xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Betty slowly opened her eyes and found herself tangled up with a man in a black t-shirt. What the hell happened last night? And why was her head pounding like a jackhammer? She looked up and saw it was Daniel. The wedding . . . the champagne . . . the wine . . . the karaoke . . . the beer . . . Oh god . . . He must think . . . she didn't know what he thought . . . she laid her head back down and closed her eyes when he spoke.
"Hey, you awake?" he quietly asked.
"Barely . . . Can you not talk so loud? And why is it so bright?" she groaned.
"It's morning – can't help it. But let me get you something for the pain," he whispered.
"How did you know?" she asked, carefully sitting up and untangling her legs from his.
"Because I've been there," he replied, gently rubbing her arm.
"And this . . . right here . . . how did we end up . . . you know?" Betty asked.
"Oh, we didn't do that – you just felt bad for kicking me out of my own bed," Daniel immediately assured her.
"I know. I trust you, Daniel," she said. "Besides, that would be a little weird to even think about, right?"
Daniel felt a strange sinking in his stomach.
"Right," he covered. "Let me go get you my famous hangover remedy."
"I'll take anything right now," she said, desperately.
He came back a few minutes later with two aspirin, a bagel, and a mimosa.
"Mmmmm . . . I love you," she hugged him. "If this works as good as you claim it does, I'll do anything you want."
A dirty thought peculiarly slipped into his mind. What was going on with him?
"This one's on me," he smiled.
They sat quietly on his bed while Betty tested his cure and hoped for the best. After a while Daniel thought it was safe to have a normal conversation.
"You got anything planned for today?" he asked.
"I don't think so. You?" Betty asked.
"Totally free. You wanna grab lunch and a movie? Or we could stay here if you're not up to it?" Daniel proposed.
"You sure you're not tired of me after yesterday?" she teased.
"Never," he smiled, sexily.
"I think I vaguely remember drunken karaoke and Amanda trying to teach Marc how to Dougie," she laughed.
Daniel shook his head.
"I think I tried to erase all of that from my head – especially the latter," he joked.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"Noon," he answered, glancing at the alarm clock.
"I need to go back to my place and change first. Then maybe we can grab lunch and – Oh crap! I forgot!" she exclaimed, rushing out of the bed to find her dress.
"What?" he asked.
"I promised Hilda I'd help her and Bobby open and organize their gifts so it'll be easier for them to write 'thank you' notes when they get back from their honeymoon," she explained.
"Oh. Could I help?" Daniel offered.
"It'll be pretty boring," Betty warned. "You've probably got other stuff you'd rather do."
"I could use 'boring', for a change – especially after the wild night we had!" he flirted.
Betty's eyes widened and her face turned beet red.
"D-Daniel, you told me nothing h-happened . . ." she stuttered.
"Well not 'nothing'," he said seriously. "You did hold me through the night."
Betty looked horrified for a minute then realized he meant it in the literal sense as he started to snicker.
"Daniel!" she berated. "You had me thinking that we -"
"I'm sorry! You're just so cute when you're mortified," he excused.
Betty immediately picked up a pillow and started hitting him with it. They wrestled with each other until Daniel finally surrendered.
"Damn! I should've listened to you when you said never to mess with a girl from Queens," he teased.
"Hey, I warned you," she smirked, staring into his eyes.
He stared back and for a moment they forgot everything else. Betty finally snapped out of it.
"So are you coming?" she asked, getting off of him and picking up her dress again.
"Yeah," he answered.
"K. Get dressed – Hilda's gonna be really pissed if I'm late. She's got everything scheduled so they still have time to pack before tomorrow," she said, heading into his bathroom.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Hey, Mamita! It's about time you got here! What, did you and Daniel have a late night together?" Hilda teased.
Daniel came up behind Betty.
"Daniel! Hey! It's so great of you to come!" she choked, inviting them in.
They all went inside the house. Hilda pulled Betty back.
"You are telling me everything, later!" she demanded. "And I mean details, sista!"
Betty opened her mouth to speak when Hilda started talking with the boys.
"Where are Justin and your dad?" Daniel asked.
"Oh. Justin and Austin went to a movie. And Papi's having lunch with Elena," she answered.
Daniel nodded.
