Chapter Text
Somehow, Danny got roped into throwing the going-away party. It was probably because he volunteered, since he wanted to do something nice for his best friend before she left. He still couldn’t believe she was leaving—her job, her home, her bear claw guy, him. He so desperately wanted to tell himself that it she wasn’t really going, like this was just a silly Mindy thing with one of her stupid guys, and she would change her mind when she realized that Josh was a dick. But she seemed so serious when she walked into his office. He was seriously going to lose her.
He stood in his apartment, staring at the giant banner that hung over his fireplace: Farewell Mindy & Josh! It was like it was mocking him. Mindy had offered to help with decorations, but Danny knew that he couldn’t be alone with her without doing something stupid or rash. He would tell her how Josh had told him that he wished that she was thinner, she’d get angry and dramatically slap him, and she’d leave hating him. Or worse, he’d ruin everything by breaking down and telling her how he really felt. So here he was, stepping up on a chair, attempting to hang a hideous Beyoncé piñata that Morgan had found in a dumpster behind a Mexican restaurant.
How in the world did he get to this point?
***
She woke up with a cold hand down her nightgown.
“Babe, please, it’s our last morning together in New York.” Josh whined.
Mindy looked into his clear blue eyes. She was so proud of herself, that she had found him, someone so beautiful that loved her. He wasn’t the most caring, or kind for that matter, but he was a catch. He was her catch. Mean girls from high school be damned, she was about to spend the rest of her life with a handsome, successful, rich, sports attorney. But right now, she just wanted to sleep for another hour.
“Please, Mindy, we’re spending tonight apart”, he groaned, letting his hand slide farther down the soft cotton.
“We’ll see each other at the going-away party.”
“What going away party?” said Josh, drawing his hand back.
“Tonight, at Danny’s. There’s going to be a piñata!”
Josh groaned. “Seriously, that guy?”
“That guy is my best friend, Josh. Why do you have such a big problem with him?”
“He’s creepy. He’s like always lurking around.”
“That’s how friends work. You spend time with them.”
“Why are you always so defensive of him?”
Mindy sighed. She really didn’t want do this at 6:30 AM.
“Josh, he’s throwing a party in our honor, and all of our friends will be there. I think you can handle it,” she continued, “Plus, he’s buying nine cases of Red Bull just for you.”
“I’ll go, but you’re going to have to make it up to me”, he winked.
***
Mindy couldn’t believe that it was her last day in New York City. Sure, her dreams were coming true: she was starting a life with a crazy bangable guy. She knew that they would probably get married soon and have a million beautiful mixed-race babies. It was all she ever wanted, but she’d miss the city.
And honestly, she was scared. What if Josh’s family hated her? What if she hated them? What if Josh didn’t want to get married? After all, he did say that he wasn’t the “commitment type”. What if he left her all alone in rural Idaho? But she trusted him. She loved Josh, but moving across the country with him was a big step, and it frightened her. She's never really been this serious with a guy.
But life doesn’t move in small steps, it moves in big leaps.
***
His coworkers were the first to arrive to the party. Jeremy, Betsy, Tamra, and even Beverly were formally dressed in suits and dresses, while Morgan donned a mustard-colored track suit. Beverly made a beeline for the drink table, while the others clumped in the living room, near the piñata that was now shedding glitter onto his hardwood floors. Great. Other guests streamed in, their faces fading together. Danny took their coats and made small talk while simultaneously downing one…two…three beers. It was going to be a painful night.
Just then, there was a fashionably late knock on the door. He knew it was Mindy because she had a short, chippy, almost impatient way of knocking. He drew in a big breath, preparing himself for the terror that would be tonight. Like the blonde girl from that Disney movie, he would conceal, not feel, nor let it show. It was for the best.
And there she was, in all her glory, in her black pumps and his favorite tight red dress.