They’d learned how to navigate all of this, together.
“I’ll probably, eventually, try to find a different sort of arrangement.” He gestured between them, capturing her gaze with his, as he stated softly, “But there won’t be another Juliet Jacobs. That’s for sure.”
Unexpectedly emotional, she reached out and put her hand over his, squeezing tightly. “No. There won’t be.”
She’d meant to say it in a light, glib tone. But it came out unexpectedly serious, because it was how she felt about him. They’d both found one another, been what each other needed, atexactly the right time. And, she imagined, their lives might have been a lot messier if they hadn’t.
Clearing her throat, making it a little less tight from the emotion welling up, she hummed. “But if you’re lucky, you might be able to find someone a little less bossy.”
Robbie dropped his head back, laughing. “Maybe. But a little bossiness can be good sometimes.” His eyes sparked with mischief. “Just ask Darcy; I’m sure she loves it.”
I love you. In all of the ways I’ve never loved anyone else.
Just the echo of Darcy’s words in her mind made Juliet’s breath catch and hold in her chest, before the butterflies returned in the pit of her stomach. She could feel herself blush, but – what the hell? She wasn’t going to try to hide it from Robbie, not here and now. “She, uh… she does.”
That feeling of wonder washed over her, the same feeling she got every time she thought about Darcy’s confession. The words, in the exact cadence Darcy had said them, were imprinted on her mind. Like the most beautiful song she’d ever heard.
Darcy Kincaid loved her. She loved Juliet in all of the ways she’d never loved anyone else. And Juliet was going to do anything in her power to make sure she didn’t jeopardize that.
After Robbie left,Juliet found herself standing at the large, glass sliding doors that led out to her backyard.
She felt… she feltgood.
No, she’d never done this before. She’d always had Robbie as her added security. He’d given her an easier way to walk through the world under the microscope they lived in. And itwasa little nerve-wracking to think about what was going to happen, next.
News of their breakup would spread; they’d both agreed on the statement they’d pass on to their publicity teams. Buzz would start. People would be talking. Theorizing.
And Juliet, unlike Robbie, wasn’t going to make any other arrangements.
She…
She wasnevergoing to make another “arrangement” again.
She had demo tracks of a lot of the songs she’d been working on; she was ready to start going into production soon.
And maybe she didn’t have a plan for what would happen, next. But she knew she wanted it to happen with Darcy, regardless of what they chose to do.
It was scary to think about, but it also made her pulse skitter with excitement. Was it ridiculous, she wondered, to hope Darcy was proud of her?
She hadn’t done it for that reason, but it was appealing. She really enjoyed imagining the look on Darcy’s face. Not because she’d broken up with Robbie, necessarily, but because of thehonestyof it all. The lack of needing to lie.
Darcy would love that.
If only Darcy would return her call or text.
She was trying to be respectful of Darcy wanting to take a day or two, but she thought – given her news – that Darcy would be happy to hear from her.
When she felt her phone vibrate, her heart skipped, and she snatched it out of her back pocket.
Only to deflate when it wasn’t Darcy’s name – well, Thief – but Blythe’s.
…
Blythe’s?
She exchanged numbers with Blythe and Emerson one of the nights she’d gone to see them on tour, but they’d never really texted.
Confused, she opened the message.
