Into Your Arms, Of Course/CH 3
The next week went by in a blur for Betty. She had been so busy, and she had so far been able to avoid being alone with Daniel. She was desperately trying not to doubt herself, but even Daniel's five page recommendation letter was no guarantee she would actually get into this YETI program and honestly, she was wondering if she really needed or wanted to get into it.
She knew she couldn't compete with Marc in presenting her idea of a fashion magazine, nor did she really want to stay in that specific field. If she didn't make a change soon, she might end up wasting her whole career doing something she felt no real passion for. Yes, the fashion world was a job, and it had been good to her, but it wasn't really what she wanted to do in publishing.
As Daniel paced, he looked up from the text he had been staring at for some time now.
AlexISisagirl: Although I'm not crazy about you just leaving the wicked witch in charge of Mode, thus giving her on a silver platter what she's stolen our old man's freaking sperm from his dead body to get, I have to admit, I wouldn't mind seeing your stupid face and I know DJ misses his "real dad"!
DanielNOTdannyWITHballs: Gee, that ALMOST sounds like an invitation!
AlexISisagirl: Almost! You can pack your Teddy bear and toothbrush, Danny boy!
DanielNOTdannyWITHballs: Hahaha! Btw, I miss DJ, too! And you, too, goofball! But I'm only his cool u ncle. You're his real dad! Well, you know what I mean.
AlexISisagirl: Not normally, but in this case, yeah. I do. So…Betty, huh?
DanielNOTdannyWITHballs: Yeah, Betty! She's…amazing! And I think…well, let's just say, I've never felt this way before. She's really something special. You're actually NOT giving me shit about her? I'm surprised!
AlexISisagirl: No, I'm happy for you. And not at all surprised. I can definitely see how smart the girl is. And you two make a great team. In fact, I noticed the way you sort of acted like a human being around the girl, the first time I met her!
DanielNOTdannyWITHballs: Right! At your lovely surprise, I'm really alive coming out, you mean? How could I forget? You noticed me around Betty back them? What do you mean?
AlexISisagirl: Yeah, you actually treated her with respect and didn't look at the girl like you usually do all women! It surprised the hell out of me!
DanielNOTdannyWITHballs: Thanks. I think! Betty is the first woman I ever had a real relationship with; she's my best friend. And I think I'm hers. We tell each other everything. I've never felt so close to a woman before. She's really beautiful inside and out, too. She doesn't know yet herself just how pretty she really is. But she definitely is. I think the fact that she doesn't know it makes her even more gorgeous, actually!
She's got a great bo…well, let's just say, she works hard to hide how beautiful she really is and she's still young. But she's wise beyond her years. And the way she figures out how to read people is insane! Her pep talks are so…peppy! And cute. She's adorable when she blushes. Which is like all the time, which is ridiculous, but so damn sweet! Her hugs are the best thing in the world! I've never felt so safe!
AlexISisagirl: No, it's definitely a compliment. To Betty, at least. I completely agree about the girl's potential hotness. I'm glad to see you notice her and fall for a woman for something other than her dressing like a hooker after all these years. Betty was the first woman I ever saw you be nice to other than as some kind of stupid bs trick to get into her pants. Although, I hope now that you really are trying to do that, you haven't stopped being nice to her! Btw, I also hope you realize that you are totally in love with her, little brother! I've never heard you gush like that over any woman!
Was his sister right about his feelings for Betty? Was he actuallyin love with her? That possibility surprisingly didn't make him freak out nearly as much as he might have once thought. In fact, it merely made him smile.
He noticed Betty had been avoiding him at work all week. Or at least, avoiding being alone with him. Not that he blamed her. After all, they needed to keep their distance until he made himself scarce as her boss. And she was obviously nervous about not only coming to visit him in Paris for two weeks, but also about taking a whole semester off to do her training if she got selected. She may not ever come back to Mode, if she was offered another job after the training. There was an opportunity to do the course part-time only, which Marc would no doubt take if he was chosen, since there was absolutely no way Wilhelmina would hold his job for him, Daniel was certain.
Finally, he had had it. He had to talk to her. Well, okay, maybe more than talk. He saw his opportunity when she happened to be on the elevator at the end of the day Thursday. She looked up, seeming a bit panicked to see him get into the elevator alone with her. "Hey, Daniel!"
