Off Sides - By Bennett, Sawyer Page 0,48

for sex?"

She doesn't say anything but won't meet my eyes. I gently take hold of her chin and make her meet my gaze. "Danny...I love you. I want to help you achieve your dreams. That's what people in love do for each other."

Danny deflates right in front of me and crawls onto my lap. "I know, and I'm sorry I'm such a bitch about this. It just seems weird to me. And I’m sensitive about how others view me. You’re mom things I’m a gold digging tramp, remember?"

I'm quiet for a minute as I'm stroking her hair. Then I venture, "Would you feel different if we were married?"

She snaps her head up so hard it catches me on my chin with a resounding crack.

"Ouch," she swears.

I start laughing and rub the top of her head although I feel like I've been hit in the chin with a metal pipe.

Snuggling back to my chest, she softly says, "Don't joke about things like that. It's not funny."

"Who says I'm joking?"

She leans back to look at me once again, more carefully this time so we don't bang heads. Her eyes are wide and incredulous. "Ryan, we've known each other for like two seconds. How can you even think about marriage?"

Taking Danny's hands in mind, I look her dead in the eyes. "I can think it because I know, Danny. You're my one and only. Just like I'm yours. You know it's true."

She smiles and then kisses me. She doesn't respond and moves her mouth down my throat. She's trying to distract me but I'm not going to let it go. I'll just have to keep working on her until she either accepts my offer to help her with school or she agrees to marry me and then all of my money will be hers as well.

For now, Danny pushes me back down onto the bed and straddles me. As she rises up, I get lost in the perfection that hovers above me. We'll discuss school and marriage later.

***

The next morning, I get up early and cook Danny breakfast while she sleeps. We have a big day because Malone's arraignment is today and she wants to be present. And there's no way I'm letting her go alone.

Then I have to go see Coach and fill him in on everything. Given the criminal charges against me, I'm fully prepared to lose my Captaincy. Hell, I may get tossed off the team. Again, I still can't have a single regret for what I did.

I'm flipping pancakes when Paula walks in. Her hair is sticking up all over the place and she's rubbing her eyes.

"G'mornin'," she mumbles. "Danny still sleeping?"

"Good morning, sunshine. How many pancakes do you want? And yes, Sleeping Beauty is still...well...sleeping."

Paula holds up two fingers to indicate her pancake preference and pours herself a cup of coffee.

"How's she doing?" she asks me quietly.

"She's okay. Her face is a little sore but she's otherwise doing fine."

I finish Paula's pancakes for her and hand her the plate. I turn the stove off.

"Can I ask you something?"

Paula looks at me while stuffing a fork full into her mouth then nods.

"I offered to help Danny go back to Julliard, but she won't let me. So I offered her marriage, and she looked at me like I was crazy. What in the hell am I doing wrong?"

Paula looked at me like I was the biggest dumbass on the face of the earth. She swallowed her food and took a sip of coffee. "Seriously, Ryan. You're such a dumbass."

See, what'd I tell you?

"What is so wrong with me wanting to help her fulfill her dreams?" I sound petulant but I can't help it. I don't see how I can be wrong about this.

"Listen up and listen hard. I'm going to give you the best advice you've ever had." She pauses for dramatic effect, and then says, "Wait."

I anticipate more pearls of wisdom but none are forthcoming.

"That's it? Just 'wait'?"

Paula nods.

"And that's really the best advice I've ever had?"

"You can thank me at any time." She grins at me.

I sigh. "Please expound just a little bit more. My brain is apparently not comprehending you right now."

Paula pushes her plate back and picks up her mug of coffee. Sitting back in her seat, she looks at me with a smile. "You're a good man, Ryan. All you need to do is give our Danny some time and she'll come around. She's been through a lot lately. I'm telling you, just give her