Darcy pleads with me with nothing more than his big eyes. “Go with me. I won’t feel right going alone.”
I won’t feel right going without an invitation. What if Landon and Ben read too much into it? But at the same time, I wouldn’t be going for them; I’d be going for Darcy, and that’s really all I need. He’s one of the most important people in the world to me. “I’ll go.”
“Really?”
“Of course,” I say, nodding.
Darcy’s relief is evident in the slump of his shoulders. “Thank you.”
“This weekend, right?”
He nods. “Yeah, and get this.” There’s a bit of a shuffle, and then a red jersey is being waved in front of the camera. “He gave me his jersey to wear. I don’t get him, Park.”
I don’t either, honestly. “Yeah, that’s strange. You’re gonna wear it, right?”
“I’m not sure I should.” He sinks his teeth into his bottom lip, nervousness flashing across his face. “What if it gives people the wrong idea?”
The wrong idea? Fuck that. “If he didn’t want you to wear it, he shouldn’t have given it to you. Besides, you’ll look hot as fuck in it, so if nothing else, wear it to drive him mad.”
This time, Darcy laughs. “Yeah, alright. You’re right. Though I’m not so sure about the driving him mad part.”
“I am.” I wink at Darcy, laughing when he rolls his eyes.
“You’re a freaking menace.”
“And yet you love me anyway.”
“Yeah, I really do. Thanks for talking me down, Park. You’re the best.”
I pretend to dust my shoulders off. “Yeah, I know.”
I’m graced with another eye roll. “Alright, well, I’ll let you go, and I’ll see you this weekend?”
“We can get coffee before then if you want.”
Darcy groans. “God, I wish. I’ve been so busy.”
I nod. “Alright. This weekend, then.”
“Perfect. Love you, Park.”
“I love you too, Darce.”
And I mean that shit with my whole heart. I don’t know where I’d be without Darcy and his unwavering support and love. With a smile and a wave, he ends the call.
The second he’s gone, I realize that I haven’t gotten a text back from either Landon or Ben, and my stomach twists. Maybe a group chat was the wrong idea.
With a sigh, I push to my feet, shoving my phone in my back pocket, and make my way into my art closet.
It’s not ideal to have it all tucked away and hidden, but I never feel right showing it to people, especially not before it’s completed. There’s something about myLovepainting that isn’t sitting right with me. It’s like there’s something missing, and I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, but it’s frustrating me.
Pulling the canvas out, I run my fingertips over the dried paint. When I painted this weeks ago, itfeltso right. Now the colors feel wrong. Like they don’t actually belong. Like they don’tfit.
My phone dings twice, and I damn near throw the canvas down while trying to grab it.
Ben
I’m free. Might have to bring some stuff to study. I have a test tomorrow for psych.
