- 2 -
"Mike, we got a guy with a monkey's paw—four rows to your right," Danny watched his friend on the monitor as he spoke into his cell phone.
"I'm on it, Danny," Mike responded as he hurried towards the dollar slots.
"He's making a run for it," Danny yelled as he watched the guy take off towards the exit door, Mike hot on his heels.
The thief rounded the black jack tables and headed past another bank of slots --dodging in and out of the crowd of people. Finally, coming into a bit of a clearing the man took off at full speed, but was stopped when he crashed hard into someone rounding the corner. Both bodies slammed into a slot machine and Mike tried to avoid adding himself to the pile. By that time two burly security guards had joined the pursuit and they roughly pulled the guy to his feet only to reveal the crumpled form of the hotel manager beneath him.
"Damn, you okay? That was a pretty hard hit," Mike asked as he helped Mary to her feet.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said as she tried to find her balance.
"Let's find someplace for you to sit down."
"Really, Mike, I'm okay."
"Well, we'll let Danny decide. I'm sure he'll be down here in about 30 seconds." Just as the words left Mike's mouth the "Employees Only" door along the far wall swung open to reveal a panicked Danny McCoy.
"Danny, I'm fine. I just got the wind knocked out of me. It's nothing," Mary tried to calm him as he approached. She could only imagine how bad it had looked on the monitor because from her position on the ground it had been a pretty rough blow.
Danny took one of her arms while Mike took the other and together they helped her towards one of the benches just inside the lobby. The first thing Danny noticed after she sat down was her broken shoe and a rather nasty bruise forming on her thigh.
"Guys, you're overreacting. I promise I'm okay. This really isn't necessary." Ignoring her protests, Danny ran his fingers through her hair and Mary winced when he reached the sensitive knot already forming on her head.
"Come on. I'm taking you upstairs," he ordered her.
"Danny…"
"Don't even try to argue with me right now, Mary. Now, do you want me to carry you or can you walk?"
"I'll walk," she told him defiantly as she hobbled towards the elevator. Mary hated that she had to accept his help, but she knew when it came to her health and safety there really was no way Danny was going to be swayed. And that small part of her she'd tried so hard to bury, couldn't help but feel special.
---
"Okay, I'm in my room, in my pajamas. I'm taking it easy. You can go now."
"Nah, my shift's over. I thought we could watch a movie," Danny removed his coat and reached for the remote--making himself comfortable on the couch.
"Danny, I don't think that's a good idea," Mary half-heartedly protested. The truth was that deep down the thought of spending an evening with Danny sounded perfect, but she just wasn't ready. Her feelings were still too raw and she needed more time and more emotional distance between them before she could relax in his company.
"Come on," Danny coaxed as he patted the couch cushion beside him. "I know you've been dying to see Wedding Crashers—now sit!"
Mary huffed and plopped herself down on the couch--instantly regretting the hasty move when her head began to throb. Despite Danny's efforts to draw her attention by laughing hysterically throughout the entire movie, Mary kept her eyes glued to the screen. Once the end credits began to roll she jumped to her feet.
"Okay. Movie's over," she told him hastily as she handed him his coat and ushered him towards the door.
"How can you not be in a good mood after watching that? It was hilarious, Mare," Danny sidestepped her efforts to escort him out and headed back into the suite.
Realizing that he was stalling, Mary finally turned to him. "Danny, why are you really here?"
"What? Can't a guy hang out with his best friend?" Danny asked with mock innocence.
"Danny?" Mary's tone was a warning that she was not in the mood for any more games.
Sighing, Danny threw his coat back on the couch and turned to her, "I want to talk about what happened the night before you left."
All the color drained from Mary's face before she replied, "Look, Danny, we don't need to talk about that."
"I think we do. You can barely stand to be in the same room with me, Mary. I mean, look at you—you can't wait to get me out of here."
"Danny, can't we just forget about it?" Mary begged.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you want to forget?"
"Don't you?"
"No. In fact, it's pretty much the only thing I can think about."
"It was a momentary lapse in judgment," Mary told him dejectedly.
"Bullshit," Danny spat angrily.
"Danny…," Mary was shocked at his tone, but he refused to be interrupted.
"No, Mary, that night… that connection was what you and I are all about."
"Meaningless sex," Mary tried to sound bitter, but it fell flat.
"You're actually going to look me in the eye and tell me that it didn't mean anything to you?"
Mary did meet Danny's gaze, but the only thing that came out of her mouth was a whispered, "No."
"It meant everything, Mary."
They stared at each other for a moment, both their eyes brimming with tears before Mary shook her head and turned towards the bathroom.
"Danny, I'm tired and my head is killing me. I can't talk about this anymore."
"Fine," Danny said as he began removing his shirt, tossing her the Advil that sat on the side table.
"What are you doing?" Mary asked him as she tugged nervously on the child-proof cap.
"Mary, you probably have a concussion," he told her as he shed his pants and grabbed a pillow off the bed. "I'm not leaving you."
Mary's heart began to race as she watched Danny pull a spare blanket from the closet, wearing nothing but his boxer briefs. "Danny, I want you to go," she tried to sound forceful as she spoke around the lump in her throat.
"No you don't," he told her dismissively with a smirk. If his plan to win her back was going to work, Danny was going to have to throw Mary off-balance. He figured forcing her to spend some time in close quarters with him was as good a way as any to do that—even if they were just sleeping.
Danny's arrogance was making Mary angry now and she let him know it, "I'm warning you, Danny. I'll call security."
"Mary, they work for me," he chuckled as he headed towards the sofa.
"Then I'll call the police."
"Go for it. Their number's 911." Danny spread the blanket out on the couch and threw the pillow against the arm. They both knew she wasn't serious, but just the fact that she'd said it showed Danny that his efforts at making her uncomfortable were succeeding.
Mary stood in the bedroom doorway staring at him incredulously before all the fight finally went out of her. "Why are you making this so difficult?" she asked quietly, her voice laced with sadness.
It broke Danny's heart, but he knew he had to get through to her and the direct approach was not going to work. "You're the one being difficult, Mary," Danny said as he led her to the bed and held back the comforter so she could lie down. "I'm being chivalrous," he gave her a wink and Mary couldn't help but smile. It was a small victory, but at this point Danny would take whatever he could get.
He tucked her in tight and gave her a kiss on the forehead before heading back to the couch-- calling out one last time before switching off the light, "I'll see you in the morning."