"So Daniel, you had any time to shoot hoops lately?" Bobby asked. "Justin says you're pretty good."
"Not lately. You?" he answered.
"Nah. The Missus, here, had me doing a bunch of crap for the wedding. You wanna go, now?" Bobby suggested.
"Hey! Wait a minute, Mister! You are not goin' anywhere!" Hilda protested.
"Hilda, maybe you should let them go. We'll probably get everything done a whole lot faster this way, right?" Betty attempted to save the boys from an afternoon of boredom.
"Hunh uh. No way. My husband is stayin' 'cause these are his gifts, too," Hilda insisted. "Now Daniel, you can go if you want. You're still a free man – at least I think you're still a free man."
Daniel struggled to form an answer. Betty, however, put an end to the awkward moment.
"Hey – guys, why don't you go pick us up some lunch?" she suggested.
"Yeah, that sounds good, Chipmunk," Bobby replied, and briefly kissed Hilda on the lips. "C'mon, Dan. Let's give these gorgeous ladies time to bitch about us."
Hilda pulled him back for a minute to talk privately.
Daniel looked at Betty to say "thanks". She smiled back.
"Tacos?" she suggested.
"One crunchy beef, one soft chicken, guac, salsa, sour cream, queso, chips, and rice on the side?" he listed her favorite order.
"You remembered?" she said, surprised.
"You get it every Taco Tuesday," he pointed out.
She looked down at the floor, embarrassed.
"I hate how you know me," she blushed.
He grinned and briefly took her hand.
"Be back soon. Good luck with Hilda," he said, and turned to leave.
"You ready, man?" Bobby asked after he was done talking with Hilda.
"Chipmunk?" Daniel questioned.
"Yeah, I'll tell you 'bout it on the way," Bobby answered as they went out the door.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So what is the deal with you two?!" Hilda cut right to the point.
"Nothing! We're just friends – same as always. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?" Betty insisted.
"Yeah, well your 'just friend' just followed you all the way over here for a snoozefest of sortin' wedding gifts. That doesn't seem like somethin' any guy would beg to do, chica - especially not a guy who's got a ton of money and endless possibilities for a good time. Did you blackmail him or something?" she wondered.
"No . . . he actually offered to come. I even warned him," Betty told her.
"Ay . . . he's falling for you," Hilda observed in a sing-song tone.
"What?! No!" Betty denied.
Her sister had always been a hopeless romantic, but that was the furthest thing for her and Daniel. He was her friend, and they were close. That was all. Besides, she was moving to London. It wasn't exactly the best time to go looking for a new relationship with anyone, right now.
"Or yes . . ." her sister argued. "You two looked pretty cozy at the reception. Anything happen after?"
"No . . . Yes – No . . ." Betty wavered.
"Ah – I knew it!" Hilda exclaimed. "Spill. Now!"
"Well, we went to this pizza place that also has karaoke – the one we went to a few years ago. And – oh my god – it's all coming back to me now . . . I practically did a lap dance on an old guy and then Daniel had to stop me from doing one on him . . . And when he brought up me flashing Gio the last time I was drunk, I told him I wouldn't have minded flashing him . . . No wonder he joked this morning that he tried to forget what happened!" Betty groaned, embarrassed beyond belief.
"Honey, you gotta stop drinkin' so much around guys you know," Hilda advised.
"Hey – that thing with Gio was an accident! I had no idea he wasn't a random stranger!" Betty insisted. "Besides, it's Daniel I'm worried about. I don't have to look Gio in the eye every day."
Maybe moving to London really was a good thing - only it wouldn't help her for the next month . . .
"It'll be okay, chica. Daniel didn't seem to be that bothered by it. He volunteered to follow you here, didn't he?" Hilda pointed out. "Plus, it's not like you actually flashed him or did a lap dance for him. And even if you had, somethin' tells me he wouldn't have minded . . ."
"Hilda, you're delusional," Betty scoffed. "He stopped me. Doesn't that prove something to you?"
"Yeah. That he was tryin' to protect you from doin' somethin' stupid that you'd gain 20 pounds over later. You already feel bad enough and you didn't even do anything except express a desire to do those things - which, in my opinion clearly screams that on a subconscious level you're attracted to him," Hilda observed.
