Page 49 of Music City Diaries

Love,

Darcie

Fourteen

DARCIE

Without the website tofall back on, I had to start picking up more shifts at the bar. Thankfully, I made more money as a manager, and I’d saved a lot over the years, but I’d also spent a lot. A girl and her shoes were sacred.

The official story was that the site had been hacked by a jealous lover and reported to the FBI that underage girls were there. While they were investigating, everyone was shut down as they combed through all the videos and messages. It made me feel violated in a way I’d never considered before. It was fine when it was people talking to me, but random men and women viewing things out of context felt a lot like someone reading my diary.

While I did miss the money, I missed Shadow and Cowboy more, even if I hadn’t heard from Shadow in a while. I wished I’d thought of some contingency plan on how to connect, but I never thought this would happen, and my dad would say that was my first mistake. “Always know your escape plan and be prepared for it all to go to shit.”

Needless to say, I’d be doing that from now on. It seemed even when I guarded my heart, I was still capable of being hurt.

“What’s crawled up your butt?” Damon asked, eyeing me.

“Eww, and nothing.”

He watched me, not buying my lie. “You’ve been a downer for a month straight. What gives? Your boyfriend dump you? Did you get herpes? Your favorite boy band break up?”

Scrunching up my nose, I stuck my tongue out at him. We’d officially moved into enemy territory now. “Why would I tell you? You’ll just use it for ammo.”

He sighed, rubbing his forehead like I exhausted him. “Contrary to what you believe, I don’t hate you, Darcie.”

“Sure. Let’s go with that.” I rolled my eyes, rolling up the silverware.

“I’m trying to ask what’s going on. No ulterior motives.” I eyed him, assessing his sincerity. He did look like he was being honest, with no plans to dump a bucket of ice on me.

“Fine, but I doubt there’s anything you can do. I had a friend from an, um, chat room that I’ve lost contact with. I don’t know their real name or even where they live, and the server is down, so there’s no way for me to get in touch with them. I just miss them and want them to know I’m okay too.”

“Hmm, yeah, that sucks. Sorry.”

“Man, I was hoping you were secretly a tech whiz and were going to tell me some simple solution and make me feel dumb.”

“Sorry to bust your fantasy.”

“Yeah, well, thanks anyway.” I finished the rolling and moved on to the schedule when I felt his presence over me. I peeked over my shoulder, finding him closer.

“Can I help you?”

He opened his mouth, stopping before he said anything. His face was close to mine, and I watched as his eyes dropped down to my lips, licking his own. Damon glanced back up, his pupils more blown this time. He started to say something again when Buck walked in.

“Darcie, can we do the Cowboy Hustle tonight? I’m dressed to impress.” We both looked over, finding Buck in a full cowboy getup. When he turned, I caught the assless chaps, and he shook his butt at us. Buck was the perfect counterpart to my crazy. I tried to swallow the sadness at the mention of Cowboy.

“Um, sure, but you’re gonna have to put something on. You know the rules.”

“Fine. I only did it to see you laugh anyway. You’ve been down lately.”

“I’m good.” I forced a smile and realized I needed to get out of this funk. I couldn’t let it affect things.

“Your cute friend coming tonight? LJ?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

“Get in line, lover boy.” I turned back to the schedule and realized that Damon had moved away, his body heat no longer along my back. Had I envisioned that, or had he been about to kiss me?

When he called in sick the next night, he was officially back on my hate list, making me have to pull a double. I was going to need the world’s largest coffee to make it to breakfast to meet Lennox.

A COUPLE MONTHS LATER

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