There was no way this didn’t end poorly. Hell, there was no way thisalreadywouldn’t end poorly.
But Darcy still gripped the sink behind her with all of the strength she could possibly muster, stuck in a limbo. Holding herself back from following Juliet’s order, but also holding on, unable to push herself away.
“Juliet?” There was a joltingly loud knock on the bathroom door. “Hey, are you in there? I’ve been calling you. If we’re going to make this flight, we havegotto go.”
Juliet lingered right where she stood, even as she called out, “I’m in here, Laura. Be out in a sec.”
“I really hope you meana sec. Traffic was actually worse than usual, so I’d anticipate it will be on the way to the airport, too.”
Huffing out a breath, Juliet finally –finally– took a step back.
Darcy was almost able to breathe again, but she still found herself holding it in.
Juliet hummed under her breath as she slipped her shirt back on, swiftly tugging her hair out from under the neckline. “For the record, with regards to what I wrote about you in my song? I did very much intend for that comment to also include the fact that with the way you look – the way youdress– you obviously benefit quite a bit from attracting the male gaze. But I was also commenting on how much success you’re experiencing in the status quo world we’re living in right now as a whole. I’m not so one-note.”
Laura knocked again on the door.
Even though Darcy’s heart thundered in her chest and her head was spinning, she managed, “Seems like your chariot awaits.”
Read: sheneededJuliet to get the hell out of here.
“Seems like it,” Juliet agreed, in a tone that was so…different. It wasn’t combative, the way it had been the last couple of days. It wasn’t really nice, either, but something entirely new. “Until next time.”
Chapter Twelve
“Darcy,you have opinions on everything. But today, when I take you shopping to get your opinions on décor, you are suddenly silent?” Blythe’s exasperation rang loud and clear, cutting into Darcy’s fixation on her phone. “And since when are you so dialed-in? Other than the Juliet feud, you’ve never been obsessed with being on your phone the way you’ve been this past week.”
Darcy put her phone face-down on the table in front of her. “I already told you my thoughts within the first twenty minutes of us being here. I don’t have any further opinions on patio furniture beyond what I already said.”
Her sister narrowed her eyes at her, obviously suspicious.
Darcy held her gaze, though, because that was the truth.
Blythe was now in full-steam ahead mode, preparing to close on the house in a couple of weeks. And the first thing she and Colton wanted to do was throw a party when they officially owned the house, so Blythe was preparing now by ordering the patio and lawn furniture.
They were at Ron’s Lawns (Furniture and More!), the largest supply store there was in Pineford, and they’d been here for over an hour.
At first, Darcy had walked around with Blythe, looking at the patio furniture set ups, giving her opinions. Emerson had followed diligently, offering – once, quietly – her thoughts as well.
But the thing about Blythe was that even though they now had the money to pay for whatever she might want, her sister wouldneveragree to pay the sticker price on something like this. She wanted to see every model of what she was interested in, and she wanted to discuss specs, and she wanted to haggle the price down, with a will forged of iron and a smile that looked like an old-fashioned movie star.
And that was great for her.
But Darcy and Emerson were now both seated at one of the displays in the middle of the store, as Blythe worked with Ron Junior, who they’d all gone to high school with.
“I’ll add on, though, this set right here?” She gestured at the seats and table she and Emerson were at, before pressing her index finger and thumb together to symbolize thea-okay. “Super comfy. I’m turning into a big fan.”
Blythe narrowed her eyes into a glare, before she flicked her gaze down and took in the furniture display they were sitting at with a considering frown.
“RJ, what material is that? Is that teak?” Blythe asked, turning back to Ron Junior.
She breathed out a laugh for the poor soul. Then her phone vibrated and her heart dropped, through to the bottom of her stomach.
Without pause, she reached forward and snatched it up from the table.
Only to relax when she saw that the headline popping up was about Juliet endorsing something from one of her stepfather’s businesses. Nothing about Darcy.
She managed a deep breath, dropping her phone to her lap.
