Author's Note: Updates should be quick now. I've got a few chapters ahead, and a clear map of the remaining story. But this chapter is where Duo gets to SHINE. Enjoy!
Duo's POV
The Wedding Planner Part 38
Saving the Day
I felt much better on Monday morning; I think visiting Alex's grave was kind of cathartic for me. I'd released the last of my anger and pushed the feeling of abandonment further into my past, and I felt more prepared to move forward with my life than I had in a long time.
There must have been twenty messages on my machine...twenty clients to call back...twenty appointments to make. But, of course, I dialed Heero's number first.
By the ninth ring, I almost gave up, and then I heard a weary voice say "Yuy here."
"Hey, 'Ro. Good morning."
"Hn."
Okay. That didn't sound like the voice of a man about to share a romantic day with the love of his life. "What's wrong?"
There was a pause, and then a short, almost bitter chuckle. "How could you tell there was something wrong just from hearing 'hn?'"
I blinked. "Well, you said 'Yuy here' first."
"And from that and 'hn' you got that there was something wrong?"
"Well--yeah."
"You're something else."
That brought a grin to my face. I'd take compliments from the hot, engaged guy any day of the week. "I like to think so," I said cheekily. "So spill it, Yuy. What's the problem? Did you forget the breakfast in bed?"
"No, I didn't," came a crisp response.
"Oh. Then where are you and 'Lena off to?"
"Nowhere, Duo. She wouldn't cancel today's appointments for a trivial thing like our relationship," came the very bitter answer.
Fuck! Did that dumb blonde not know what she had? How could anyone refuse a day with Heero? For that matter, how could anyone refuse him anything?
"Shit, man..."
"It's okay, Duo. It's not your problem," he said quickly. "Thanks for the suggestion, anyway."
I couldn't stand the deep disappointment I heard in his voice. I was tempted to wring Relena's skinny little neck for that. After I'd convinced Heero to do something spontaneous and romantic with her, she just blew him off. Stupid bitch.
"So who needs Relena?" I said to Heero, hoping to cheer him up. "I'll play hooky with you."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Thanks anyway, but I may as well go to work..."
"--not!" I cut him off sharply. "Shit, Yuy...you just worked up the nerve to be crazy and irresponsible for a day. Don't back out on me now. Where are you?"
"Nearly back to my penthouse."
"Perfect," I told him, a plan rapidly coalescing in my mind. "You go put on some ratty old shorts and sneakers you don't mind getting wet...pack a change of clothes, casual, like jeans and a sweatshirt...and meet me at Howard's in an hour."
"What?"
"Meet me at Howard's."
"Why?"
"Just do it, Yuy."
"But--what are you going to do?"
"I'm gonna make sure your day isn't a total waste."
"You don't have to do that, Duo."
"I know, but I want to!" I'd been struck with inspiration, and I wasn't about to let Heero Yuy spend a miserable day at work when he'd tried so hard to plan a special afternoon for an ungrateful bitch. "Today's your 'hooky day.' And you, Heero Yuy, are going to play hooky."
"Duo--"
"One hour!"
"I thought you had calls to catch up on."
"They'll wait. They're not that important." Not as important as salvaging Heero's day. I heard a choked sound on the line...almost a cross between a laugh and a sob. Or maybe it was a cough.
"Duo--"
"Yeah, 'Ro?"
There was a pause. "I'll be there."
I grinned widely. "Excellent! See ya in an hour!"
I hung up the phone and dove for my bedroom, scrambling to find cutoff jean shorts, sneakers, and my most comfortable tee shirt. Then I threw a few other supplies in a waterproof bag, including sun block, towels, and a change of shoes.
It didn't take long to call the office and leave a message for Quatre that I was taking a day off. He'd probably assume I was worn out from the visit to the cemetery, which was fine by me. I didn't want to have to explain where I was going, and with whom.
