

“Where’s Paula?” She simply ignored his question, and from the cool, businesslike sound of it, she

might as well have been talking to an employee instead of her son.

“I gave her the week off.”

“For Christ’s sake, Daniel. Look at the state this place is in!”

“What’s it to you? You were supposed to be in France.”

There was an awkward silence in which they just stared at each other. I’d come out of my shock

enough to be horribly embarrassed, not knowing where to look. Being caught in bed with a guy by his

mother ranked pretty high on my top ten list of Things I Don’t Ever Want to Happen.

“So why are you back already?” Danny seemed all but happy about his mother’s unexpectedly early

return, and clearly not only because she was interrupting.

She rolled her eyes and sighed a little, which made her appear less like a goddess and more like a

human being. Well, slightly.

“You’ll be pleased to hear that Frank and I had a terrible fight. I couldn’t stand to see his face

anymore.”

The news was taken with a small, careless shrug. I thought I saw a small spark of triumph in his dark

orbs. “Are you getting another divorce, then?”

“We’ll see,” she replied matter-of-factly. Then she looked at me for the first time, strangely enough

in a casual way, as if I weren’t lying naked under the covers with her son. This was so bizarre.

“So, Daniel. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

* * *

The sound of the phone ringing is shrill, far too loud. I forgot how annoying it was. It’s not like we get a

lot of calls around here. Mom surely won’t get it, so I quickly step out of the shower and wrap a towel

around my waist, and hurry downstairs as fast as I can. She won’t mind if I leave puddles on the floor.

She won’t even notice.

“Hello?”

“Hello right back to you, Jimmy boy.”

There’s nothing I can do to stop a silly, happy smile from stealing onto my face. So good, so

relieving to hear his voice. “Danny.”

“The one and only. Hey, you know, I was just thinking that it’s been ages since we talked.” My smile

deepens as I listen to his warm, soft voice.

I chuckle softly. “Yeah, it’s almost been two hours, hasn’t it?”

“I know. It’s unforgivable. I should have called sooner.”

I laugh softly, picturing the grin on his face and the mischievous sparkle in the beautiful dark eyes

that surely accompanies his words.

When he continues to speak, he suddenly sounds thoughtful. “Seriously, though, there’s something

I’d like to ask you.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

“You didn’t leave because of Lilah. You left because of me.”

Oh damn. “Technically, that wasn’t a question,” I grin, trying to gain time before I answer. Which he

knows, I’m sure. But damn… Honesty is highly overrated. I don’t want to hurt him. Which is insane,

considering that just a couple of months ago I would have jumped at the opportunity to strike a blow.

“Damn it, J. Just tell me. I want the truth.”

“Do we have to do this?” I sigh and sink down on the chair beside the phone. “Can’t we just… enjoy

it?”

He laughs a little. “Hey, I’m all for it, but the whole you running out on me thing makes it kind of

hard.”

“I’m sorry.” I rub my eyes and sigh again. Why is it so difficult to tell him what I feel, why I left?

“Don’t apologize. I’m not Mills. I’m not asking you to analyze and interpret, or whatever it is the

two of you do all day. I’d just like to know where I stand.”

I nod, forgetting that he can’t see through the receiver. I guess he deserves to know. “The truth.

Okay. The truth is… I’m not sure if I’m ready for this kind of thing. Whatever it is.”

There’s a pause, and I nervously run my fingers through my wet hair.

Danny’s voice is calm when he speaks, and yet I can hear his anger. “Don’t think so much, James.

Do what you want. So, do you want to see me, or not?”

I close my eyes, suddenly wishing I could simply reach through the line and pull him close for a

kiss. The aching is running wild in the pit of my stomach, my heart is beating madly, and my skin

tingles, needy for his presence. If he could see me right now, words wouldn’t be necessary.

Telling him the truth would be a bad mistake. Because up until now I could have fooled myself,

made believe it was a one time thing. I could have put the blame on him, because he started it. And still,

the words leave my mouth like they have a mind of their own.

“I want to see you.”

“I’m on my way.”

Chapter 5

Mothers

DANNY: The house isn’t hard to spot with James sitting on the steps leading to the front porch, waiting

for me as I pull into the driveway. I stare at the plain building through the windshield as I turn off the

engine, wondering why it feels surreal to be here now. I don’t know what I expected.

Maybe something with a bit more of a “Psycho” feel to it. Dark and rundown, somewhere on the

outskirts of town, yeah, that would have been something. But this is almost disappointingly normal. Just

your average suburban family home. Lower middleclass. Could use some work here and there, but

there’s nothing unusual about it.

As I get out of the car and walk towards the lonely figure on the porch, he frowns at me and raises a

hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight. I guess it’s still creepy, someone with a history like James

growing up in a place like this. Could be anyone’s neighbor, and you’d never notice. Could happen

behind any of these ordinary doors lining the street.

He gets up when I reach him and I take off my dark glasses, blinking as my eyes adjust to the

brighter light. Brilliant blue with a trace of green, James’ eyes sparkle beautifully in the sunlight,

revealing their true color.

“You could have saved yourself the trouble of coming if you hadn’t hung up so soon.”

I shrug and grin. “It’s good to see you too, Jimmy boy.”

A smile flashes across his lips, but he shakes his head, the frown deepening. He fidgets with the

seam of his shirt absent-mindedly, avoiding my gaze. Haven’t seen him so tense since before we first