Love Never Goes Out of Style/CH 9
Daniel told Betty he'd send the town car for her to bring her to Madison Six and meet her there, so he'd have time to take a shower and change as well.
He had only had to make one quick call to get reservations, but he told her he had some other calls to make as well, so she should just ask for his table when she arrived.
Betty took her time getting ready this time, not sure what to wear, so she called her go-to expert, her nephew and was told, "When in doubt, LBD, AB!
Just remember Coco Chanel. No disrespect to Abuela Rosa, but leave the necklace off and let your uh...you know, natural beauty show.
Just wear the little black dress that shows off your girls, those great earrings I got you for your birthday last year and some heels, NO SOCKS, for God's sakes, and no weird belts, and you're good to go.
"Thanks, Justin. I'll make sure and get you a matchbook this time."
"Have fun with Daniel, AB!" he laughed.
"Is Betty going out to some fancy place with Daniel? What's going on with them?"
Betty heard her sister's voice through the phone, and whispered, "Justin, I don't want the third degree from your mom, please just tell her I already hung up! I promise I'll make it worth your while."
Justin was in his business mode and said quietly, "Okay, our usual agreement? Time at Mode, no questions asked?"
"Deal!"
"Sorry, Mom, Aunt Betty had to go, she was on the subway I think and her battery was going dead. She said to say hi, she'll call you as soon as she gets home..."
Betty heard the very beginning of his excuse to his mother before she hung up, smiling at her clever nephew.
She didn't have time for explanations to Hilda right now concerning a relationship that seemed to be changing rapidly.
Explanations that alluded even her at this point. All she knew was...being with Daniel, having his firm hands hold her next to him, feeling his lips on hers, felt so natural, so right.
She desperately wanted more the times they had started to get physical, but she was scared what might happen once she gave him what she knew he wanted, hell, what she wanted, too.
Then what? There was part of Betty that felt sure that Daniel's feelings for her were genuine.
But she couldn't help having some doubts, considering their vast differences the world seemed determined to point out.
Still, as she gave herself a glance in the full-length mirror, she had to acknowledge with a smile, her look now was quite different than the 'Queen's-style' make-over she had when she been ridiculed by Miss Slater herself.
She had learned enough in her time at Mode to understand that she now 'fit in' with the beautiful people at least to some extent, with her braces gone, her hair smooth, and wearing contacts (and no socks with her heels, per Justin and Daniel's teasing!).
Less is more, she knew, and basic black she had to admit, did accentuate her curvaceous body.
She felt confident, something Betty Suarez had struggled to feel on this level for most of her life, she hated to admit, even to herself.
She had learned a long time ago, not to let them see you cry. During her tortuous days in school, days of Kimmie Keegan and others like her, even up to Marc and Amanda (not to mention, Wilhelmina), Betty had simply smiled and pretended the taunts and teasing didn't bother her.
She would wait until she got home to cry into her pillow at night. Then, she had met Daniel Meade, and her life had changed forever.
He made her believe she could do anything. He told her she was beautiful long before anyone else had and he almost made her believe it herself.
She knew he had meant it. He had told her she was better than any model. And now...he had actually told her he loved her.
Daniel Meade loved her, Betty Meade...oops, did she say that? Betty Suarez. Right. Suarez-Meade?
Her girlish daydreams of matrimonial futures were interrupted by pounding on the door.
She was somewhat surprised to see the petite blonde, standing with her hand on her hip, "Hey, Betty. Sorry to...whoa! Betty? Is that really you in there?" Amanda circled Betty in shock,
"What happened? Did Daniel kiss you and turn you from a frog into a princess or something?"
"Very funny, Amanda. Thanks, I guess that's supposed to be one of your back-handed compliments. What's up? I was just getting ready to leave in a few minutes."
"Well, I wanted to say I'm sorry I acted so bitchy the other night. And Marc was the one listening through the door when I remembered I still had your key.
I wanted to see him fall on his face when I opened it. But I definitely didn't expect to see Daniel here, tickling your ginger."
"He was tickling my feet, actually."
She made a face, and waved her hand, "Whatever you two do, I don't want to know, Betty. Unless it's' really kinky...no, actually I still don't want to know! I just wanted to make sure you and I were...well okay.
I mean as okay as we ever are. We're still sort of besties, right? I guess if you are actually going to be dating Daniel..."
She pretended to gag slightly, as Betty rolled her eyes, "And now that I'm seeing Tye Tye...we might run into each other at the Meade family things.
I was going to come there today, he invited me but...I figured I didn't trust you not to knock me out if you were jealous or something. But then again, you never really seemed all that jealous.
Which always really bugged me on one hand, but...I guess it's why we can be friends-ish. Most women are total bitches and jealous of me just because I'm so beautiful. I mean, I can't help it!
But, hell...look at you, now. You actually look the best I've ever seen you. You're wearing a hot dress instead of something a bag lady would wear to go through the dumpster like you usually do.
I've got to do something, though. Here, come on. I can't let you go out in public without fixing your makeup. You need more eyeliner and less shadow."
After helping her with her make-up, Amanda left, with her hand on her hip, "Go get him, Betty.
You know, it sort of pains me to say this, but...honestly, he's probably always wanted you on some level. He was just too freaked out to admit it.
I mean partly, he didn't want to lose you as his friend by doing that voodoo that he does oh so well. But since the first time he met you, he's been…well…different. You definitely got under his skin!
I used to be able to get his attention if I paraded around naked in front of him, at least and threw myself at him.
