Written in the Stars(66)

Elle gave a tiny shrug after she’d calmed down. “But you never actually said it and . . . I don’t know. Plenty of people have hookups where they don’t particularly know the other person, let alone like them.”

She wasn’t wrong, but that’s not what this was. Darcy had had hookups like Elle had described, and this was nothing like that. Not even close.

“This is different. This is—” Approaching a line she wasn’t ready to cross. “I don’t cook breakfast for just anyone, you know.”

Or spend the night. Or talk about her mother. Or share her fondest memories. Sharing, period, was something Darcy seldom did these days.

“Lucky me,” Elle said, reaching for the plate of pancakes. She snagged two off the top and brandished the plate in Darcy’s direction with a wrist wiggle. “Care to partake in the fruits of your labor? They’re extra yummy.” As if to make her point, Elle stuffed half the pancake in her mouth. “Sweriously.”

Darcy bit the inside of her cheek and took the plate from Elle, setting it down beside the stove. Then she grabbed Elle by the hips and pulled, yanking her near the edge of the counter. She stepped into the cradle formed by her thighs and brushed her lips along Elle’s jaw, humming in satisfaction when Elle shivered in her arms. “I don’t want pancakes.”





Chapter Fifteen


December 5

MARGOT (9:43 P.M.): <link>

DARCY (9:55 P.M.): Is there a reason you sent me a compilation video of Greatest Soap Opera Slaps of All Time?

MARGOT (10:02 P.M.): Elle and I are watching soap operas on YouTube and I fell down the rabbit hole.

DARCY (10:03 P.M.): Oh god.

MARGOT (10:04 P.M.): You ever watch Passions?

ELLE (10:05 P.M.): omg there’s a soap with a witch Darcy

ELLE (10:05 P.M.): her name is Tabitha omg

ELLE (10:06 P.M.): this is the best

DARCY (10:10 P.M.): There’s a crossover connection with Bewitched, actually. Tabitha claims to be the daughter of a witch named Samantha and a mortal named Darrin. In a later season, she has a daughter who she names Endora. Dr. Bombay makes a few appearances which suggests that Passions and Bewitched exist in the same universe.

ELLE (10:11 P.M.): #obsessed

MARGOT (10:11 P.M.): Elle just made a weird choking noise and keeps muttering oh my god.

DARCY (10:12 P.M.): Did you try turning her off and turning her on again?

MARGOT (10:12 P.M.): Jesus. Nerd.

MARGOT (10:12 P.M.): You’re as bad as your brother.

MARGOT (10:13 P.M.): You’re just closeted. A closeted nerd.

MARGOT (10:14 P.M.): Btw turning Elle on is your job. Ugh.

DARCY (10:43 P.M.): Was I supposed to sort by kudos or hits on AO3? I can’t remember.

MARGOT (10:47 P.M.): Kudos if you’re looking for quality. You strike me as the type who’s picky about her word porn.

DARCY (10:48 P.M.): Excuse me for being concerned about proper grammar and punctuation.

MARGOT (10:49 P.M.): You’re excused. Elle’s texting must drive you up the wall.

DARCY (10:52 P.M.): It’s fine. I don’t mind.

ELLE (10:54 P.M.): awwwww

ELLE (10:54 P.M.): you dont mind my texting shorthand

ELLE (10:55 P.M.): wud u still lik me if i typed lik this

ELLE (10:58 P.M.): darcy?

ELLE (11:03 P.M.): DARRRRRCCY

MARGOT (11:05 P.M.): Idea! You should write a Passions x Bewitched crossover fic. I’ll beta it for you.

MARGOT (11:06 P.M.): You’ll get like 2 kudos and 6 hits because there’s no audience for something that niche, but I’ll love it and so will Elle.

DARCY (11:08 P.M.): Maybe.

ELLE (11:10 P.M.): you should do it!

ELLE: (11:11 P.M.): 11:11 make a wish!

ELLE (11:13 P.M.): <attached selfie of Elle pouting>

ELLE (11:13 P.M.): Please do it.

DARCY (11:15 P.M.): Fine. Only because you said please and used proper punctuation.

ELLE (11:16 P.M.):

DARCY (11:18 P.M.): Good night.

ELLE (11:19 P.M.):

DARCY (11:28 P.M.):

*

December 6

ANNIE (2:43 P.M.): Elle requested to follow me on Instagram. Should I accept?

DARCY (2:56 P.M.): I don’t care.

ANNIE (2:58 P.M.): Just wondering if it was crossing a line or something.

ANNIE (2:58 P.M.): Since, you know. It’s fake.

ANNIE (3:01 P.M.): You didn’t tell me Elle was so pretty. She’s freaking adorable. That group shot your brother posted didn’t do her justice.

DARCY (3:06 P.M.): About that. It’s not fake.

ANNIE (3:10 P.M.): Wait. What?!

DARCY (3:15 P.M.): It’s not fake. It’s complicated.

ANNIE (3:20 P.M.): Oh my god. You had sex. You slept with her.

ANNIE (3:21 P.M.): I fucking knew it.

ANNIE (3:24 P.M.): It was good, yeah? It must’ve been.

ANNIE (3:29 P.M.): <link>

DARCY (3:32 P.M.): Did you really just send me a link to Baby Got Back?

DARCY (3:34 P.M.): I rue the day I ever got a cell phone. I’m at work and everyone I know keeps texting me. I forgot I had my volume on and I tried to play that video and now my coworkers are staring at me like I’m a freak.

ANNIE (3:39 P.M.):

DARCY (3:40 P.M.): Annie!

ANNIE (3:43 P.M.): Oh boo hoo. You have friends who like talking to you. People care about you. Your coworkers know you listen to music other than fucking Chopin. Wah. Poor Darcy.