Dani was feeling a little buzzed after the second game and a few shots. She wondered where Rocco had gone; it had been a while since she had seen him. She and Lexi decided to sit out and watch Bobby and Jared play Breanna and Alana. They stopped keeping score and were just tossing the bag around after a while. Bobby and Alana were showing Gavin how to throw, and he was having a blast.

"Hey Dani," Jared came up behind her, and she jumped.

"I'm sorry," he said sheepishly, "I didn't mean to sneak up on you."

"It's okay," she smiled. "Apparently, tequila makes me jumpy."

"I know this is going to sound all cliché and cheesy, but would you want to take a walk on the beach with me?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with hope.

"I would love to," she curtsied all cheesy like herself and giggled.

He took her hand, which she wasn't expecting but didn't mind; she felt her heart racing as they parted from everyone.

This is perfect. He's cute, sweet, and likes you...he's allowed, she told herself.

They kept walking silently for a while until he finally stopped. She glanced at him, and he gave her a boyish smile.

"I'm just going to say it." Jared said finally, "I am mad, crushing on you."

"Um, thanks," she said with a little giggle; she felt dizzy; how many shots had she had?

Focus, she told herself. This was it; he was going to ask her out, he was cute and sweet, and after a few dates, she'd forget all about the things she couldn't think about. She prepared herself to say yes as she saw him preparing to ask her.

"Would you want to go out sometime?" he blurted out, his cheeks flushing.

"I would," she started, and before she knew it, she added, "but I just got here, and everything is so crazy right now. I need time to settle into my new place and job before I date."

The words flew out of her mouth before she could stop them; she didn't even mean to say them, and there they were. He looked dejected, and she felt terrible for him.

"Hey, no pressure, maybe coffee?" he said sweetly. "Like a friendly coffee at my sister's shop or something?"

"I yeah, a friendly coffee," she stammered, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry this is not going well, is it?" He gave her a weak smile, his eyes defeated.

"It's not you, Jared. I swear if it wasn't for I..." She didn't know what to say between being drunk and confused about her feelings, but she didn't want him to feel bad. Had she met him a week ago, she'd probably be swooning.

"It's an ex or something, right?"

"Yeah," she said, more like, or something, but he didn't need to know that.

"Well, a new location and a new job can do wonders. Trust me." He smiled easily and she felt better, he didnt look too let down. "I'm sorry if I was too forward." 

"You weren't, not at all. You're a good guy and smart... funny... cute..." She smiled at him, happy when that sad look lifted from his eyes.

"You sure we can't go out?" he chuckled. 

"Can we be friends and see?" she asked.

"I'd like that." 

"Alright, buddy. Let's get back," she giggled.

When they returned, the sun was just going down; most everyone was sitting on the porch except Lexi and Bobby, sitting on the sand near the beach. Lexi got up and ran over when she saw Dani.

"We are going to sit in the hot tub and have some tequila," Lexi grabbed her hand, looking anxious for girl talk; things must have gone well with Bobby.

"We are coming with," Bobby grinned.

"No, you're not; it's girl time." Lexi kissed his cheek, then grabbed Dani to pull her towards the little outdoor shack. "We'll come to get you later..." she added when Bobby pouted.

"Okay, but go easy on me with the tequila," Dani begged as Lexi dragged her inside, where she flipped a switch on the wall to turn the tub on. The little beachy shack was cute, with a tub in the center and a bench to change on. Next to it sat a little locker that Lexi opened and handed her and Dani some swimsuits.

Lexi was a little smaller than Dani in the hips and chest, so it was a tad on the skimpy side, but it was just them, so she didn't let it bother her.

They climbed into the tub, and Lexi poured them each a shot.

"So...?" Dani asked.

"It was going so great! Did you see how everyone loved him? Well, almost. Dante didn't love him, but he did laugh at a few of his jokes." Lexi was giddy as her cheeks pinkened.

"He's such a nice guy! Good with Gavin too, I noticed," Dani said. "That's a big one for me."

"Yes! Good with kids is a must," Lexi agreed. "Bobby has a huge family and three sisters, so he's respectful and gentle even. He asked if he could kiss me he first time."

"Oh, that's so sweet!"

"Right? Dante would probably rip on him for it."

"I feel like he does that to get under your skin, Lexi."

"Well, it works," Lexi grumbled. "Least today, he was out of the way. I hate when I feel his judging eyes watching me and my dates so that he can rag on them later."

Lexi poured two more shots, and Dani thought, why not? She downed it with her new friend.

"We had a nice little make-out session on the beach when you two went on your walk," Lexi giggled.

"Yes, Lexi!" Dani flashed a grin. "How was he?"

"Such a great kisser," Lexi sighed dramatically. "I could tell he was enjoying it a lot too."

"So something came up?" Dani and Lexi both laughed as Lexi poured them another.

"What happened with Jared?"

"He asked me out... and I asked if we could keep it platonic for now."

"Why?" Lexi asked.

"I don't know. He is exactly what I should do. I told myself I would say yes, and then I just said no." Dani admitted her words were slurred and that she was getting warm in the tub, but it felt too good to get out. 

"Well, you didn't just say no for nothing,"

"I told him I just need time to settle in," Dani said.

"You told him? But that's not the truth?" Lexi laughed while nudging her.

"I can't tell you the truth. It's bad," Dani whispered.

"What do you mean?"

"He figured out I have an ex or something, but it's so complicated," Dani said, "So we'll be friends, but I got to change my mind. I need to date someone because I need a man."

Lexi laughed out loud. "Forget the ex. You're right. You do need a man."

