Page 80 of The Likelihood Of You

I’d never shown Florence what he was sending me. I didn’t want to upset her over something that was barely worth a mention in the first place. And after the things she’d shown me about people praising us and saying how happy we both looked, I didn’t want anything to dull that new glow she had about her. I’d snuff out whatever this was before it had a chance to blow out her flame.

But right now was not the time.

My head sprung up from my phone screen at the knocks coming from the front door. Her name was in lights again, and my heart nearly pounded out of my chest with eagerness, at how much I wanted to rip my front door open, scoop her up in my arms, apologise for what I’d said, and pray she’d hear me out.

I wish she’d just walk in, instead of knocking, and it makes me feel weird that she hasn’t. Her poise and politeness were something I cherished about her, but right now, I hoped she’d just burst through the door so I could see her. I know she didn’t lock the door when she left, because my keys were still sitting in the trinket dish by the door. She could have just walked in instead of waiting out there, and the fact she didn’t only made my body move quicker.

I reached the door and grasped my hand on the knob to let her in, the eager suspense building in my stomach, like what was behind thatdoor was everything I’d ever wished for. Which was exactly what it was. “Flo, baby, get your ass in here—”

“Calm down, Jakey, at least let me through the door before you start thinking about my ass.”

I take back what I just said: the thing on the other side of the door was the stuff of my nightmares.

I didn’t have a chance to stop and question why she was outside my door, or how she even knew where I lived, before she marched past me and made herself at home. She was dressed in blue skinny jeans and a black chunky sweater, but she passed me so quickly that I almost didn’t recognise her. The thing that gave it away was the deepness of her voice and her piercing blue eyes that followed mine as she headed down the hallway.

“It’s rude to leave guests waiting at the door, Jacob. Didn’t your Momma’s teach you that?”

I swear I felt the temperature of my blood change with every word she spat out. That, combined with the billion questions sprinting around my head, made me feel dizzy. “What the fuck are you doing, Darcie?” I spat back, a sour taste invading my mouth as her name left my lips, before slamming the door and marching after her.

“Thought I’d stop by.” She sang, reaching for Bagel with a little gasp, but luckily, she knew the woman trying to reach for her was evil, barking and snapping at her like the good dog I trained. Darcie backed away from her and headed for the living room. “Plus, that storm is not the ideal weather for vintage Louboutins. Satin and snow is a recipefor—”

“I’m not asking you again, what the fuck…are you doing here? How do you even know I live here?” I growled at her through teeth so gritted I’d need to see my dentist as soon as she left my fucking house.

She stopped and finally turned to me; every inch of her body reminding me how much hatred I still held towards her. “You really need to do some background checks with your team, Jakey. I’d suggest a catch-up with that publicist of yours after I’m done here.” I didn’t have time to question what she meant by that. “Besides, you didn’t really give me a choice. Since you ignored me and couldn’t find it in your icy little heart to help an old friend out.”

Ironic wasn’t a strong enough word to describe that sentence she spoke so casually.

I watched her begrudgingly as she made her way over to the couch, kicking off the vintage monstrosities that she called shoes, and relaxing back into the seat that had once been ‘her spot’. Her audacity was outrageous, and made something worse than anger bubble through my veins, but the sight of her had shocked me so much I didn’t know how to stop her.

“Old friend? Are you fucking kidding me? And you know damn well that the only icy heart in this room belongs to you.” I stormed in front of her while she sat back with a wicked smile stuck to her face. “I’m not helping you with jack shit. You got yourself into that mess; you can get yourself out of it. Now get the fuck out of my apartment before I call security.”

Her scratchy laugh echoed around us, and I wanted to sew up my ears so I never had to be a victim of it again. “Oh please, you mean the sweet security man, the one who I’d bribed with free video messages for his teenage daughters? Yeah, uh-huh, I’m sure he’ll kick my assright out that door.” She swatted her yellow hair over the shoulder and held my stare. “Who’s the new chick?”

My heart stopped. “Excuse me?”

“Your littleEnglishlover! Who is she?”

I scoffed. “She’s none of your business.”

“Is she the reason you never replied to me?”

“She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I already told you when you called that I was never going to get you out of this mess, regardless of whether Florence was in my life or not. Now get out.”

Her laugh might as well have been nails being dragged along a chalkboard. I felt my spine stiffen, and shots of adrenaline pulse through every bone in my body. “No thanks, I wanna hear all aboutFlorence. I wanna hear what’s so special about her, how you two fell in love,”

“Darcie, just get out.”

“How good she is to you,” She stood up from the couch but bore no match for my height.

“No.”

“How good she fucks,”

I raised my voice to a level I didn’t know was possible, “Darcie, get the fuck out!” I screamed. At the same time, she said, “And then I’m gonna need you to leave her.”

She whispered those nine words in a way that made my spine vibrate with fear. So deadly psychotic that I was too scared to move.

It was like the city fell silent to listen to what just left her mouth. I looked down at her, watching how disgustingly smug her expression became, wondering how she could even think I’d ever do something like that.

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