At that, Juliet’s jaw sharply closed again, her lips tightening.
Which was all the answer Darcy needed. She let out a tremulous breath as she nodded. “Youaren’tobligated to tell me everything. And I’m not obligated to be with you tonight when I actually, somehow, feel worse standing here with you than I did before.”
Chartline Reviews — Jukebox Calamity
Cecelia Rowe — January 8
It’s official: no sophomore slump for We, The Romantics!
Jukebox Calamitydelivers exactly what I’d been hoping for. Still resonant of their first album, but with a new, fresh feeling.
Three-Part Harmony, in particular, is a standout. Doing precisely what the track title suggests, Darcy, Blythe, and Emerson are all highlighted in their strengths individually before coming together in the bridge. It’s fun, it’s witty, and surprisingly emotional, celebrating how far the trio has come.
I can’t fucking wait for their tour to start in a few weeks.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Agitation and anticipationswirled inside of Juliet as she sat in her art studio, glowering at a blank canvas.
This space had alwaysclearedher mind. She was always able to turn off all of the stressful, whirling thoughts when she was in here. Even last summer, this had stayed her safe space.
But not even this oasis in her own home had helped her work through this sickening feeling that had taken root inside of her since We, The Romantics’ release party.
Now, Darcy was due to be here – truly taking up residence in Juliet’s home – any minute now.
Her phone buzzed and she leapt to check it, to see if it was her alarm system letting her know that Darcy had arrived.
“Look at what she’s done to you,” she murmured, rolling her eyes at herself.
She had her phone in the art studio! She’d never kept her phone with her in here before… but what if Darcy decided to reach out? Juliet had missed the moment that she’d internally given Darcy permission to completely mess her up inside, but obviously somewhere along the way, it had happened.
She’d never been so disappointed to see Laura’s name on the screen. Closing her eyes tightly, she let out a long, deep breath. Calming. Centering herself.
She swiped her finger over the screen to answer, “Hey.”
“… so, no resolution with Darcy yet, I see,” Laura surmised.
She narrowed her eyes down at her phone. They weren’t even onvideo. “How do you even know?”
“Juliet, how long have I worked with you?” Laura returned with a laugh. “Some credit, please.”
It was a reminder that Laura truly was the best assistant in the game. Juliet had been lucky enough to stumble upon Laura – of all places – at one of Harrison’s business dinners. Juliet had been performing, and Harrison had flown in business acquaintances from all over the world. Laura had been, at that time, the assistant to one of Harrison’s associates, and had been at her wits end, ready to quit after dealing with a ton of bullshit. As to be expected from one of Harrison’s associates.
So, she supposed, Harrison had been good for something.
“No,” she heaved a sigh, dropping her head back. “No resolution with Darcy, yet.”
It had been nearly a week sinceJukebox Calamityhad come out, and Darcy was busy. She’d been between L.A., New York, and Nashville, recording and pre-recording a ton of promotional material for the album.
Even before their argument, they hadn’t planned on being able to spend much time with one another even when Darcy was here in L.A.
And that had felt okaybefore, because Juliet knew she was going to have Darcy all to herself, sequestered together in her house.
She’d approached Darcy in the last week with a lot of uncertainty. But she’dreallythought – hoped, she guessed –that given some space, things would cool off by the time Darcy was set to arrive here.
Last week at the release party… it had been a weird night for her, as she’d said. Harrison and her mother didn’t go to every event they were invited to, and they often didn’t go to everything thrown by Copper Canyon. She hadn’t known they were going to be there until the moment she and Robbie had arrived in the lobby, and she’d discreetly picked up the key Darcy had left for her at the desk and tucked it into her purse.
But seeing Harrison had thrown herentirelyoff. Knowing that he was going to keep an eye on her, an eye onDarcy, had fucked with Juliet’s entire nervous system.