"Hey. Are you okay, Betty? Are WE okay?" he wanted to make sure she was still on board with what they had talked about almost a week ago. That she hadn't chickened out, and talked herself out of moving forward with their lives. Because he was finding himself getting cold feet. Not about him and Betty. But about cutting the ties of the only job he had ever had and stepping out into the unknown. He desperately needed her. Not only her kiss, but her hug, and her pep talk. He really just missed seeing HIS Betty on a daily basis, and spending time with her.
She nodded, her eyes seeming wide and slightly glossy, "Mmhmm…I'm okay. WE are…IS there still a WE, Daniel? I thought maybe you had…changed your mind."
He saw the glint of sadness, of uncertainty in her eyes and knew immediately. She had doubted his sincerity before. She was worried that he decided to continue chasing models or something of the sort. He smiled, as he shook his head, and pulled her to him for a steamy kiss, "Does that answer your question, Miss Suarez? Hell no, I haven't changed my mind! I thought maybe you had!"
She caught her breath, and smiled, "No! I just…WOW! That was…nice!"
"I agree…about the wow. I was worried you would be concerned about putting your job on hold. You know that the Paris vacation is fine, because you've got lots of vacation time."
"Yes, but after that, even if I get accepted into YETI for the full-time program, I won't get paid that whole semester! I can't afford that, Daniel!"
He nodded, "I know, honey. But there IS a scholarship you can apply for. And I can help you out. Especially with living expenses. You could…you know, maybe move in with me. Then you could yell at me to pick up my shit better at my loft. So you don't trip over it. Plus, I do believe boyfriends are supposed to take their girlfriends out to eat. It's not like either of us is any good at cooking!" he teased gently.
Of course, he got the predictable blush at that. She hit his chest.
"Move IN with you? Daniel…I don't know! I mean…" wow, her practical side seemed to be actually considering it, he thought, almost surprised.
She looked down, then asked quietly, "When are you leaving for Paris? Did you talk to your sister?"
He nodded, "Um…yeah. I did. She said I could definitely come visit them. I'm getting a hotel while I'm there, so I…so we…have privacy. But she said DJ really misses me. That was nice to hear."
"I'm sure he does! You were so good with him!"
He smiled, "Thanks, Betty." He squeezed her waist for a moment, then sighed, "Anyway, I'm going to tell Wilhelmina the good news tomorrow. Do you want me to try and record her expression?"
He chuckled, "Geez, I hope she doesn't have a heart attack or something! Normally, I would almost be happy about that, but…I mean, honestly, who the hell would we get to replace her?"
"MARC?!" they said, practically in unison, then laughed.
When they got off the elevator, Betty looked around, making sure no one saw them standing so close together. "I'm going to be on vacation starting the end of next week. But I'll miss you while you are visiting your sister. Don't forget to tell DJ I said hello."
"Sure thing. He's gotten so tall recently, you won't recognize him! And by the way, I'll miss you, too. Oh, hey, by the way, is there anything in particular you want to see when you get there? Please tell me you aren't planning some crazy itinerary going to a bunch of boring museums! Remember, part of the value of actually visiting new places is meeting the everyday people there and opening yourself up to new experiences. Not just checking off boxes on some insane checklist!"
She raised an eyebrow, "Insane checklist?"
He laughed, rolling his eyes, "Sorry! You know I love your checklists and…post its…and how organized you are, sweetie! I just meant…you know, live in the moment and enjoy being in Paris for the first time, that's all. You deserve to soak it in. That goes for…a lot of things." He cleared his throat, looking embarrassed.
Betty's eyes widened, wondering if he was thinking about…" Are you talking about …SEX, Daniel?"
He almost choked, but then laughed nervously, 'Huh? Who, me? Why would you ask me that? Seriously? You do KNOW me, right? Of course I'm thinking about sex, Betty! When am I not thinking about it?"
She gulped, turning bright red, "OH! Oh, right! Yeah….that's true, I guess. But…Oh, I…"
He smiled, seeing how adorable she looked, so obviously embarrassed at the thought that he was thinking about HER and having sex WITH her. Just before they exited the Meade building and headed towards the street, he suddenly pulled her around the corner and behind a large plant so they could have some privacy, as he leaned down and whispered, "You are so damn cute, Betty!" he kissed her sweetly, then left, "I'll see you tomorrow, AFTER I'm no longer officially your boss!"