I have a lot in common from what little you’ve told me about him.” As his mind raced to remember what he’d told her about the guy, another question begged an answer. Hang out with him? What the fuck did that mean?
“Long story even longer, I was kind of a rebel in my late teens because I hated my stepdad.” Orlando nodded at the reminder of what he’d shared with her about Byron now. “I wasn’t happy to begin with when my mom remarried after my dad died. But her husband’s impatience with Dominic was not something I’d ever tolerate. He thought we babied him too much, and we probably did—still do—but it wasn’t his place to say anything about it. So, we bumped heads constantly, and it got ugly sometimes. You don’t—”She stopped pacing and pressed her lips together as if she had to think of what she was going to say next then turned to Orlando, her eyes glistening again. “Nobody fucks with my Boo Boo, and I had no idea up until that man did, how incensed it would make me. You spoke of Byron’s temper, and it just reminded me that it wasn’t until the first time he yelled at Dominic that I even had one, but it flared that day. He scared him, and I swear to God I wanted to take a bat to that asshole’s head. I knew I couldn’t, but I was absolutely disrespectful to him that day and each time he snapped at Dominic afterward. My mom sided with my stepdad, and in hindsight, rightfully so. I’m working on it, but my potty mouth can get pretty bad when I’m pissed. I know it sounds cliché, but I started lashing out. Getting into trouble for stupid stuff.” She started pacing again after taking a deep breath and turned her face away from him.
“You don’t have to tell me about all that, Dani. It’s none of my business.”
“No, it is,” she said, turning back to face him. “Because if you ever do decide to run a background check on me, the whole truth will come out, and I hate it hanging over my head. Bottom line is DUI’s are not automatic felonies. But they are when there’s injuries involved, and you’ve been previously arrested for a bunch of other stupid shit prior. Because of that, the district attorney went hard on me, and the judge agreed. I was slapped with a felony, did six months jail time, and let me tell you it was an eye-opener and life-changing for me.”
Orlando smirked, despite the intensity of their conversation because this had him feeling unbelievably even more drawn to her. “Well, now you’re just preaching to the choir. Because, trust me, I know all about being arrested for doing stupid shit and serving time.”
“I don’t know about you.” She breathed in deeply. “The bonds I made while in there were like none I’ve ever made on the outside. Everything was different once I was in there away from my friends and loved ones. I was terrified. All I could think was I was going to be surrounded by nothing but the lowest of low, and it was so not true. They’re people just like you and me who are also suffering and made stupid mistakes like the ones I had. The older women took me in like mother hens and all of them totally got it.
“After the time I spent in jail, I felt like no one would ever understand what I’d been through the way they did. So, we made a pact, the two I’d made the closest bonds with anyway, to stay in touch when we got out and we did. Juanita was one of them.” She stopped as her face scrunched and brought her hand to her mouth. Inappropriate or not, Orlando was instantly on his feet and rushed to her, taking her in his arms. Looking up at him with those big pleading eyes, she shook her head. “She’s dead now, but she was a good person. She really was.” The tears streamed down her face as she got increasingly emotional. “Only she was an addict. No one understands that. Everyone thinks drugs are a choice and you can just quit if you really want to, but she tried so many times, and I tried to help her. In the end, there was nothing I could—”
“Dani,” he said, bringing his hand down and slipping his fingers into hers. “I know