Darcy didnotwake up before her. That was just… it simply didn’t happen. Even afterJukebox Calamityhad come out and she hadn’t been riddled with so much anxiety, she still slept later than Juliet did.
She was also usually a much heavier sleeper.
Unsettled by that, let alone that Juliet was well aware they hadn’t actually talked through yesterday, she quickly got out of bed. Hurriedly, she pulled on her robe and didn’t even have the ability to act like she wasn’t concerned or rushing down the hallway.
“Darcy?” She called out.
“Yeah?” Darcy answered, echoing up from downstairs.
Juliet’s footsteps faltered, as she was hit by a far sweeter relief than she’d like to admit. She took a moment to let it sink in, closing her eyes.
Able to breathe easier, she shook her head, and took a moment to actually tie the sash around her robe. Make it look like shehadn’tjumped up and ran out of her bed.
She made her way down the stairs, dragging her hand through her hair as she hit the bottom.
Her relief was short-lived, however, when her eyes landed on Darcy’s suitcase. They’d arranged to have it brought here from the airport yesterday; Laura had been here to receive it and take it in.
But Laura had put it just inside of Juliet’s bedroom. That suitcasehadn’tbeen in the living room last night.
Crossing her arms tightly over her stomach, she forced a deep inhale. Searching for calm.
“Why is your suitcase downstairs?” She asked even before turning to face Darcy, who was sitting at the kitchen island. “Andwhy areyoudownstairs?” Then she took Darcy in, and her chest tightened, her stomach sinking. “Why are you dressed?”
Her question came out sounding far more like an accusation. Maybe it was. She didn’t really know; she just knew she didn’t like what she was seeing.
“I was waiting for you to wake up.” Darcy’s voice was quiet, as she turned to look at her.
Were they going to fight? Darcy didn’t look angry. Which was, actually, way worse than an argument. Because she lookeduncertain.
“Why?” She asked, her arms folded tightly over her stomach. Holding herself together. “There are a lot ofwhy’s I’m still waiting on answers for.”
She couldn’t control the sharpness in her tone even if she tried. Because she felt – she feltpanicked. Juliet wasn’t familiar with this kind of panicked feeling, but she knew, acutely, that she hated it.
“Juliet…” Darcy sighed out her name like it was a prayer on her lips.
Juliet’s heart flip-flopped, as she walked closer, her jaw setting tightly. “Darcy.”
Darcy reached up, rubbing her fingertips over her temple. “I’m – look, I’m just going to lay everything I’m feeling out for you. Because you know I’m bad at holding it in.”
Was that a good or a bad thing? Juliet’s mind ran around in circles trying to figure that out, as if she could predict whatever Darcy was going to say.
“I know that Robbie was around long before I was.” Darcy dropped her hand from her head heavily down into her lap, staring beseechingly at Juliet. Her eyes were wide and clear and so full of emotion, it made Juliet ache. “I know you’ve had this arrangement for years. I know it isn’t ‘real,’ at least, not to you two.”
She paused, tightly rolling her lips, casting her gaze down into her lap, where she’d started toying with her rings.
“But… it’s different. At least, for me, it’s different. Not coming out is one thing; that’s just – privacy. Having the entire world believe you two are together? Talking about getting engaged.” Darcy cut herself off, her mouth turning down into a frown.
One that was simplysad, and it clawed into Juliet.
“I know it’s not real. But it still hurts,” she admitted, her voice dropping to a whisper.
Juliet’s breath trembled out of her, shaking her head. She didn’t even know what to say, she just knew… she just knew she didn’t wantthis.
Darcy seemed to fortify herself, rolling her shoulders back as she flipped her hands over and gripped her thighs. “The last twenty-four hours have been insane. I’m coming off the tour, which was exhausting. And then the premiere right after…” She shook her head. “I couldn’t sleep well last night. I think what I need to do is just go home. Go to Pineford. Take a little breather. Come down from – everything.”
With that, Darcy slid off the stool.
“I booked a flight. I have a car that’s coming to pick me up. Well, it’s going to pick me up at the café down the street. The driver’s down there already, but I was waiting for you a little longer.”
