Meeting her for the first time as I walked into journalism class, beelining over to the desk beside her without even thinking about it. Just knowing instinctively that I needed to talk to her. Needed to learn more about the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen.
Not a girl anymore. A woman. But still as stunning as I remember.
Darcy blinks. Her cheeks flush a deep pink. She takes an uneven step towards the table, nearby stumbling before she catches herself.
I only just stop myself from jumping up to help her, gritting my teeth as I force myself to stay still.
She doesn’t need my help. Doesn’t want it. She couldn’t have made that more clear.
Still. There’s a part of me that aches to go to her. Ask if she’s okay.
“Mike?” It’s Shea this time. She exchanges a quick glance with Oliver before asking, “Are you sure you’re okay? Because you look sort of… ill.”
I cast a quick look around the table, finding all my friends looking at me with concern. It’s not surprisingly, really, since I’m always the steady one. The one who never lets on he’s upset, even after the most heartbreaking of cases. The guy who always has a smile at the ready, who always,alwaysinsists he’s okay.
But somehow, I find myself admitting, “I know her. Darcy. From back in high school.”
And after, but that’s not worth getting into now.
“Oh, that’s right,” Ari says. “Darcy mentioned going to high school here.” She stops. “You guys are close in age, right? Were you friends?”
“Two years apart,” I reply. “And you could say that. But I haven’t spoken to her in a long time. She probably doesn’t even know I live here.”
Or does she? Thanks to friends of friends on social media, I know Darcy chose to move out to California while I came back to Sleepy Hollow as soon as a job opened up on the force. Has she kept up with what I’m doing? I don’t post much, just the occasional photo of my dog, but sometimes my friends tag me in local events. So she’d know I live here, if she took the time to check.
If she was interested. Which I’m sure she’s not.
“You should talk to her,” Shea says. “Since you’re both living here now, I’m sure you’ll run into her sooner or later.”
Honestly, considering Darcy’s been back in town for at least a few months, I’m surprised I haven’t seen her yet. In a town like Sleepy Hollow, it’s almost impossible to go anywhere without running into at least five people you know. So, Shea’s right. I’m sure Iwillrun into Darcy before too long. Either the grocery store, the library, one of the local events… It’s only a matter of time.
Part of me—the cowardly side I keep hidden from everyone—wants to put it off. Avoid having this conversation until I’ve shored up my defenses better. Wait until I’m feeling more like the confident and mature police officer I pride myself on being and not the devastated boy who still remembers just how badly it hurt when things ended between us.
Then again. She’s here. Sitting at a table less than thirty feet away. How will it look if Idon’tgo over? Will Darcy think I hate her? That I’m still holding a grudge?
I’m not. Truly. As much as it sucked, I get it. We were young. After exclusively dating each other for almost eight years, Darcy wanted to meet other people. Date other people. Do I sometimes wonder what would have happened if we’d stayed together? Sure. But sometimes two people just aren’t meant to be.
So really, I should go over to talk to her. Welcome her back to town. Exchange some pleasantries before going on with my evening.
Pushing up from my chair, I announce, “I’m just going to go say hi. I’ll be back in a minute.”
And before I can second guess myself, I head across the room with a purposeful stride, already silently composing my greeting.
Hey, Darcy.Not Darce, like I used to call her.I just heard you moved back. And seeing you here, I thought I’d say hello.
But when I get to her table, and she looks up at me with those big, green eyes, the words that come out of my mouth aren’t close to what I had planned.
“Hi, Darce.”
Shit. It’s Darcy. Not Darce.
“So, I saw you over here, and I thought I should come say hi,” I continue. “Since we’re in the same town now and all. At least, that’s what Ari said. My friend, Ari. But you know who she is, she said you teach together at the high school. I didn’t realize you’d moved back, but it’s good to see you.”
What am I doing? Why am I babbling at her instead of playing it cool?
“Anyway,” I finish lamely. “I hope you’re settling in okay.”
For a few seconds, Darcy stares at me, gnawing on her lower lip the same way she used to whenever she got nervous. She plays with her necklace, tugging at the small bird-shaped pendant hanging from the chain.
