Chapter 16 - Danny at the Gym

When the gym door slid open, I didn’t expect to see Danny on one of the treadmills, walking at a steady pace while staring at his tablet like it held the secrets of the universe. I paused for a second, caught off guard. Danny? In the gym?

The rhythmic hum of the treadmill filled the otherwise empty room, the quiet so sharp it made my ears ring. I suddenly felt like an intruder in his space, watching him so focused, so tuned in. Maybe that’s why Zoe’s so smitten with him. He had this energy, this calm control that made him seem way more put together than the rest of us. And okay, yeah, it was kind of… magnetic.

“Didn’t think anyone else would be here,” I said, stepping inside. My voice sounded louder than I wanted it to, and I wasn’t even sure why I was talking. I had expected Chris, or maybe Ryan, not Danny.

Danny glanced up briefly, flashing a quick grin before looking back at his tablet, like it was no big deal. He looked… good. His red curly hair was all tousled, like he’d just rolled out of bed. Zoe loves that look on him, doesn’t she?

“Needed to stretch my legs,” Danny said casually. “Been cooped up in the lab too much.”

I nodded, dropping my water bottle on a bench and stretching my arms overhead. My whole plan to distract myself at the gym suddenly felt shaky. What is it about Danny? What does Zoe see in him? I knew I shouldn’t care, but I did. “Figured you’d be buried under work,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Things piling up?” Maybe he’d screwed something up, maybe I could actually make myself useful for once.

“Not exactly piling up,” Danny said, his tone light, like all of this was just no big deal to him. “Just… there’s so much to do. You know how it is when you’re deep into something you love? I could stay in the lab for days if I didn’t force myself out.”

Nerd. The thought flickered before I could stop it, and I immediately hated myself for it. That was Zoe’s thing, not mine. But, okay, I couldn’t deny it, I was kind of impressed by his energy. And maybe even a little jealous. He looked genuinely happy, totally at ease, while I was over here a walking disaster. Is this envy? Great. Add that to the list.

I smirked, grabbing a set of dumbbells and settling into a set of curls. The familiar motion felt good, grounding me a little, helping me work out the tension that had been coiled up since breakfast. I needed this, needed to move, to sweat, to focus on anything that wasn’t her. “Can’t say I relate,” I said, my voice dripping with casual self-deprecation. “Half the time, I’m wandering around wondering what the hell to do next.”

That part? Completely true. And it sucked. The whole captain thing felt more like an empty title most days. What was even the point of being in charge if there was nothing for me to actually do?

Danny stepped off the treadmill, slinging a towel over his shoulder as he leaned against a nearby wall. He looked relaxed, but I could see the glint in his eye: focused, sharp, like his brain never stopped working. “That’s because most of your job is keeping us from falling apart, and right now, we’re all doing fine. No fires to put out, no emergencies to manage.”

I switched arms, focusing on the pull of the dumbbell, the stretch in my muscles. “So what’s keeping you so busy?” I asked, glancing at him. His frame was slim, sure, but he was more toned than I’d given him credit for. When did he get that defined? “Not like the mission calls for much until we hit Alpha Centauri, right?”

Danny’s face lit up, he launched into one of his explanations. It was like he became a completely different person when he talked about his work: focused and alive. Okay, give him some credit, Rossi.

“Sure, officially there’s nothing to do until we’re surveying,” Danny said, his grin widening, “but come on, Luca, do you know how rare this opportunity is? Moving faster than light? Watching spacetime warp around us? Every instrument I’ve got is running full tilt, pulling in data we barely understand.” He was a total nerd, but it was nice to see someone who genuinely enjoyed what they were doing. What do I even enjoy doing anymore?

I paused mid-curl, raising an eyebrow. He was so animated, so passionate, it was almost hard not to stare. How does he do that? Where does he find that drive? “Wait, so you’re… making your own work?” I asked, genuinely curious and, yeah, a little jealous.

“Absolutely,” Danny said, his grin turning sharper, his excitement practically radiating off him. “I’d be crazy not to. The things I’m seeing out there, particle interactions, distortions, radiation signatures. It’s like peeling back a layer of reality. This isn’t just about the mission, man. It’s about understanding the universe.”

The way he said it, like he really believed it, was almost inspiring. Almost. But here I was, spinning in circles, wondering where the hell Emily was. She wasn’t on the bridge, she wasn’t in engineering, and she wasn’t here. So where is she?

I shook my head, trying to push the thought aside. Focus, Rossi. Danny’s still talking physics like it’s the meaning of life. “You’re something else, Danny. Here I am griping about having nothing to do, and you’re out here rewriting the laws of physics for fun.” My words came out teasing, but the truth burned underneath them. I wished I was half as passionate as Danny, or at least as passionate as I was whenever I thought about Emily.

Danny shrugged, his grin widening like he could see straight through me. “Hey, someone’s gotta keep busy. Otherwise, I’ll start losing my mind, and trust me, you don’t want me getting bored.” His tone was light, but there was something under it, something I recognized. He was scared. Just like me.

