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We looked at each other for a moment, but Russell didn’t make any move to leave. And it hit me all at once that this was how it ended. That our night, fated and random, wonderful and terrible, was over.
“Okay,” Wylie said after a moment in which the silence stretched on to the point of uncomfortable. He gave me a smile that seemed real. “Lovely to meet you, Darcy. Get home safe.”
“Thank you for everything,” I said, meaning it, trying to put all the warmth in my tone that I was keeping from Russell. Wylie gave me a nod and headed down the hallway.
Russell looked at me for a moment longer, his eyes searching mine. He took a breath—
“Russ!” Wylie called.
He hesitated for one second more, then turned and left the room, following his dad. I watched him go, trying to ignore the pull I felt in my stomach. This was what I wanted, after all. It was.
So why did this feel so awful?
“Where’s home?” Chloe asked me. I jumped slightly—I hadn’t realized she’d ended up right next to me.
“Oh—LA.”
“How are you getting there?” She was watching me closely, her dark blue eyes slightly narrowed.
“I’ll get a bus. I’m sure there will be one soon.” And even if there wasn’t, I would wait, but I didn’t think I needed to share that part with Chloe.
“A bus?”
“Sorry,” Kendrick said, hurrying into the kitchen. He was carrying my duffel, my canvas bag, and the tent. “These were put in the Bleecker Street guesthouse. I thought you were staying?”
I took them from him. “No, I’m heading out. But thanks so much.”
“Want some pasta, Kendrick?” Priya called.
He shook his head. “I wish. I’m keto right now.”
“Your loss.”
“It literally is,” he said, flexing a bicep. “Ten pounds and counting!”
“Wait,” Chloe said, shaking her head. “I’m not sure we should let you just go to the bus station alone.”
“It’s really fine,” I said as I pulled up my rideshare app. My phone was charged enough now for me to call an Uber, and though I didn’t have a huge amount of money in my account, it looked like I had enough for the ride to the bus station. I’d just wait there for the next available bus, and be on my way back to LA.
“Let me drive you down to the gates,” Kendrick said. “I can get the golf cart.”
I shook my head, trying not to look exasperated. Maybe this was what having millions of dollars did to you. I was certainly capable of walking down a driveway. “That’s okay. But thank you.”
“It’s a long driveway,” Montana said, raising an eyebrow at me. “I’d take him up on it.”
“I’m fine.”
“Well,” Kendrick said a little uncertainly, “just wave to the camera when you get to the bottom of the gates. Security will open the door for you. You have a ride coming?”
“Uh-huh,” I lied. I saw that Chloe was looking at me closely, her expression skeptical. I was sure she was going to say something, but then Priya yelled that dinner was ready.
In the stampede for food that followed, I was able to shout a goodbye and thank-you in the general direction of the room, then grab my stuff and head back to the entrance hall.
In the foyer, I took one more look at the Chloe and Wylie sci-fi desert picture, then walked outside, closing the door quickly behind me so that Andy wouldn’t get out.
I stood there on the step for just a moment—the quiet a contrast to the chaos in the house. I felt like I was turning off a movie halfway through, or leaving a play at intermission. Like the story was going to continue on without me—and I wouldn’t know how it ended.
I shook my head and walked down the steps, pausing to look at the balloon dog for one last moment before crossing the lawn to the gravel driveway. The fact was, I needed to leave. And I was positive Russell wanted me to go just as badly as I wanted to.
