Page 31 of The B Side

Darcy’s eyes narrowed at her, even as she reached up and hastily swiped away an errant tear that escaped in response to Juliet’s proclamation. “Ummm. I was always going to come to the Grammys; I have my own invitation, you know.”

Juliet huffed out an exasperated breath. “Yes, I am aware of that.” She used the hand she still had cupping Darcy’s jaw to angle her head down just enough, so they were staring so close at one another. “But do you want to come with me?”

A slow smile, one that was outrageously, unfairly gorgeous, stole over Darcy’s face. “As in, be your date? Officially? Walking the red carpet together, hand-in-hand?”

Juliet’s stomach fluttered, a swarm of butterflies on the rise. Still, she didn’t look away. “Affirmative to all of the above.”

She and Darcy had been together for over two years. They’d lived together for over a year. They’d already written their entire album to debut together. They shared a life, yet they hadn’t been able to publicly share that life even at events for what had brought them together in the first place.

It was, objectively, ridiculous.

And it made her sad when she let herself go there.

She didn’t want that anymore. No matter what the rest of the aftermath of their coming out looked like, she didn’t want to have to pretend that Darcy wasn’t everything to her. She didn’t want to have to catch herself and pull away when their hands brushed, instead of instinctively turning her hand over to catch Darcy’s fingers in her own.

“I would love to.”

SMS

February 4

Blythe - 8:31A.M.

I can’t wait to watch you win tonight, sister-in-law

Juliet - 8:35A.M.

… you know Darcy and I aren’t married at this juncture…

Blythe - 8:36A.M.

Ummm YOU were the one who referred to yourself as my sister the night before my wedding.

You gave me a giant hug and you said “we’re sisters, too!”

Do you not recall?

I’m wounded

Juliet - 8:39A.M.

I have… a vague recollection.

Blythe - 8:39A.M.

I mean, to be completely genuine - I’d enjoy having another sister. What can I say, Juliet, you’ve won be over

Juliet - 8:40A.M.

What a dream

… and fine. My less-than-sober self might have told on how much I’ve come to care about you, too

Emerson - 8:41A.M.

Um. So. You two are in the group chat. Idk when was a good time to tell you.

Juliet - 8:41 A.M.