SF Chapter 167: Cold II
Lisa changed the subject. "Dani, are you and Prudence going to release the songs?" she asked curiously.
As someone who worked in the field, she was very interested after seeing the two of them sing.
"We will in the future. I promised to wait her come back until I release mine," he revealed. "You can be part of our management team, Lisa!"
"You're already thinking about a team?" she raised an eyebrow.
"You know, I already have one for my books and scripts - and also a PR. I'd just need to add someone people with music-industry experience, like you," he said.
"I don't know if Prudence's dad is fully on board with her career choice. But he wouldn't let her go without a veteran by her side."
"But-" Dani made a gesture. "There's a big problem by my side. I don't like the idea of singing the same song over and over again, in different places. Also, doing tours is no-go for me. Seems exhausting."
Lisa stared at him in disbelief, since that was basically a singer's job. "Anyway," she said, noticing her fiancé approaching, "why haven't you and Charlie ever written anything together?"
Charlie and Dani looked at each other.
"We were busy!" they answered in unison.
Lisa scoffed. "Doing what? You two are like lazy bums every time I'm at the house."
"The end of the year and the start of the next are basically like a vacation," Dani argued.
"Just like the rest of the months," Alan commented. "I've been living with them for months - they're like that all the time."
Seeing a few judgmental looks, he quickly added, "I'm already looking for a place."
They talked a little more.
Charlie, Alan, and Lisa went back to the house in Malibu, while Jake and Dani stayed, since Phil had proposed a boys' night.
Dani said he would take Jake home the next morning. He also let Lexi know - she was at his place.
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The next day, Dani took Jake to the Malibu house.
Lisa had already left, having some early commitment.
Jake looked at his dad. "Boy, is he sick."
Alan was sprawled on the living room couch, clearly down with a bad cold, looking completely miserable.
"Well, I can't say he didn't warn me," Charlie said, sipping a hot drink. "How are you feeling?"
"Horrible," Alan groaned. "Is that tea?"
"Yeah," Charlie nodded, taking another sip and making no move to get one for his brother.
Dani, who had been on the phone with Phil, commented after hanging up, "Hey, bro, you're not the only unlucky one. Claire and Haley caught a bad cold too."
"Jake and I left before we saw them."
"Wonderful," Alan said sarcastically.
"I'm bored. What are we gonna do today?" Jake complained.
"I don't know. Why don't we make some lunch and figure something out?" Charlie shrugged.
"Cool."
Alan shot them an annoyed look. "Excuse me? Hasn't anybody noticed I'm sick and miserable here?"
"Yes, Alan, we noticed. Which is why we're gonna make like hockey players and get the puck out of here," Charlie remarked.
"Get it, Dad? 'Puck' isn't a bad word, but it sounds like one."
"Yeah, hilarious."
"I'm out of here too," Dani said, already backing away. "Before I catch it as well."
"Bro, stay safe. Drink water! I hear it's good for that!" he added as he left.
"Actually, I'm thirsty," Alan said.
"So drink water! Bye, bye," Dani said, leaving without bringing him any water.
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At Dani's room.
"Lexi, let's-" Dani started, then stopped when he really looked at her.
Lexi's nose was red, like Rudolph the reindeer.
Without another word, he stepped out and shut the door.
She stared at it for a moment, but said nothing, just lying back down on the couch and pulling the blanket tighter around herself.
A few minutes later, Dani returned. "Don't worry, Lexi. I've got you," he said as he approached her. He was wearing a surgical mask.
"Now, lift your butt a little, I'm going to take your temperature," Dani remarked, pulling a thermometer from his pocket.
"Dani, I'm a bit indisposed for your jokes right now," she said dryly.
"Right, sorry," he apologized and went back to the doorway, pushing a cart loaded with supplies he had left there.
"I brought everything," he said, approaching her again.
He started to unload the cart. "Hot chicken soup, water, medicine… and even towels with hot water so you can clean yourself up."
