We got used to our little routine in a world filled with anything but routine. The sound of the camera flashing while Danni took instruction was never far away, while I usually had my eyes cast down on a blank sheet of paper, a pencil in my hand, and a whole imagination full of possibilities staring back at me. Over the next few weeks, we flew across the United States, stopping off in Texas, Chicago, Philadelphia, before landing in New York.

Fortunately for me, I had nothing but praise from Tasha’s exposure. I knew that if I ever saw her again, I’d have to thank her and make sure she was okay. The old me hadn’t completely died, after all. He was just learning to focus on what and who was in front of him, rather than always looking for ways to keep everyone else happy.

I spoke to Mum every other day, even if all I could manage was a quick text conversation. I’d tried to get something from Cameron on a couple of occasions, but he never let on to me that anything was wrong between him and my sister. Another thing I was learning was to take people’s words for things. If something were going on, they’d let me know when they wanted to. Until then, there wasn’t much I could do about anything.

Nat’s pregnancy was getting closer to the twelve-week scan point, and Danni was asking for constant belly picture updates, even though Nat hadn’t started showing yet. Alex became a nervous wreck, a man on the edge whenever Natalie stepped out of the front door to go to work. I found it hilarious. Winding him up became my new hobby from across the ocean.

Funny how life worked out. Once he’d been the boy I wanted to hurt. Now he was the friend I couldn’t imagine being without.

My artwork was starting to sell. Every morning brought a new level of happiness. It was sick really. Who was I to deserve so much good? I was taking it, though. Damn right, I was fucking taking it.

We were a week away from Christmas, and I had no idea what I was going to buy Danni for our first proper holiday together. All I wanted to do was lock her in a bedroom, tie her down, and devour every inch of her sought after body, over and over again.

“You’re the only gift I need,” she assured me as we sat staring at each other across the table in the Tick Tock diner of downtown Manhattan. Danni was currently closing her eyes and devouring a huge portion of disco fries, her moans way too arousing to me, considering we were in a public place.

With her eyes still closed, she licked the gravy and mozzarella off her fingertips slowly, and all I could focus on was the pink of her lips.

“Shit, Danni,” I muttered. “Who knew eating fries could be such a turn on?”

“You should see what I can do with the mayo.”

“Sweet Jesus.”

She peeked her eyes open and chuckled. “I’m not even sorry. These things are like sex on the tongue. My tastebuds are orgasming. It’s not me moaning, it’s them. They’re in the sky, exploding like fireworks.”

“They sound a lot like their owner when she’s coming against my mouth.”

Danni paused, her hand still dangling under her chin as her smirk started to creep into place. “Careful, Marcus. Your confidence is showing.”

“So is your blush.”

We stared at each other, the electricity zapping between us as usual. There could have been a million people in that diner, but all I could see was her.

“It’s a good job I love you,” she muttered before she delicately picked up another handful of fries and hung them to her lips.

I picked up my BBQ ranch burger and took a huge bite—my eyes focused on her as I ate. We stared at one another then, two of us lost in silent communication, until she reached for her drink and took a sip of her lemonade through a straw.

“I’m getting you a present,” I eventually said, pushing some of my burger into the corner of my mouth as I spoke. “Whether you like it or not.”

“Fine. Then I’ll get you two.”

“I’ll get you three.”

“Four.”

“I’ll find a way to get your name in lights on New York Times Square alongside a picture of you naked in our bed, smiling that post-orgasm smile of yours directly at the camera.”

“Yeah, right. Like you’d share the only side of me you know is exclusive to you.”

“Damn it,” I grumbled, reaching for my beer. “Why you gotta know me so well?”

“If I didn’t, you’d have no one to show you the way back to who you are every time you got lost.”

I didn’t think she meant it to be as profound as it was, but as soon as the words passed her lips effortlessly, I knew she was right. That’s what made her extra special. Danni always showed me the way home.

Pushing my food away, I dusted my hands off and leaned back in my seat, staring at her with a small smile on my face.

“Do we have to be anywhere important tonight?”

“Nope.” She grinned, popping the P.

“Good.” I nodded slowly. “Good.”

“What you got in mind?”

“I—” didn’t have time to tell her of what I was planning to do to her before a young girl came rushing over to our table, breathless and giddy, her hands shaking as she clung onto her phone and tried to contain her squeal of excitement.

“Daniella Marston,” she pushed out, all high-pitched and girly.

Danni sat upright instantly, pushing her long hair behind her ears as she beamed a genuine smile at the young girl. “Hey!” she replied like she knew her and they were good friends.