"Thank you, Dr. Phil," Betty rolled her eyes, sarcastically.
"Anyway, my point is that Daniel's a stand-up guy – he wouldn't take advantage of you or let you embarrass yourself," Hilda told her.
"You're right, I guess," Betty conceded.
"Damn straight I am!" her sister teased. "So what happened after that?"
"It was after 3am and we didn't want Marc or Amanda catching us coming in so late, so Daniel offered to let me stay with him," Betty explained.
"Oh my god – you guys did it! Ay! Chica, this is so great!" her sister celebrated.
"No we did not!" Betty insisted. "Just because I slept over didn't mean I slept over. And you just got through saying what a stand-up guy Daniel was. Do you honestly think that would happen?"
"So I let my wishful thinkin' get the best of me," Hilda shrugged. "Keep talkin'."
"Anyway, I had had way too much to drink and fell asleep in the car. The next thing I knew, I woke up in one of his t-shirts and some shorts, tangled up in a fully clothed and trustworthy man," Betty finished.
"Tangled up?" Hilda repeated.
"Yeah, I know. I still haven't figured that one out yet," Betty shrugged.
"I think I can . . ." Hilda teased.
"Hilda . . ." Betty warned.
"Okay. So you slept together?" she assumed.
"Literally – not figuratively. But technically, yes," Betty confirmed.
"Well, it's not as good as I thought, but still not bad. Did you talk to him about it?" Hilda inquired.
"There's not much to say, Hilda. I was drunk, he let me sleep in his bed, I insisted he stay," Betty recalled.
"Hold on – you what?!" Hilda freaked out. "I thought you two were just too drunk and fell asleep. But he offered to sleep somewhere else and you asked him to stay with you? Way to go, mamita!"
"Hilda! I was drunk and feeling all nostalgic and I didn't want to be alone. There was nothing sexual about it – trust me!" Betty swore.
"Maybe not for you, but how does Daniel feel? Think about it," Hilda advised.
"We're friends – and he's still technically my boss - we'd never go there," she repeated. "And I'm sure my drunken state last night repulsed him, anyway."
"Stop! Now be serious - would you want to go there?" Hilda questioned.
"No! It's Daniel - my Daniel," Betty immediately dismissed the thought. "I love him, I really do . . . but goofy, flakey, needy, annoying, immature, too-lazy-to-think, impulsive Daniel?"
"You mean Daniel, who totally admires and adores you and would do anything in the world for you? Daniel, who you totally admire and adore and would do anything in the world for? Daniel, who has turned his life around because of you? Daniel who is no longer so shallow and self-centered? Daniel, who now obviously wants a serious relationship? Daniel, who's kind, caring, super sexy, and rich to boot – not to mention, totally into you?!" Hilda finished for her.
"Okay, okay I get it! And I can admit all of those things are true – except the last one. Which is fine because that would just be weird," she remarked, although she wasn't entirely sure whether she was lying to herself or not. "Why are you making me obsess over something that's never going to happen and probably shouldn't?"
"'Cause things do happen, chica. Take me and Bobby, for instance," her sister pointed out.
"You guys are different," Betty disagreed.
"Not that different. Take away the fame and the fortune and Daniel's just a man and you're a woman and you're best friends like Bobby and me. I'm not sayin' it will happen, but don't be surprised if it does," Hilda insisted as the guys came back with the food.
Bobby went into the kitchen to help Hilda with the plates and drinks.
"Hey, Chipmunk!" Daniel greeted Betty.
"Don't do that," Betty playfully warned.
"How about Jeanette? You know, the pretty, brainy one?" his eyes danced.
"And you're Alvin - the bad boy who's so full of himself?" Betty played along. "No. Nooo . . . No."
"But then when you get mad at me you could always yell 'Aaaalllllllvvviiinnnn!' You know, instead of 'Daniel . . .'" he mocked in fun.
"Daniel . . ." she protested.
"See – there it is! I love it – don't get me wrong. But you could have an option now. One for when you're just annoyed, and another for when you're really pissed and get that cute little crinkle above your nose," he flirted.
"Are you high?" Betty asked, only half-joking.
