Page 32 of One Last Wish

“I’ll believe that when I see it. I can cover some shifts, too.”

“We’ll work out a schedule with the others. Mary didn’t do that much anyway. Malcolm is freaking out over nothing.”

“As long as you’re not coveringeverything, I’m fine with that plan,” Darce muttered as we both got to work.

I had a lot to do today. It was five days until the midnight release, and I wanted to start getting upstairs ready. We had sold over a hundred tickets now. Hopefully, it would be a success and I’d be able to host another one. I had so many ideas when it came to different fantasy series, from cosplay events to grand balls. I had to make this one a success first, though.

Theo and Darce manned the tills, which gave me time to start moving the furniture into place on the fantasy level. With the bookcases all pinned to the walls, I didn’t have many options with the red couches, and had to push them to the back of the space.

“You can ask for help on occasion, Alora,” Theo called, watching me struggle with one of the larger couches.

“I’m fine. I’ve got this.” I’d already move three of them. I wasn’t short by any means, but compared to Theo, who was six-foot, my five-foot-eight height could be seen as a disadvantage.

“So, you and Darce spending Thanksgiving together. I didn’t see that coming.” The guy practically stalked me in a non threatening way, and he thought he had the right to say that. “What’s the deal with the two of you?”

“Mmm...nothing. We work together, that’s it!”

“We work together and you’ve never letmeinto your apartment. You never let me walk you home, for that matter.”

“Darce doesn’t crowd me. Theo, every time I look up, you're watching me. It’s annoying as hell, and a little creepy!”

“Do you like Darce?”

“I don’t have to answer that! Theo, if all you’re going to do is annoy me, please fuck off.” I’d had enough.

“I like you, Alora. I don’t know why, but I do! You don’t have to be such a bitch to me all the time!”

“Have I ever given you anything that would suggest I feel the same?” Theo looked at the floor, knowing I hadn’t. “EvenifI did like Darce, it’s none of your fucking business.”

“You’ve opened up more since he’s arrived, I only thought...”

“Well, whatever it is, you thoughtwrong,” I interrupted, dropping the sofa we were moving. “I’ve got enough going on in my head without your pathetic little crush on me! I’m sick of you following after me like a lost puppy! It’s not a turn on in the slightest!” That got a reaction. Theo gazed at me with wet eyes.

“You really are a bitch at times,” he whispered, walking off.

Darce was at the top of the staircase as Theo passed him. “I heard the moment his heart broke just then.”

“Darce, please. I’m not in the mood right now,” I stressed, putting my face in my hands. Since Darce had arrived, I hardly had a moment to myself. Between the dreams and extra conversations with Evelyn and Theo, I was exhausted.

“Alora, I’ve come to give you a hand moving the furniture. We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.” That was...refreshing.

So, that’s what Darce and I did. We didn’t talk. We might have used the odd few words to explain where we were putting things, but that was it.Three hoursof complete tranquillity.

It was the most comfortable silence I’d ever had with someone.

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EVELYN WAS BACK HOMEwhen I returned from Bookends. She was doing some college work at the breakfast bar.

“Hey! How was your Thanksgiving? Was the food okay?” she beamed, watching me take off my coat.

“It was good. The food was great. Thanks, again.” I wasn’t going to look in her eyes. She wasn’t going to find out that Darce had been here.

“Did Darce enjoy it?”For fucks sake!“I had a stressed message from Theo earlier.” Of course she did.

“You need toblockhis number.”

“You need to stop trampling on that poor little heart of his. If you were nicer, Theo would have no need to message me.”

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