“Oh my God, I can’t believe it’s you.” The girl bounced on her feet, her dark-haired pigtails bobbing up and down over the shoulders of her denim jacket as she flashed her braces. “I’ve been following you on Instagram for so long… Even before you made it big. I followed you before…” she trailed off, her eyes drifting over to me as I sat there, dazed and unwilling to believe that this was my life. “Oh. Em. Gee,” she said, her eyes wide as she stared at me.

“Hi,” I offered casually.

“Marcus Anderson!” Her feet danced on the spot again, her cheeks blazing with fire as she squealed and drew even more attention our way.

I thought she was going to pass out, her face was turning so red, and her eyes were so frantic.

Danni slid out of her side of our booth with ease, her small laugh of reassurance lighting up the whole room and atmosphere. She wrapped her arm around the girl’s shoulder, bent at the knees so they were eye level, and held out her free hand. “Okay, so you clearly know our names. It’s only fair we know yours. We’d like to squeal and get excited to meet you.”

“Shut. Up.” The girl’s face fell, her disbelief rendering her temporarily speechless.

“I will not.” Danni laughed.

“I’m… I’m… Rebecca,” the girl eventually answered, holding out her phoneless hand for Danni to take.

The two of them spent the next few minutes discussing why we were in New York, how old Rebecca was—fifteen, by the way—and what she wanted to be when she grew up (a model, of course.)

And all I could think as the two of them got lost in effortless conversation, was how genuine and at ease Danni looked as she interacted with her fan—and make no mistake, Rebecca was a huge fan. She told Danni everything she already knew about herself, feeding her information on who she thought Danni should work and partner with, and what collections she’d love to see her as the face of.

“I’m telling you,” Rebecca bounced with excitement, her hands everywhere, gesticulating her enthusiasm. “Sports fashion is the place to be, and brands like Adidas never go out of style. You’re so pretty, you could sell sports bras to chest-less, hairy men. That’s how good you are.”

“Adidas, huh?” Danni said quietly, her finger resting on her chin as she looked up to the ceiling. “You could be onto something, you know. Hey,” she said, looking back down at Rebecca. “I think you’d make an amazing agent some day.”

“Yeah?” Rebecca’s eyes widened.

Danni smiled. “The best.”

“I can’t believe I’m talking to you.” She turned to face me. “Could I have a picture with you guys? Both of you?”

“Me?” I thumbed my own chest.

“Yep.”

“You sure?” I asked, raising a single brow.

Rebecca nodded with enthusiasm. “You’re a duo, right?”

“No, ma’am,” I said through a small chuckle. “I’m just riding on Danni’s coattails.”

“No way!” Rebecca frowned. “You’re a duo. That’s why people love you so much.”

“You tell him, sweetheart,” Danni whispered in her ear, her smile never fading.

“Is that so?” I asked with a smirk.

“Duh. I’m a teenager. As a teenager, it’s obvious I know everything.”

“Ah, to be wise again.”

A waitress took care of the pictures on Rebecca’s phone, and we went through several poses to make sure she had enough to brag about, from the standard arms around her with her in the middle shot, to the model poses, to Danni and me on our knees while Rebecca gripped us in a bear hug to her chest. Danni acted as excited as her fan did.

“Thank you so much.” Rebecca giggled as she gave us our parting hugs. “You guys are officially my number one favourites of all the favourites I’ve ever favourited. There are a lot of famous people in New York, but you two are top of the list. I love you so much.”

“We love you too, Rebecca. Thank you so much for coming over.”

“I’ll tag you in my pictures,” she called out over her shoulder as she started to walk away.

“You make sure you do. I’m going to need your advice when Adidas approach me.”

Rebecca laughed and skipped away, while I remained standing there like a deer caught in the headlights yet again, wondering if all of this was really my life.

Danni’s shoulders relaxed, and a happy sigh fell from her. I turned to stare at her face.

“That was insane,” she whispered.

“Sweet girl.”

“How the hell did we get here, Marcus?”

“It’s all you, baby.”

“No.” Danni shook her head and turned to face me with light in her smile and love in her eyes. “No, this is the two of us. You heard her. We’re a duo. Without you, I’m just another blonde face in a world already saturated with blonde faces.”

“And you say I don’t see myself clearly.” I pinched her chin between my finger and thumb and pulled her in for a kiss.

“I love you,” she whispered.

I smirked as I lowered my mouth to hers.

We kissed, and I could have sworn I saw a camera flash going off somewhere in my peripheral vision. I just couldn’t find it in me to care. If the whole world wanted to see me kissing the woman I loved, I’d hand it to them. The world focused on so much hate—maybe we were what they needed to believe it wasn’t such a bad place, after all.