Written in the Stars(39)

She’d pass.

More of Annie’s rapid-fire German came through. Darcy eyed the wine at her feet. “Look, Annie, I should let you go. Call me later, okay? When you’re not in a cab.”

“Wait. Darcy? I’m not going to be like your brother and pressure you to put yourself out there if you’re not ready, but life’s short. Carpe diem.”

*

What Holiday Activity Are You Based on Your Zodiac Sign?

Aries—Snowball Fight

Taurus—Baking Cookies

Gemini—Ski Trip

Cancer—Holiday Movie Binge

Leo—Caroling

Virgo—Secret Santa Gift Exchange

Libra—Volunteering

Scorpio—Photo Session with Santa

Sagittarius—Santa Pub Crawl

Capricorn—Christmas Tree Decorating

Aquarius—Shopping at the Holiday Market

Pisces—Ice Skating

Elle’s foot was asleep, her toes tingling, full of pins and needles as soon as she put her weight on it. Whoever was at the door knocked again. “Just a sec!”

It was closer to a minute by the time she hobbled across the room and opened the door. Darcy stood in front of her apartment cradling a box of wine wrapped in a hot pink bow. Elle blinked. She was seeing things. She had to be.

Only, Darcy cleared her throat, hefting the box of wine upward. Not a figment of her imagination. “Hello.”

“Hello,” she echoed. “Sorry, um, come in.”

Elle stepped back, letting Darcy pass. She stopped just shy of the kitchen entrance, barely far enough inside for Elle to shut the door.

“Here.” Darcy thrust the box of wine into Elle’s arms. “I brought this for you.”

Elle hugged the box, the satin bow cool against the inside of her wrist. “Thank you?”

“As a congratulations. For finalizing your deal.” Darcy tucked her hair behind her ear and shrugged. She was wearing another pencil skirt, this one navy, and it hugged her hips perfectly. Elle’s mouth went dry. “My brother told me.”

“So you bought me a box of wine?”

“Yes?”

Elle chuckled. “Color me surprised, is all. Didn’t it pain you to purchase boxed wine?”

Darcy crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, you like it, so.”

Elle bit down on her lip, something inside her chest squeezing hot and tight. “You didn’t have to do that, but thank you. Do you want to come in? Have a glass?”

Darcy’s pert nose wrinkled, a line forming along the bridge. “I’ve got to get back home. Study for my FSA exam. I just wanted to drop that off and . . .”

“And?”

See her?

Kiss her again?

Elle held her breath.

“And congratulate you.”

Of course.

Not that Elle wasn’t thrilled—not to mention relieved—the deal was official, but she’d hoped Darcy showing up meant maybe their kiss had changed things for her. That Darcy had felt the way the earth had shifted beneath their feet, too. That it was something more.

Maybe not.

And yet, Darcy lingered in the entryway.

“Right.” Darcy cleared her throat before pointing at the box of wine. “I didn’t know if you wanted to post that online or something. Because Brendon follows you.”

Elle’s stomach sank. Of course this was about selling it to Brendon. That was what their deal was all about. How silly of her to think otherwise. “Sure. Good idea.”

Darcy’s jaw clenched, her chin lifting, eyes going hard, determined. “Look, Elle—”

An unholy grumble came from Darcy’s stomach, so loud and vicious that Elle’s eyes widened. Darcy’s face turned red, her eyes slipping shut, her lips rolling inward and flattening.

Elle’s fingers itched to trace the blush, feel the heat of Darcy’s cheeks against the pads of her fingertips. “Hungry?”

“Clearly.” Darcy snorted. “I should go before my stomach cannibalizes itself.”

“Sexy.” Elle leaned her shoulder against the wall and shifted the box of wine, her biceps beginning to burn. “Or you could stay. I’ve got—”

She performed a quick mental inventory of the contents of her fridge. Salsa. Juice. Freezer-burned breakfast sandwiches. “Or we could go out?”

Darcy’s lips twisted in genuine-looking remorse. “I can’t. I’ve got—”

“To eat, yeah? We could do that together.” When Darcy didn’t immediately fire back a no, Elle pressed on. “I could Instagram a picture of us there. Better than posting a picture of a boring box of wine. And I could brief you on Thanksgiving. Tell you what to expect.”

Darcy dropped her chin and chuckled. “I’m too hungry to cook.”

“Is that a yes?”

She nodded. “Sure. Why not?”

*

It was only four blocks to Katsu Burger, a little hole in the wall joint that served the best Japanese deep-fried burgers Elle had ever tasted. It wasn’t fancy by any stretch of the imagination, but the food was fantastic, inexpensive, the service was stellar, and it wasn’t too rowdy, a combination not easy to find on this part of Broadway.

Elle jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “You want to snag a table while I order for us?”