"I don't know," Dani said, slumping against the side of the tub and letting her head rest on the built-in pillow. "Jared is so nice, though; he was all sorry. I reject him, and he says sorry. Yeah, it's not fair. I should date him."

"The thing is, Jared's my friend. I don't want him to get hurt." Lexi said carefully. "Let's find you a little fling or something first."

"Yeah, a fling, that's it," Dani agreed as she bobbed her head. " I just need a man so I can move on."

"To get over one, get under another," Lexi giggled.

"It's not like that. I haven't had a real boyfriend since high school," Dani said as she looked up at Lexi. Her new friend looked blurry in the tiny, steamy room.

"What?" Lexi looked confused. "No one?"

"One guy that I was seeing for five or six months. We never really got that serious, though. We had fun but no big commitments, and eventually, we fizzled out."

"When?"

"I'm not sure, exactly..." Dani said, squinting as she tried to recall.

"But you said you weren't over an ex, and that's why you couldn't date Jared?"

"No, um, I just need to settle here with my new job," Dani said, nodding her head up and down for yes.

"No, that's the lie you told me you said, remember?" Lexi giggled and took a swig from the bottle.

"Is there some other guy you like? Is that what it is?" Lexi asked.

"Stupid, it'll pass." Dani took the bottle and gulped. "It has to."

"Why?" Lexi leaned in close, "Is it Rocco?"

Dani spit the tequila out on her.

"Ewe!" Lexi squealed.

"Sorry, I'm sorry," Dani slurred.

"It's okay," Lexi said, using the hot tub water to wash her cheeks. "You're lucky I like you enough to let you spit on me."

"I am so sorry," Dani laughed, "and so drunk."

"So it is, Rocco, wow..." Lexi started.

"No, it's not." Dani cut her off.

"Dani honey, you're a terrible liar," Lexi patted her knee. "Who else could it be? Until today, he's the only guy you've met here."

"We can't talk about it," Dani whispered.

"No one's going to hear us here," Lexi assured her.

"I mean, if we talk about it gets all real," Dani said with wide eyes.

"Oh," Lexi nodded, "I get it.... uh, would it be selfish and horrible of me to say I wish he would trade up for you?"

"Don't say that!" Dani pleaded. "It's so, so bad."

"Okay, I won't. It's okay," Lexi assured her.

"No, it's not. It's not okay to think about him. He's married to my sister."

"There's a lot you don't know about their marriage. You'll see he deserves so much more."

"It's none of my business. I can't get involved in their marriage," Dani practically chanted.

"Okay, we won't talk about it, but I'm here whenever," Lexi said. "With liquor."

"You remind me of my best friend back home," Dani smiled a little, wiping back a stray tear.

"Don't cry, Dani; it's not your fault," Lexi assured her.

"Of course it is," Dani sighed.

"It's not..." Lexi was starting to slur, too, "thinking about something doesn't make you a villain, Dani. You can't help what you feel for a person."

"I just need some ice cream," Dani declared.

Lexi laughed, "Yes, that is the cure for it all."

"Hot," Dani brushed her dampened hair back from her face.

"I think we should probably get out," Lexi shut the tub off, and the girls stepped out. Dani nearly fell over as they exited the spinning room. She was so hot.

"Are you okay?" Lexi asked.

"Can I have some ice cream?" Dani asked before passing out.

**

"Hey, Dani, look at me." she woke up to see worried forestry eyes gazing down at her.

"Rocco?" She whispered in a rough voice.

"You, okay?" He helped her sit up, supporting her back with his hand. She realized she was still in the shack, sitting on the floor near the tub. What happened? 

"My head is spinning," she groaned.

"Tequila with Lexi in a hot tub isn't the best idea; you're dehydrated here." He handed her a bottle of water, and she greedily gulped it down her dry throat.

"Where's Lexi?" She asked when she finally finished.

"In the house, throwing up," He said, "She came up asking me to get you some ice cream, then ran into the bathroom to hurl."

"Oh yeah, ice cream because I was so hot," Dani recalled; she flushed as she recalled the rest of what she and Lexi talked about; she sure hoped she could trust her new friend.

"You want to go? We'll stop and get you ice cream on the way." Rocco offered as he helped her to her feet.

"Yeah," she nodded, and as she stood up, she realized she was still in Lexi's swimsuit, and her boobs were falling out over the top. Rocco was doing everything he could not to look directly at her, and her cheeks were burning as she feebly searched for her clothes and stumbled into the bathroom to change.

Rocco led them around the house through the sandy backyard; she was stumbling and had to hold his arm steady herself.

"Here I got you," he wrapped his arm around her waist. His grip was somehow solid and gentle at the same time. She let him lead them to his car, which helped her into the passenger's seat.

"I'm going to go get Gavi; I'll be right back, okay?"

"Okay," she whispered in a much breathier voice them she meant.

Dani missed his touch when it was gone, and her left side tingled. She looked through the windshield to see Rocco was carrying a sleeping Gavin to the car. The little guy was perfectly peaceful and safe in his dad's arms. Her heart nearly melted at the sight of them. 

She realized she hadn't said goodbye or anything as Rocco was strapping Gavin in. She figured they'd understand, though; everyone was so nice today.

She laid her head back on the seat, fanning herself off; she was still so hot. She sipped more of Rocco's water slowly and closed her eyes, which helped some.

"Sleep it off, Valentine. I'll stop and get you your ice cream." Rocco started the car and glanced at her.

"Cookies and cream, okay?" she mumbled, opening her eyes just a little to peek at him before shutting them again.

"Anything you want," he said quietly before she felt the car take off.