"No – just having a little fun. You know, you turned down Tornado Girl and Dora the Explorer. Now this, too? I'm beginning to think you don't want a nickname," he feigned disappointment.
"And that's why you know me," she smirked.
Bobby walked into the dining room with the plates.
"Thank you, brother-in-law, for creating a monster," she sarcastically rolled her eyes.
"Hey – I just call 'em like I see 'em. And you've always been my cute little Chipmunk," Bobby excused, pinching her cheek.
"See, now why am I not allowed," Daniel continued to provoke Betty in fun.
Betty gave him a gentle shove.
"Alright, you two – enough flirting. Let's eat!" Hilda said, coming in with the drinks.
"Hilda!" Betty berated.
"Whaaat?!" I just said 'let's eat'. You don't need to get all bitchy about it," she innocently defended.
Betty huffed and found the bag with her tacos.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Hey – I just thought of the perfect name for you!" Daniel exclaimed as they closed the door to her dad's house, later that afternoon.
"Ugghh . . . I thought we were done with that?" Betty groaned, sitting on the front steps.
"Hear me out . . ." he gave a crooked smile as he sat down beside her. "Britney – she's a chipmunk and a popstar."
"Shut up!" she lightly smacked him.
"What? I think it's perfect, considering last night's events," his eyes flirtingly danced.
"Um, Daniel . . . I just wanted to apologize for that," Betty timidly began. "I know I made you uncomfortable, and I was too drunk to know what I was doing and I'm sorry."
"Betty . . . Hey, there is no need to apologize. We were just having a good time . . . Are you saying this because I didn't let you give me a lap dance?" he wondered.
She nodded hesitantly.
"Hey, I only stopped you because I didn't want you to do something you couldn't take back in the morning – not because I wasn't a little curious," he confessed.
"You're just saying that," Betty argued.
"I'm really not. How many times do I have to tell you you're beautiful before you'll believe me?" he insisted.
She lowered her head.
He lifted it back up.
"It's the truth," he maintained.
"You were really 'curious'?" Betty asked, skeptically.
"Really. We may be friends, but I'm still a guy," Daniel confirmed with a sexy stare.
Betty couldn't help but smile.
"So. I think we still have time to watch a movie," he proposed.
"Okay," she agreed. "What?"
"I was thinking 'Striptease' or 'Coyote Ugly'," the corners of his mouth twitched as he continued to torment her.
"You're lucky we're in public, right now!" Betty playfully threatened, as kids played and parents yelled across the street.
He chuckled.
"Oh – wait! I think I left my phone. Could you call it for me?" Daniel asked.
Betty got out hers and speed dialed his number. All of a sudden, "Hit Me Baby, One More Time" started playing.
"What the hell . . . .? Daniel!" she figured out his scheme.
"Oh. Turns out it was right here all the time," he innocently shrugged, pulling it out of his pocket.
"You so did that on purpose!" she accused him.
"You're right, I did," he smirked, clearly satisfied with himself.
"No wonder Alexis tortures you all the time. You probably deserve it," Betty retorted, bumping him from the side.
"That was the last one – I promise," Daniel swore.
"Better be . . ." she pouted.
"You still wanna catch a movie, or are you too mad at me?" he asked standing up and holding out his hands as a peace offering.
She reluctantly took them and he pulled her up.
"I'll go. But you're paying - and I want a tub of popcorn with extra butter, pretzels with nacho cheese, Twizzlers, and a jumbo cherry Slushie," Betty bargained, knowing how pricey theater food was.
"Will you a least share some of that with me?" Daniel asked, looking at her with his big blue puppy eyes.
"Only if I don't have to keep dealing with something annoying," she glared at him, knowing she'd never eat all of that herself.
"You know I'm only messing with you, right?" he assured her.
"Yeah," she smiled, halfheartedly.
"So are we good?" Daniel asked.
"We're good," Betty replied.
He put his arm around her waist as they walked to the town car.
"Maybe we should watch 'Get Smart' instead . . ." she suggested, deviously.
"Clever," he scoffed.
"I thought so," she smirked, getting in the car. "Come on, 86."
"Right behind you, 99," Daniel played along. "Hey . . . what do think?"
"Missed it by that much," Betty joked, holding her arms out wide.
