Daniel’s Reviews > Why the Star Stands Still > Status Update
Daniel
is 78% done
"She's kind of like you. She's smart."
"I don't know whether I'd call myself smart. She's more like you... cranky."
"I'm not cranky. I'm differently tempered."
"I can't believe you just said that."
"Yeah, me neither."
"Do you know anything about bras?"
"Maybe she doesn't need a bra when she gets older. She can just toss 'em over her shoulders."
"Have you ever known anyone who did that?"
"My grandma."
— Aug 15, 2025 09:23AM
"I don't know whether I'd call myself smart. She's more like you... cranky."
"I'm not cranky. I'm differently tempered."
"I can't believe you just said that."
"Yeah, me neither."
"Do you know anything about bras?"
"Maybe she doesn't need a bra when she gets older. She can just toss 'em over her shoulders."
"Have you ever known anyone who did that?"
"My grandma."
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Daniel’s Previous Updates
Daniel
is 83% done
Rafael's eyes were on me. All it takes is a look from him and I feel like a dumb, helpless, enamored idiot, like a kid all over again. That can't be anything but love. I reached for his hand, twined my fingers with his. I like to feel him, to know he's there.
A knock sounded and Mickey stepped inside. "You shouldn't'a done that," Rafael said gruffly. "How do you know we weren't thanking each other?"
"Huh?"
— Aug 15, 2025 11:34AM
A knock sounded and Mickey stepped inside. "You shouldn't'a done that," Rafael said gruffly. "How do you know we weren't thanking each other?"
"Huh?"
Daniel
is 71% done
"Two men raising a little girl..." Annie was referring to Rafael and me.
"You're not afraid we'll turn her into a trucker, are you?"
"I've seen your little girl. She's already a trucker. What are you going to do when she starts needing bras and sanitary napkins?"
Distant terror started sinking in. "Bras. That's still a thing?"
"Did you think it was a passing trend?"
"Why don't you just let them fly free?"
— Aug 15, 2025 08:17AM
"You're not afraid we'll turn her into a trucker, are you?"
"I've seen your little girl. She's already a trucker. What are you going to do when she starts needing bras and sanitary napkins?"
Distant terror started sinking in. "Bras. That's still a thing?"
"Did you think it was a passing trend?"
"Why don't you just let them fly free?"
Daniel
is 67% done
It was hardly the most appropriate place to start--you know--"thanking" each other. But there he was: The best thing I'd ever seen. It didn't matter that his hair looked like he'd brushed it with a cow's tongue or that he smelled like fresh grass and stale hay. What did matter was his arms locked around me felt familiar, his chest familiar against mine through the fabric of his damp shirt. My second heartbeat.
— Aug 13, 2025 09:52AM
Daniel
is 54% done
"When's the last time I thanked you?"
"You don't have to thank me for anything."
"No, when's the last time I thanked you?"
"Oh! You should thank me now."
"I'll thank you upstairs."
"Yeah. Bad etiquette to go thanking people in the living room..."
"Do you remember that time Racine was over, and she walked in on you thanking me in the kitchen?"
"You're kidding, right? I still can't look her in the eye."
— Aug 13, 2025 08:34AM
"You don't have to thank me for anything."
"No, when's the last time I thanked you?"
"Oh! You should thank me now."
"I'll thank you upstairs."
"Yeah. Bad etiquette to go thanking people in the living room..."
"Do you remember that time Racine was over, and she walked in on you thanking me in the kitchen?"
"You're kidding, right? I still can't look her in the eye."
Daniel
is 33% done
He was the same as when I'd first met him. His jaw square; his nose flat. Hair long and lank and badly knotted. Kindness behind his smoldering eyes. Everything I loved about him was unchanging. Unchanging in spite of the new lines on his face, on his forehead and around his cheeks. A beautiful, unchanging boy in a changing body.
I am old and stupid and in love.
— Aug 09, 2025 09:37AM
I am old and stupid and in love.
Daniel
is 8% done
Seventeen years. That's how long I've known him. That's how long I've loved him. Seventeen years later and he still makes my heart feel giddy and weightless. Seventeen years later and my favorite place in the world is still the safety of his arms. Seventeen years later and I'm still a sappy idiot. Go figure.
— Aug 07, 2025 07:55AM
Daniel
is starting
Re-read
I sat next to Rafael on the sofa. He looked at me, his face contorting into about a thousand different expressions. I love that about him. I love everything about him, but his facial expressions are the best. Smoldering is his default. Bewildered is his backup.
He broke into a grin--radiant, boyish, beautiful. A grin that scattered light into his dark blue eyes. "You're an ass," he said.
— Aug 06, 2025 08:48PM
I sat next to Rafael on the sofa. He looked at me, his face contorting into about a thousand different expressions. I love that about him. I love everything about him, but his facial expressions are the best. Smoldering is his default. Bewildered is his backup.
He broke into a grin--radiant, boyish, beautiful. A grin that scattered light into his dark blue eyes. "You're an ass," he said.
