Page 34 of Darling Obsession

“Oh, you know she was,” Savannah says. “The way she screwed with Harlan?—”

“We’re not here to talk about that,” Harlan says tightly.

“Okay, listen,” Savannah says to me, unbothered. “I don’t think anyone should butt into someone else’s love life?—”

“Right,” Harlan grouches, throwing back wine.

Savannah ignores him. “I don’t have much time, or much patience, for a love life myself. But Harlan’s been existing just this side of Hermitville for too long now.” As she speaks, I can feel the cloud cover next to me growing black. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t getting worried about him. After what happened with that bitch?—”

“Savannah,” Harlan growls.

She ignores him again. “It’s been quite a while now that he’s been telling me, every time I ask him when he’s going to leave his house and start seeing someone, that he’s been ‘holding out for Darla.’ But he’s always so private, I couldn’t get anything more out of him. Who is this Darla woman who’s seized my brother’s attention? He just seemed so obsessed with you. That’s all I’m trying to say. And now, I can understand why.”

“Thank you,” I say again. I know I’m seriously blushing, which is ridiculous, because I’m not even Darla. I’m not the actual object of Harlan’s attention or obsession.

“Honestly, I kind of thought he was full of shit,” she goes on. “You know, making you up, just to get us off his back. But maybe he really was waiting for you. ”

“Well… that’s sweet.” I’m getting nervous now, because everyone’s attention has converged on me. Like, no one is even eating anymore. “And really, the obsession is totally mutual.”

That’s the right thing to say, right?

So why does it feel like there’s a storm about to break right next to me?

“Really?” Savannah looks intrigued.

“Of course. Harlan is…”

I try not to look at him. I can’t. I don’t even need to. It’s eerie how I’ve already memorized the angles of his face. I can even guess the look in his eyes right now. I can feel it. It’s the same dark intensity with which he stared me down at Velvet.

“… deeper than you think. He’s so attentive, so thoughtful, and he takes care of everything, so I don’t have to worry about it.” I mean, it’s true enough, from what I’ve gleaned of him so far. If slightly exaggerated. “He’s generous, and he just makes me feel special, you know?”

It’s easy enough to describe a man I don’t really know, actually. I think I just described the man I really wanted Justin to be.

When no one speaks, and Damian and Jameson exchange a look I can’t quite interpret, I feel the need to fill the empty space immediately and exuberantly.

“From the first moment we met, he was just such a gentleman.” Okay, now I’m laying it on thick. “How could I not want to spend my time with him? He’s amazing.”

Am I gettingtoointo character here? I mean, I’m even starting to believe myself.

Savannah looks surprised, but amused. “You’ll have to excuse us if we seem shocked,” she says. “We actually call Harlan ‘the beast.’ On account of how warm and friendly he totally isn’t.”

Well, yikes. I can see that.

Maybe she’s never seen any of the qualities I just mentioned in her twin. But she’s his sister, not his lover.

Am I overselling this?

“So tell us, Darla,” Graysen says. “How do you spend your time?”

“And now that we’re finished eating,” Savannah tells me, “this is the part where Graysen requests your resume. But don’t let him intimidate you. He’s not as difficult to impress as he seems.”

“He is, actually,” Jameson says, but smiles at me. He’s been friendly, not flirty like Harlan warned, and I get the distinct feeling there’s some sort of rivalry between the two of them. Between all of them, really.

“That’s okay.” I glance at Damian, who hasn’t mentioned seeing me at Velvet. Maybe he doesn’t recognize me? “I’m happy to tell you anything about myself that you want to know. I make cakes,” I tell Graysen. “I actually brought one for all of you, for dessert. My big dream is to own my own bakery one day. In the meantime, I work full-time at a bakery as a baker and cake decorator, and sometimes I waitress for extra money. Recently, I started working at Velvet Lounge.”

Graysen frowns.

“I was wondering when Harlan might mention that,” Damian says slowly. “I thought I recognized you. You were there when we were at Velvet the other night.”

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