Too Late

Dan & Libby

Once again, Libby was sitting at a table outside Lucy's at lunchtime, reading her book. She'd eaten pretty fast. Still had about thirty minutes left.

She had just turned the second page of the chapter she was currently reading when someone sat down at the table beside her. Lost in the book, it took her a minute to look up. When she did, she was startled to see Dan Evans.

Before she could react, he offered her a hesitant smile and pushed a cup with a straw toward her. "Diet coke," he said. "That is what you usually drink, isn't it?"

Closing her book, Libby started to push away from the table.

"Libby. Wait. Please." Dan put a hand over hers on the table. There was a pleading look in his eyes.

Something about Dan had always drawn her. His eyes, his expressions, always had a haunted, lonely look. Despite his hurting her and her anger over it, that look still affected her. Against her instincts, Libby sat still. Her tongue didn't, though.

"Dan, I don't know what you could have to say that I'd wanna hear."

His smile faded. He looked hurt. But he knew he deserved it. Knew she had every right to be angry with him.

"I just want to know that you're all right," he told her quietly. "I heard about your accident."

"I'm fine, Dan." Impatiently, Libby withdrew her hand from under his and picked up the cup he'd offered her.

"Good." Dan took a sip of the coffee in his own cup. "I'm glad to hear it."

He seemed to be really interested. Libby shook her head, puzzled. "I don't understand you, Dan Evans. You sleep with me. I think maybe we have something between us. Then, you get up out of bed, get dressed and leave without a word that makes sense! You just tell me that I won't see you again!"

Libby paused for breath and tried to tone down her voice. She didn't want everyone in town knowing what they were talking about. "Then you come to Richie's room at Millie's and practically have a fight with him because I'm seeing him. Now, here you are again. What do you want, Dan? I don't get it."

Dan bit his lip. His problem was the same as ever. How did he explain it to her? How could he tell her that his reluctance to see her was mainly because of his illegal activities for Ben Wade? Even though their business was mostly legitimate now, he knew that they could be arrested and tried for what had happened in the past.

Lately though, seeing Libby so sad after her accident and knowing she had lost a baby that might have been his, Dan had been unable to keep his pledge to stay away from her. He wanted to comfort her somehow. To share in her sadness. To make her feel better.

"I care about you, Libby," he said earnestly. "I've tried not to. It's better for you if I don't, but I can't seem to help myself."

God, that was hard for him to say! Aside from his ex-wife, Alice, he'd never in his life told another woman he cared for her.

Libby could hardly believe he was saying these things. Why hadn't he ever told her this before? Why had he never mentioned that he had any feelings for her beyond sexual feelings?

Now, she had her friendship with Richie. Dan had hurt her and she wasn't going to take a chance on being hurt again. Picking up her book and her bag, Libby got up.

"You're too late, Dan. This might have made a difference if you hadn't already used me and walked out, but not now." She walked away, back toward the Times office.