Written in the Stars(78)

The holidays were hectic enough; add in Darcy’s mom drama and studying for her FSA exam . . . Elle didn’t want to push.

It’s why she’d bitten her tongue last night when she’d been tempted to rainbow vomit her feelings all over Darcy. Caring about someone, loving someone, wasn’t supposed to be a secret, it was meant to be shared. That was the beauty of it, the whole point, only Elle couldn’t imagine a confession of that magnitude going over well this soon, not when they had yet to even define their relationship.

Not that Elle was worried. Not really. Darcy knew what Elle was looking for. She had told her in no uncertain terms on that first failed date—was it still a failure if it brought them together in the end?—that she was looking for the one. And there wasn’t a doubt in Elle’s mind that Darcy was it.

And she’d tell her that. Contrary to whatever Margot thought, Elle wasn’t avoiding anything. All right, maybe she was avoiding Mom, but not this. This was good, great, amazing. She just didn’t want the first time she told Darcy how she felt to be when Darcy was upset about her mother or stressed about her exam. There was no rush. Not when there was no longer an expiration date looming at the end of the month. Not when this was something Elle wanted to last.





Chapter Seventeen


December 13

DARCY (4:57 P.M.): <link>

ELLE (5:02 P.M.): drops of jupiter by train?

ELLE (5:02 P.M.): it’s a great song

ELLE (5:02 P.M.): one of my favorites

DARCY (5:04 P.M.): Popped up on my playlist on my way to work this morning.

DARCY (5:05 P.M.): It made me think of you.

DARCY (5:05 P.M.): And I thought you should know.

ELLE (5:08 P.M.): vhjgbuinlkgydsyb

ELLE (5:08 P.M.): omg

ELLE (5:08 P.M.): you can’t just say things like that

DARCY (5:15 P.M.): Sorry?

ELLE (5:16 P.M.): no it just makes me want to kiss you and you aren’t here right now so i can’t

ELLE (5:17 P.M.): you should absolutely say things like that

ELLE (5:18 P.M.): i like it

ELLE (5:18 P.M.): just do it when i can express my appreciation you know?

DARCY (5:22 P.M.): Ah.

ELLE (5:24 P.M.): ah

ELLE (5:29 P.M.): what are you doing tonight?

DARCY (5:32 P.M.): Study group.

ELLE (5:33 P.M.): i can help you study

ELLE (5:34 P.M.): question one what is darcy doing tonight?

ELLE (5:34 P.M.): a) elle b) elle c) elle d) elle

ELLE (5:34 P.M.): see?

DARCY (5:36 P.M.):

ELLE (5:37 P.M.): bring your flashcards

ELLE (5:37 P.M.): im great with positive reinforcement

ELLE (5:38 P.M.): strip studying

ELLE (5:38 P.M.): every question you get right ill take off an article of clothing

ELLE (5:39 P.M.): if it worked for billy madison it can totally work for you

DARCY (5:44 P.M.): Fine. But you really have to help me study. And you have to feed me first. I skipped lunch.

ELLE (5:46 P.M.): pizza?

ELLE (5:46 P.M.): pineapple and jalape?o right?

DARCY (5:48 P.M.): And black olives.

ELLE (5:49 P.M.): barf

ELLE (5:50 P.M.): but fine

DARCY (5:52 P.M.): And I’m bringing the wine.

ELLE (5:54 P.M.): hard sell but deal

ELLE (5:55 P.M.): pleasure doing business with you

DARCY (5:59 P.M.): No, but it will be.

ELLE (6:02 P.M.):

*

Physiologically improbable as it was, Darcy’s heart sputtered to a stop before kick-starting when Elle stepped into the Regal Ballroom of the Bellevue Hyatt Brendon had booked for his party.

Forgoing the traditional red or green holiday attire, Elle wore a sparkling silver minidress that made her skin glow, luminescent beneath the twinkling lights of the chandeliers. She accepted a glass of champagne from a waiter and scanned the room. Their eyes met and a bright smile lit up Elle’s face. Darcy tore her eyes away and stared at the bubbles rising inside her champagne flute, trying to quell the similar giddy stirring in her stomach.

“Hey.” Elle stopped in front of Darcy and reached out, tracing one of the thin straps holding up Darcy’s dress. Darcy fought against the resulting shiver and lost. “I like this. It’s very 1930s, let’s have clandestine sex in the library.”

Darcy coughed out a laugh and wiped champagne off her lips with the back of her hand. “I don’t even know what to make of that, but thank you?”

Elle shook her head. “Atonement? Come on, it was the movie that made me realize you can be sad and horny at the same time.”

“I’m surprised you let such a prime opportunity for alliteration slip through your fingers. Angst and arousal. You’re off your game,” Darcy teased, lifting her flute and taking a sip.

Elle reached out, fingers ghosting down Darcy’s arm before dropping. “Your dress is distracting. I’m proud I’m even making words right now. Complete sentences. Whoops. Sentence fragment.” Her eyes crinkled at the corners. “Look what you do to me.”

As if Elle didn’t drive Darcy to distraction, too. The majority of Darcy’s dreams, both waking and sleeping, as of late, were about Elle. That terrified and elated her in equal measure.

Not knowing what to say, Darcy took another sip of champagne.

Elle spun, the light overhead catching on the multicolored glitter sprinkled down her zigzagged part, the rest of her hair left down, imperfect waves tumbling atop her shoulders. “Fancy party. I should say hi to your brother, but I haven’t seen him yet.”