Lexi stared at him, a bit surprised.
"Now, come here, the chicken soup is delicious," Dani offered, placing the bowl in front of her. "I even had a little, just to make sure of it."
She rolled her eyes, but got up and went to eat.
"Do you want me to feed you, Lexi?"
"I have a cold. I'm not dying..."
"Rrrow," he made a cat-like sound. "I still think the way I wanted to take your temperature was the right one..."
She stepped on his foot, but then said, "Thank you, Dani. The soup is really good."
"There's also tea with honey and lemon, if you want," Dani took it from a compartment and poured it into a cup.
"Thanks. Where did you get all this, anyway?"
"With money, you can get anything really fast. A single call is all you had to do! And it's not like there's anything that elaborate here," he replied.
"Oh, let me see what else there is..." he wondered, rummaging through part of the cart as if he were seeing it for the first time too.
"If you're sneezing, there are tissues, a small trash bin to make your life easier, and... besides the flu medicine, we also have decongestant, throat lozenges..."
"...and a suppository." He tossed the last one into the trash. "Eh, already did a rectal joke."
Lexi ignored the last part and muttered, "God, you're so exaggerated," resting her head on his shoulder.
She ended up giving in a little. "Okay, now help me clean myself."
"Uhhh," Dani exclaimed, surprised. "Yes, ma'am."
He helped her, gently wiping her body with the cloth as she took off her shirt.
After that, he stood up and turned on the TV, putting on a movie and handing her the remote.
"What?" he asked.
She kept staring at him - more specifically, at his lower half.
Dani looked down. His pants looked like someone had pitched a tent. "You know it's a normal reaction. Even with you looking like you got hit by a bus."
"I can't exactly not get hard after seeing your naked body. Specifically left and right Lexis!"
She ended up chuckling. "Now get out, or you'll end up catching my cold."
"Fine."
"Dani."
"Yes?"
"I'll reward you after I get better," Lexi said.
"Yess!" Dani made a victory pose. "Maybe I should call some doctors, see if there's something to cure you faster?"
"Out," she scoffed.
"Ew, ew, ew, don't try to throw that tissue you used to blow your nose at me," he complained, quickly backing away.
"Dummy," Lexi adjusted herself more comfortably on the couch and started watching the movie he had put on.
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At the Dunphys' house
Phil walked in pushing a cart, similar to the one Dani had shown up with at his place.
"Claire, Haley, the 'Dani's kit' just arrived," Phil commented.
Claire got out of bed. "I swear that boy has always been so exaggerated. It only got worse with money," she said, though there was a smile on her face.
Haley got up as well. "I love this chicken soup. We should ask for it more often - not only when we have a cold."
But then she looked confused as she noticed the medicine. "Why are there suppositories?"
At Mischa's house
Nuala, Mischa's mother, came over to take care of her.
She showed up with a cart. "Mischa, I know you need to get better to work, but did you really have to buy half the pharmacy?"
"It wasn't me, Mom..." Mischa replied. "Just a dumb friend who's way too over the top." She tried to hide her grin.
At Charlie's house
Alan dragged himself into the kitchen. "Daniel told me he sent chicken soup - did it arrive yet?"
Charlie and Jake, who had been eating something, quickly hid it.
"Nope, nothing came yet," Charlie lied.
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[Dani, Mischa and Lexi commentary]
After a few days, the two girls recovered.
"You only bought chicken soup for your brother?" Lexi looked at him.
"Dad's old school. He taught me that when you have a cold, us men only need soup. And that's already a lot!"
Mischa stared at him oddly. "But I saw you taking medicine once, and your cold was pretty mild."
"Well, I don't follow his teachings all the time," Dani shrugged.
They both looked at him flatly.
But Lexi placed a hand on him. "Okay, now I'm going to keep my promise."
"Uh, I also feel like rewarding you," Mischa added, leaning in from the other side.
[Commentary ends]
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