Darcy just… she needed to understandherplace in Juliet’s life. She needed to figure out where she belonged, as something that was true, amidst all of the pretending, the image.
The next time they saw one another, she wanted them to have a real, serious conversation about it all.
She tapped the end of her pen against the page she had open, on her list of questions she and Juliet needed to discuss.
What, exactly, is the Robbie-relationship timeline?
Is there an end date?? (I’d really love to pinpoint this)
As Juliet’s actual/real romantic partner, will I have any say in the events you go to together?
Being the top three, currently.
She snapped her head up toward the door when she heard a quick knock. “Darce?” Blythe’s voice was muffled through the wood. “You awake? Dinner’s going to be ready soon.”
Placing her notebook down on the bed, she called out, “You’ve piqued my interest!”
She slid her feet into the slippers she’d had packed in her suitcase, having brought them on tour. Which was great, because Blythe wasverystrict about shoes.
When she opened the door, she’d expected to find her sister still standing there. Probably with her arms crossed, most likely with an expectant expression.
Darcy hadn’t told Blythe much about the twenty-four hours since she’d last seen her. She’d simply trudged into the guest room and fallen face-down on the bed. But… Blythehadto know something was up, for Darcy to be home so soon.
That was just typical-Blythe.
Maybe she’d be posing her questions at dinner. Maybe she wanted Colton around to needle her with his curiosity.
Or maybe –
Darcy walked out into the large dining/living room, coming to a surprised stop when she saw Emerson. A smile broke out onto her face. “Well, well, well. It’s only been a day since we’ve spent the last nine weeks together on the tour bus, but I missed you, too,” she teased.
Emerson startled, spinning to look at her from where she’d been turned around, talking quietly to Blythe.
Which… was a little weird.
Darcy darted her gaze between her sister and best friend, who were both standing together a few feet from her.
Emerson sort-of smiled. Actually, it was mostly a grimace. But Darcy could tell shebelievedit was a smile. “Ha. I mean. Yeah.”
Oh, wow.
Shit.
Darcy felt like she’d swallowed a stone with the way her stomach fell right to her feet. She looked between them again, quicker this time, the worry starting to gnaw at her. “What’s going on?”
When neither Blythe nor Emerson said anything in the couple of seconds that followed, Darcy’s heart tripped in her chest.
It – it couldn’t be Juliet. Right?! She’d have heard. She – okay, she’d left her phone back in the bedroom, but she’d had it on her all afternoon, and hadn’t seen anything.
The list of people Darcy deeply cared for wasn’t very long, though. If it wasn’t Juliet, Blythe, or Emerson –
“Where’s Colton?” She asked, hastily walking toward her sister.
“Colton?” Blythe asked, obviously confused.
Darcy came to an abrupt pause. Blythe wouldn’t be so calm if something happened to Colton. Duh.
“He’s still at work. Why are you asking about Colton?”
