***

Danny stared at his phone. How would Ryder feel about a little bit of texting? Would he think Danny was clingy? Wait, they weren’t in a relationship, so things like that didn’t matter. They had just shared a bed for a night and enjoyed breakfast together. Since sex hadn’t been in the equation, it was really wrong to assume that it had even been a one-night-stand.

Not a relationship. Not a one-night-stand. But they were friends. They were becoming friends. Ninety-nine percent of the entire population would likely call him nuts for letting a guy stay under his roof without knowing anything about him, but that was where Danny was no longer that cautious guy and had finally cut ties with being condemned to be Average Joe for his entire life.

It was time for that lunch with Vince anyway. He would try to text Ryder later, ask him what he would like to eat for dinner. Yep, it sounded like a great plan.

“Gosh, today’s horoscope tells me that I’m going to find a rich guy,” Kat commented, giggling and showing his phone screen to Jeff.

“Shut up, those things are never true,” Jeff argued, only to annoy his bestie. Although they were on friendly terms, neither of them ever missed a chance to sting the other with well-aimed barbs. “You should have been divorced three times already if they told the truth.”

“Shut up, you’re just jelly,” Kat said. “You just don’t believe in magic. I bet Danny is of a different mind. What sign are you, Danny?”

Danny wanted to tell Kat off, but at the same time he was in a good mood. “I’m a Libra,” he replied, smiling.

Kat scrolled quickly and a crooked smile quirked his lips. “It looks like you’re not in luck, Libra. Disappointment is written in your stars today.”

Danny shrugged. “I don’t believe in that sort of thing, anyway.”

“Don’t tell me. Is it because of that gruff guy who brought you here this morning that you are smiling like that?”

Danny didn’t bother to look Kat’s way, too caught up in his daydream fantasies. “Yes. It was like I was fated to meet him.”

“Fate? And you claim you don’t believe in horoscopes,” Kat reproached him.

“Well, I saw him in a crystal ball, what can I say?” Danny replied, feeling like stretching over the counter like a pleased house pet.

TBC