Moments later I was tossing my stuff into my beat up Jeep, which I honestly loved every bit as much as the sleek Jag I drove for work. The Jeep, affectionately nicknamed "Scythe" after the time Quatre and I had gone off-roading in a corn field (Don't ask!), and not nicknamed after Hilde's horse, was my "fun" vehicle. It could go anywhere I ever wanted, and sliding behind the wheel automatically put me in a good mood.
Not that heading for a meeting with Heero wasn't enough to lift my spirits. Straightness notwithstanding, Heero Yuy was as hot as they come, and super company. And, before you say it, yeah, I knew being alone with him for a day was a bad idea. I mean, sure we'd done it before--but that's when we were enemies--just getting to know one another. Since I already knew I was painfully attracted to the guy, spending time in his company was a stupid, stupid idea.
But there was no way I was going to leave him alone and miserable after Relena had dumped on him. The dejected sound of his voice had struck right to my heart, and since the day off was my idea, I felt like I'd set him up to fail. I was his friend, wasn't I? And so I felt responsible for pulling him out of the doldrums I'd created. I was determined that I'd hear him laugh before the end of the day, no matter what it took.
I made one quick stop on my way to Howard's; my favorite deli made a wicked picnic lunch. It came complete...in the basket, with utensils and condiments to go with sandwiches, side dishes, and even a disposable cloth to put down on the ground. When I showed up at the rendezvous I was armed with food and a plan.
Heero was sitting on the hood of his car in the parking lot, when I pulled in next to him. He looked slightly more angry than depressed, but then that was his nature. He wasn't the type to wallow in misery.
"Duo?" He looked over the beat-up Jeep incredulously. "What the hell is that?"
"Heero...meet Scythe." I hopped out and grabbed the basket and my bag of supplies.
"Scythe? Like Hilde's horse?"
"Well, yeah--but not named after the horse. It's a long story," I told him, walking over and trying not to drool on myself when I realized how great he looked in casual clothes. And those legs! I could just picture them wrapped around-- Uh. Never mind.
I forcibly pulled my mind out of the bedroom it had wandered into. "I told you the Jag was a company car."
"Yeah, but you seemed awfully fond of it."
"No shit. It's a sweet ride. But this baby is all mine...and can take me places the Jag couldn't dream of going." I patted the hood of the Jeep. "This is more like the real me." I gave Heero a look from under my bangs. "D'you think less of me for driving a battered old beast like this?"
"Never."
I couldn't help but grin. "So, you ready to go?"
Those intense blue eyes studied my face for a long moment, and Heero gave a faint smile. "Yeah, I am." He picked up his backpack and prepared to follow me.
We walked over to the ice cream stand, and Howard gave us a surprised and then knowing look. I made a mental note to kill him at my earliest convenience. "Hey, Howie. Mind if we borrow the Sunfish for a day?"
His glance darted between Heero and me, and he raised an eyebrow. "Where will you be sailing her?"
"Out to Fun Land."
The whiskered old man chuckled. "Maxwell, you're completely certifiable!"
"So're you." I put the basket on the counter. "Y'mind keeping this in a shady spot for a few hours. When we get back, I'm gonna take Heero up the beach for lunch."
"Showing him the old homestead?" teased my friend.
"Hey, I may as well sit on that porch while I can," I replied wistfully. Then a nagging thought crossed my mind. "Someone didn't up an' buy it, did they?"
"Naw. It's still up for grabs, kiddo." Howard tucked the picnic basket behind the counter. "The Sunfish is out by the shed. Help yourself." He eyed Heero searchingly. "You ever sailed before?"
The dark-haired man shrugged slightly. "Just at the yacht club." He gave a slightly sheepish smile. "I don't suppose that's quite the same thing, is it?"
Howard guffawed happily, while I grabbed Heero's arm and pulled him away with me. "C'mon, 'Ro. You'll pick it up fast."
"Fun Land?" he asked with a puzzled scowl on that adorable brow of his.
"You never heard of Fun Land?" I was amazed. An educated man like Heero Yuy had never heard of the best amusement park on our stretch of coastline? Inconceivable!
