Written in the Stars(28)

Elle lifted her head, catching Darcy staring.

Around them, the air crackled, Darcy’s whole body tingling from her scalp to her soles. She shivered as Elle leaned a little closer, close enough to feel the heat radiating off her, her wine-sweet breath warm as it puffed against Darcy’s face. Too close. Darcy wasn’t supposed to be getting close to anyone.

Darcy stood quickly, wobbling briefly before steadying herself on the edge of the couch. “Do you want more wine?” Without waiting for Elle’s answer, she strode off in the direction of the kitchen, both their glasses in hand.

Darcy rested her forehead against the stainless-steel door of her fridge and breathed deep. Get a grip. Clearly there was chemistry at play, but as satisfying as giving in would be in the moment, the consequences would be catastrophic. Elle was looking for love and Darcy wasn’t. End of story.

After filling both glasses from the black plastic pour spout on the atrocious box of wine, Darcy took a healthy swallow from hers and returned to the living room, uncertain of whether she’d have to let Elle down gently.

“Enough about astrology,” Elle said, taking her glass from Darcy with a smile. “We should probably talk about selling this.”

The tension between Darcy’s shoulders subsided. They were on the same page then. “More than we have already?”

Elle made a soft noise in the back of her throat. “I mean, the logistics of it all.”

Darcy liked logistics. Logistics were safe. They could talk about that. “Okay.”

“We’ve got our double date on Saturday. Then Thanksgiving at my parents’ and Brendon’s Christmas party. Is that it?”

Is that it? As if it weren’t already too much. “Unless Brendon springs something else on us, which is entirely in the realm of possibility.” Darcy paused. “That’s only one event of yours. Not exactly equitable.”

Elle laughed under her breath. “You haven’t met my family. But Thanksgiving is an all-day thing anyway, it’s like a two-for-one. No worries.”

Yes, worries. “If you say so.”

Elle pulled a loose thread on the bottom of her sweater. “In terms of selling it . . . what exactly are you comfortable with?”

“Comfortable with?”

“You know.” Elle huffed. “There’s more to making everyone think we’re dating than knowing each other’s middle names and where we went to school.” Her tongue darted out, wetting her bottom lip. “Like, being comfortable with a certain degree of . . . familiarity. Hand holding, touching—”

“Fine.” Darcy clutched her wine, thigh burning with the ghost of Elle’s touch. “That’s . . . fine.”

Elle’s forehead wrinkled. “Fine? You’re good with—”

“Anything.” A dizzying wave of heat crashed over her as her mind caught up to her mouth. It had been how long exactly since she’d gotten laid? Too long apparently. Darcy coughed. “Whatever it takes to sell it.”

“Okay.” Elle worried the corner of her bottom lip for a moment before gathering up the gel pens scattered across the coffee table. “Well. That’s all I had. Unless there was something you wanted to add?”

Right. There was something. She’d made a mental list. If she could just remember, stop getting distracted by— “Actually yes. I was thinking it would be a good idea if we set a termination date.”

Elle straightened from where she’d been hunched over the bags of craft supplies. “Sorry, a what?”

Darcy tugged at the hem of her skirt before primly crossing her legs at the ankles, knees slanted to the side. “A termination date, the day on which a contract ends and a deal expires. We should set one.”

Elle nodded. “When were you thinking?”

Darcy grabbed her phone off the table and several swipes later, she presented Elle with a screen showing her calendar. Her phone shook faintly in her hand, hopefully not enough for Elle to notice. “Today’s November fifth. Why don’t we keep it simple? December thirty-first?”

Elle resembled a bobblehead, nodding briskly and for too long. “Sure.”

“I know neither of us asked for this,” Darcy added. “I’m sure we’ll both be glad when we don’t have to keep pretending.”

God knew she would. This was all more involved than she’d anticipated. Getting to know Elle, being in close proximity with her. It was too much, made it hard for her to think, made her want things she had no business craving with Elle.

The new year couldn’t come soon enough.





Chapter Seven


ELLE (7:15 P.M.): about this double date

ELLE (7:15 P.M.): your sister forgot to ask what we’re doing

ELLE (7:16 P.M.): so what’s the 411?

BRENDON (7:20 P.M.): You know the Seattle Underground? Entrance is in Pioneer Square?

ELLE (7:22 P.M.): i know of it yeah

BRENDON (7:24 P.M.): There’s an escape room. I thought it’d be fun. Race against time, you know?

BRENDON (7:25 P.M.): Then drinks? Trivia and drinks? Thoughts?

ELLE (7:27 P.M.): an escape room?!?

ELLE (7:27 P.M.): ive always wanted to do one!

ELLE (7:28 P.M.): and yes to trivia and drinks

BRENDON (7:30 P.M.): Sweet!

BRENDON (7:32 P.M.): Btw! Contracts are moving along on HR’s end. You should have a final draft in your inbox early next week.