But ever since you came around with your stupid poncho...all he EVER talked about was you! Betty did this, Betty thinks I should jump, so I did, Betty said that...Betty, Betty, Betty! It got really annoying.
One time, in bed, I yelled at him to just go do you and get it out of his system once and for all since you were all he seemed to think about anymore!"
Betty looked at her, shocked, "What did he say?"
She shrugged, "Nothing, he just told me I was being stupid. He said that you had better taste than to go for him anyway.
As crazy as it sounds, B, it really seemed like he always thought you were too good for HIM, if you can believe that!"
Betty smiled, "Thanks, Amanda. And thanks for the help with my makeup."
She shrugged, "Whatever. I'm going out dancing with Tyler tonight. I suppose next time there's a Meade family brunch we could manage not to scratch each other's eyes out.
Hey, maybe we can see who gets a ring faster, huh, bestie? Oh my God, wouldn't it be really weird if we turned out to be sisters?"
Betty rolled her eyes, shaking her head, "Yes, that would be really weird, Amanda, especially since we're not related in anyway by blood, unless you and Hilda were somehow switched at birth, but you're younger than she is, and obviously not Latina, so...I'm thinking, no.
Maybe...sister-in-laws would be possible. I think that's what you mean, perhaps. But, that's sort of far in the future, I'd say. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
Betty rushed down to the waiting town car and to the restaurant, arriving about ten minutes late. She grinned as she saw Daniel stand up when he saw her, smiling from ear-to-ear.
He pulled out her chair and leaned down to whisper, "You look so good, I hope you're on the menu, Betty."
She blushed, and smiled at him as he sat back down and grabbed her hand, "All I can say is...wow! You look sensational, Betty."
She smiled, looking at his black Dolce suit, with his signature light purple shirt and darker shade silk tie. "You clean up pretty good yourself, Daniel."
He adjusted his tie, raising his eyebrow, and smiled, "Why, thank you, Betty. I remembered you told me to wear a similar shirt a long time ago."
She nodded, smiling, as she picked up her glass of wine on the table, "Ah, yes. For Sofia. When you made me come help you pick one out on Thanksgiving."
He raised his glass and clinked it with hers, rolling his eyes, "Good times!"
"Right!" She drank along with him, then put down her glass. After a delicious meal and their usual comfortable banter, Betty felt herself starting to get flushed as Daniel seemed to be eying her like a man in the desert looking at water.
She chewed on her lip nervously as his hands began to wander onto her leg and he simultaneously leaned over to kiss her cheek and whisper, his hot breath making her feel every bit as warm as the wine, "You have no idea what you're doing to me, Miss Suarez.
I don't think it's fair for you to come in here looking like that if you expect me to keep up my little part of the bargain and keep my hands to myself for what did you say, the 'customary' three dates at least?
Are you crazy, girl? The way you look, you'll be lucky if we can get through dessert without me throwing you down and making love to you on the table."
Betty's eyes popped slightly at that comment, "Daniel! Do you always talk like that to girls you go out with to fancy restaurants?"
He was doing things to her neck right now that were making it very hard for her to keep her calm exterior. And she hadn't really stopped his wandering hands.
Luckily for her, they were in a slightly out of the way booth, although the usual paparazzi had no doubt snapped Daniel's picture as he came in to wait for Betty, they didn't know her, so coming in, she had been safe enough.
However, the minute they left together, she knew all bets were off and they would be followed immediately.
"No, Betty. I don't usually have to work this hard. In fact, believe it or not, lots of girls actually come on to me! By the appetizer, lots of times, the girl is grabbing me."
"Aw...poor baby! So many women, so little time." she teased, rolling her eyes in mock disgust.
He laughed, "Shut up, woman. You're so sexy, right now, Betty. You're driving me a little crazy, you know. How about, as soon as we eat our dinner, we head home and I'll just have you for dessert?"
She grabbed his hand, now dangerously far up her thigh and met his penetrating gaze, "Daniel, please.
This is a public place. I don't care how much of a 'bad boy' you think you are...and believe me, I've not only seen for myself a lot of and probably heard all about your antics, you're not doing them with me in public! Certainly not here!"
He nodded, "Okay, okay. Calm down, Betty. You just got me all excited. I have to tell you how hot you look. But...I know, I made you a promise.
Let's...try to stay civilized and...at least wait till I get you in the town car. Then, I'll ravish you." He winked.
She felt the blood rush to her cheeks again, as well as other parts of her anatomy tingling with all kinds of happy sensations.
Daniel had her next to him in the booth, with his arm around her and kept leaning down to kiss her shoulder or her neck, which was making the little hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
She felt genuine panic set in as they ate their meal. She chewed very slowly, trying to stretch out the time before they left the relative safety of being in a public place. She suddenly had a bright idea.
"Daniel...how about we sing karaoke again? Remember that night we stayed out all night after you got stood up by Giselle? Wasn't that fun?"
He smiled, running his index finger seductively up her arm to her shoulder, then kissing it, "Yeah, it was fun. I definitely remember that night.
We crashed a wedding, didn't we? Then we went on the Brooklyn Bridge and talked for hours. That was a really great night."
She nodded, "I thought so, too. We could do some of the same things tonight."
He nodded, "Yeah, sure. We could do that. At least for starters. I mean, I totally know what you're up to. You're just stalling because you're afraid to be alone with me, Betty. You know I'm irresistible.
But, that's cool. I can hold off. For a little while, anyway. Hey, you wanna see if the paparazzi chases us again?" He intertwined his fingers with hers, and squeezed her hand.
She nodded, smiling, "Sure!"