“Yeah, no thanks,” I said, setting the weights back on the rack and trying really hard to focus on something, anything, other than him. “But maybe take a break every now and then? We’ve got weeks before Alpha Centauri. Don’t burn yourself out before we even get there.” My voice sounded steadier than I felt. I needed him, all of them, in top form. If I didn’t have that? I didn’t even want to think about what would happen.

“Burnout’s not a problem when you love what you’re doing,” Danny replied, tossing the towel over his shoulder. He was smiling, but there was something in his eyes, like he was debating whether to say more. “But point taken, Captain. I’ll slow down… eventually.”

He hesitated by the door, his grin faltering for just a second before he turned back to me. “Actually, can I ask you something?” His voice was quieter now, less sure.

“Uh, yeah. What’s up?” I said, my pulse picking up, because Danny never got serious unless it was something big.

He rubbed the back of his neck, his red curls a mess from the treadmill, and I couldn’t help noticing how flustered he looked. “How do you handle it?” he asked, his words coming out in a rush, like he didn’t want to say them but couldn’t hold them in. “I mean, Emily… she’s into you, right? Like, really into you. How do you deal with that? Because Zoe…” He trailed off. “Zoe’s been… relentless,” he finished, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s thrilling, don’t get me wrong, but also? It’s terrifying.”

The words hit me like a brick, and I laughed; sharp, awkward, and way too loud. “How do I handle it? I don’t. It’s a huge distraction.” My hands went to my hips, my brain spinning faster than I could keep up. “I mean, every time I see her, I lose focus. I can’t stop thinking about her. Half the time, I’m just trying to keep my shit together long enough to get through the day.” I shook my head, feeling my face heat up. “So yeah, Danny, I’m probably not the best guy to ask. But Zoe? Dude, I don’t envy you. That girl doesn’t know how to quit.”

Danny let out a nervous laugh, his hand scrubbing through his hair again. “Tell me about it. She’s everywhere, like, all the time. And it’s not just flirting. It’s… everything. She’s so confident, and I’m just…” He gestured at himself, his voice dropping. “Me.”

I snorted, shaking my head. “Trust me, she’s into you, man. She doesn’t do half-measures. If she’s putting in this much effort, you’re not just a crush. You’re the prize.” My words came out teasing, but they were also the truth.

Danny looked at me, his expression a mix of relief and dread. “Yeah. That’s kind of what scares me.”

I clapped him on the shoulder, grinning despite the chaos in my own head. “Welcome to the club, man.”

Danny laughed, waving as the door slid shut behind him, but the weight of the conversation lingered. Emily, Zoe, the whole damn mess of it. Stop it, Rossi. You’re a mess. Just hit the gym, keep moving, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll figure it out before you lose your mind.

The corridor was quiet, the hum of the ship’s systems filling the space like white noise. I’d just stepped out of my cabin, freshly showered and dressed, heading to the galley for lunch. My thoughts were spinning, about the morning, the crew, and mostly, about her. Had she been avoiding me? Or was I avoiding her? It felt like every step was pulling me closer to something I wasn’t ready to face, and yet, I couldn’t stop.

Turning the corner, I nearly collided with Emily. She stopped short, her eyes widening in surprise, and for a second, we just stood there, staring at each other. “Hey,” she said softly, her voice carrying a mix of nervousness and relief. Her hair was tied back, a few loose strands framing her face, and she looked effortlessly beautiful. Of course, she did.

“Hey,” I replied, my throat dry. What is it about her that makes me forget how to function?

She shifted, her hand brushing her arm like she was trying to decide what to do with it. “Were you heading to the galley?” she asked, her tone casual, but there was something under it, hesitation, maybe? Like she was trying to gauge where we stood.

“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “Needed to grab something to eat. You?”

“Same,” she replied, her lips curving into a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. For a moment, the air between us felt heavy, like neither of us knew how to bridge the gap that had somehow opened up between breakfast and now.

I shifted my weight, rubbing the back of my neck. “We haven’t really seen each other today,” I said, my voice quieter than I meant it to be. “Were you… avoiding me?”

Her eyes widened slightly, and then she laughed, a soft, breathy sound that made my chest ache. “I was about to ask you the same thing.”

We both laughed, the tension easing just a little, and then she stepped closer, her hand brushing against mine. “I wasn’t avoiding you,” she said, her voice gentle. “I just… wasn’t sure if you wanted space.”

“Space?” I echoed, shaking my head. “Emily, you’re the only thing I can think about. Space is the last thing I want.”

Her smile softened, and she closed the remaining distance between us, her hand lightly resting on my arm. “Good,” she murmured, and then she leaned in, her lips brushing against mine in a kiss so soft it made my heart stop.

The world narrowed to just her, her warmth, her scent, the way her fingers curled lightly against my arm. I kissed her back, my hand moving instinctively to her waist, pulling her just a little closer. It wasn’t urgent or rushed, just… perfect.

When we finally broke apart, her cheeks were flushed, and I couldn’t stop the stupid grin spreading across my face. “So… galley?” I asked, my voice light, but my heart still hammering.

Emily laughed, her fingers lingering against my arm. “Yeah,” she said, her smile brighter now. “But you’re carrying the trays.”

“Deal,” I said, falling into step beside her, and for the first time all day, everything felt right.