"I certainly did not expect Danny passionately charging at me like I was Drew Barrymore in any romantic comedy ever or maybe Sandra Bullock? You know what? It doesn't matter now because Danny's firm hands and unbelievably soft lips are driving every thought out of my brain. I'm Sandra Witherspoon. Wait. What? Danny's enthusiasm and delightfully warm hands elicited soft moans and a flutter in my stomach I haven't experienced since...since...what is this man doing to me?"
The shock of the moment finally jump started Mindy's senses as she jumped back knocking bottles of seltzer water everywhere after a deceptively sweet flight attendant with crow's-feet and a lack of patience showing on her face descended on them. "Sirs, I'm sorry to interrupt this little moment, but you will have to move back into your seats." "Uhm, excuise me? I am clearly a woman! No man outside of New Jersey has worn a jean jacket like this since 1995."
Danny grabbed Mindy's hand to usher her back to their seats. Despite the clearly feminine jean jacket Mindy was wearing she could still feel Danny's warm finger tips on the small of her back guiding her back to the seats they previously occupied. Mindy could not help but notice the charge his touch had sent through her body from a tightness in her chest radiating down to a numbness in her legs. Danny felt closer than ever behind her as she nearly felt a shadow of his skittish breath on the back of her neck. She was thankful the walk was so short or Danny may have had to carry her back to her seat, "with those big, strong...No, get a grip Mindy," she thought to herself feverishly. Had things always been this way?
They sat in stunned, awkward silence. Mindy avoided eye contact with Danny suddenly feeling the need to twist with the ends of her hair between her fingertips. Danny shifted uncomfortably, clearly looking to give an explanation, while noticeable beads of sweat began to appear on his forehead. "Mindy I just...the plane started shaking...I wanted to see if you were ok. I...I'm sorry," he finished lamely.
Mindy felt oddly infuriated by his words. "You're sorry?!" she yelled in a shrill whisper that only Mindy could possess. "You literally just helped me write a beautiful apology letter to a guy that I am kind of, pretty serious about. An apology I could have given in person had you not kidnapped me on the way to your dad's house by the way. Not to mention making me miss my second flight by guilting me to find you in the middle of a freaking desert. A mountain lion could have eaten my alive Danny!
Danny felt spurred to defend himself. "Oh please, Mindy. Do you know how many times I have had to drop everything to come and help you with one stupid thing after another. There was the time I bailed you out of school jail, left work in the middle of the day to help you build a bunk bed, and I sit there and listen to you whine after every break up with the jackasses you date. If you ask me, it sounds like I just did you favor," Danny forced out more harshly than he intended to. A slight constricting rose in his chest at Mindy's dig about him forcing her to be there for him. He swallowed hard, but refused to turn away from Mindy's glare almost daring her to say something.
Mindy almost felt relieved that the flight attendant chose that moment to come over and give them a pointed glare and asked them to lower their voices. Despite revving up to fight back, Mindy, for the first time in as long as she could remember, wasn't sure what to say. Staring at Danny's determined face, she felt swelled by an anger and indignation at his words, but it was mixed with confusion, guilt, and a small disappointment that she did not want to admit was there.
Luckily the rest of the flight was short. Mindy and Danny sat through stony silence for the rest of the flight, going through the airport, and the cab ride home. The first time either of them chose to speak is when Danny slipped the cabbie a tip and told him to wait a few minutes while he walked Mindy to her door. Mindy, still having no interest to talk, sped her Fatsteps up as quickly as she could. Danny had to sprint to catch her before she made it to her door.
"Mindy, please just wait a second," Danny all but yelled. Mindy began rooting around in her purse for her keys avoiding any further conversation.
"C'mon Mindy. You forgot to tell me what a great kisser I am," Danny stated with a nonchalant arrogance.
"What! With everything that just happened you think the first thing that springs to mind is how amazingly sexy the kiss was?" Mindy asked with an awkward confusion.
"So you admit you think I'm sexy?"
"Oh my God Danny. Is this some nerdy Star Wars Jedi mind trick that you're trying to pull on me right now you weirdo?" Trying to get me to sleep with you is not going to help the situation." Mindy suddenly noticed their proximity as Danny stood just a few inches from her on her front steps.
"No, but it did get you to talk to me for a second," Danny said with a sly smile spreading across his face. Mindy couldn't help but smirk.
"Danny,..." Danny cut her off before she could say what he knew was inevitable.
"Look Min, I just don't want things to be awkward for us at work. Let's just forget this happened and try to stay friends, ok?" Danny had difficulty forcing a smile onto his face, but barely managed.
Mindy did her best to mask the disappointment she felt at Danny's words. She made the effort to match Danny's smile and quickly agreed. "Yeah, absolutely. Our friendship is important to me. I wouldn't want to lose that." Danny was pretty sure he shook his head in agreement, but was slightly distracted by the curve of Mindy's lips just inches away from him. He was unable to keep is jaw from dropping after seeing the tip of Mindy's tongue dart out as she innocently licked her lips.
Just a few short hours ago he claimed those soft lips with his own and remembered their taste of sweet strawberries. The air suddenly felt thick and Danny found it difficult to breathe inches from Mindy's face. He flashed to Mindy's eyes noticing something there. Was it anticipation, or was he just hoping for something that wasn't there? Before he could decipher what was happening the sound of Mindy's phone caused them both to break the seemingly never-ending eye contact. As Mindy pulled her phone out, Danny glanced down and could not help the bitter disappointment he felt upon seeing Cliff's face pop up. Mindy looked up in time to see Danny taking a few measured steps back.
"I'll let you get that. Good night Mindy," Danny said with a good-natured wave as he turned back to the cab.
"See ya Danny," Mindy said softly.
Unsure of what to say to Cliff, Mindy silently placed her phone back in her purse and carried her suitcase up to her apartment. Feeling the exhaustion of the past few days, Mindy crawled into bed fully clothed with only Brown Bear to cuddle with. Before she could close her eyes completely Mindy was stirred by a buzzing from her phone. Picking it up she read a text from Danny.
"You've been lying to me for a long time now. I knew you were a Star Wars nerd."
"Whatever Danny. Anything I know about Jedi's comes from your weird babbling lol."
"Don't deny your love of the galaxy far far away ;)"
"Goodnight Castellam-o :)"
"Goodnight Min."