"No."
"Well, prepare to be amazed," I cautioned. We'd reached the shed, and I turned the corner and pulled a dusty tarp off of Howard's little sailboat. As usual, it was ready to go, the sail and mast rolled up and wrapped, and the keel board lying in the foot well.
Heero looked dubious. "It's kind of--small. Is it safe?"
I glared at him. "It's completely safe, Yuy. Trust me."
"Are there floatation devices?"
I pointed to the two life jackets tucked in with the keel board. "Of course. If you wanna be a chicken weenie, go ahead and wear one."
It was his turn to glare at me. "I'm not a--whatever it was you just said. I just want to survive the day."
"I'm a good sailor," I assured him. "And we're not going far. Just across the bay to the peninsula."
"Fun Land?"
"Yep." I tossed my waterproof bag into the foot well, fastened it and Heero's backpack to a ring inside, and hefted one end of the boat. "Grab the other end, Yuy, and be careful not to let the mast and sail roll off."
He dutifully lifted his end of the small sailboat, and we trudged it down to the water, walking into a couple of feet of surf before we lowered it.
The little boat floated happily there, while I unwrapped the sail, and Heero and I maneuvered the mast into place. Within moments, we had the sail unfurled and the sailboat ready to go.
"Get in," I ordered, holding it steady while Heero got in first. Then I walked it out deeper, until the water was nearly up to my thighs. "Now drop the keel board through that slot in the floor." Heero complied, and as the wind caught the sail, I jumped up onto the flat boat, letting my feet still trail over the side as I took control of the rudder. "Okay, Yuy. Time for a little sailing lesson!"
He looked slightly alarmed, and gave me a defiant glare before slipping on one of the life jackets. I just grinned dauntlessly back.
The Sunfish was a blast to sail...small, light, and manageable by a single person, it was the most portable and inexpensive boat going. If I had a garage to keep one in, I'd have had my own. But Howard's was usually available, and I'd had lots of practice taking it out in the bay.
The waves were small that day, the ocean a deep, sparkling blue that I wistfully thought matched Heero's eyes. And speaking of his eyes, he was seated right next to me as I maneuvered the boat out into deeper water. When a gust of wind tilted us precariously up on one side, I elbowed him while loosening some rope to allow more play in the sail.
"Ya gotta lean back over the side if she tilts like that," I explained, demonstrating the technique.
Heero was a quick learner, and soon seemed to anticipate the need to counterbalance the boat when a strong gust caught the sail. By the time we were halfway across the bay, he'd lost his tight, angry expression, and had that wide-eyed, curious look I'd first seen when I coaxed him to pet a horse.
I decided it was time to challenge him again. "Here--how 'bout you try sailing her?"
He turned a startled look to me. "I don't know how."
"You've been watching me," I pointed out. Yeah, I had noticed his gaze on me more than once. I figured he was studying the way to sail the boat, since I couldn't imagine him ogling my ass. I could dream about it though.
He seemed to blush a little at that, glancing away uncomfortably. "But what if I screw up?"
"Then we'll probably capsize," I shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time. And these little puppies are pretty easy to right, unless the sail gets too soaked. Two of us could do it with no problem."
"Put your life vest on!"
I smirked, sensing I was about to get my way, and put on the jacket. Then I handed him the line to control the sail, and sidled around to switch places with him.
God! Let me tell you, the whole day was worthwhile just for that moment when I was pressed up against him as we swapped positions.
And then he was at the rear of the boat, one hand on the tiller and the other handling the line.
"I told you it was easy," I pointed out, noticing he had a knack for sensing the changing tension needed on the rope to keep the sail taut.
He wore a look of intense concentration, his eyes flickering from the sail to the water ahead and back, as if plotting a course through the waves. I leaned back on my hands, turning my face up to the sun and smiling contentedly. It was a perfectly lovely day, and I was in great company. What could be better?
TBC...
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