Page 21 of Written in the Stars
“A month or two, Elle. All you have to do is tell Brendon we’re talking and you will have done your good deed for the rest of the year. Then you can go back to trying to find your soul mate.” Darcy fought against the urge to cringe.
“You seriously think your brother’s going to buy that? No questions asked? Are we talking about the same guy?” Elle lifted a hand over her head. “About this tall, auburn hair, cute grin, shit at winking?”
Darcy sighed. She had a point. Brendon lived for details,sappydetails, and if their stories didn’t align? Brendon was bright, too bright to accept inconsistencies. He’d sniff out Darcy’s lies and then she’d really be in hot water.
“That’s a fair point,” Darcy conceded. Not to mention, there was that pesky annual Christmas party of his. How was she supposed to act like she and Elle were together if they didn’t go together? “There’s an event or two I might need you to attend.”
Elle’s shoulders started to shake and it took Darcy a second to realize she was laughing. “Are you kidding me? You have some nerve, you know that?” She shook her head. “Why should I give a fuck about what you need?”
“I’d... I’d obviously return the favor.” Darcy winced through the offer. “If that’s what you want.”
Elle blinked. “You’re saying you’d come to something like... what, Thanksgiving? With my family?”
Oh Jesus.Darcy swallowed a groan. “I could do that.”
“And you’d... act like you’resmitten? Like the sun shines out of my ass?”
Darcy nodded. “Sure. Whatever.”
What was one holiday? As long as she got Brendon off her back, she could suffer through a family Thanksgiving with Elle. How bad could it be?
Arms crossed, Elle nibbled on the corner of her lip, eyes staring off into space over Darcy’s shoulder, going glassy. With a quick shake of her head, she snapped out of whatever thoughts were swimming around inside her head. “Darcy—”
“Please.” The word popped out, reflexive. Anything to make Elle say yes. “Just... please, Elle.”
Elle blinked, lips parting, pursing as she blew out her breath. “Fine.”
Darcy’s brows rose. “Fine?”
A muscle in Elle’s jaw twitched. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m in.”
She slipped past, arms brushing even though there was plenty of room for her to pass. Maple syrup and spice filled Darcy’s nose, making her mouth water. She swallowed and pivoted, watching as Elle shoved her feet back inside her shoes and opened the front door.
Fingers resting on the doorknob, Elle paused. “We can hammer out the details of this”—she made a face, lips twisting— “arrangement later.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Put my number in your phone. I’ll be in touch.”
Chapter Five
Am I losing my mind, or did you just say you’re going to fake a relationship withDarcy Lowell?”
Elle winced at the way Margot’s voice went shrill. “You’re perfectly sane.”
Margot stared. “Areyou?”
“I have my reasons, all right?”
“Name one.”
“We haven’t hammered out the detailsyet, but we agreed it’s only for a month or two tops.”
“That’s not a reason, that’s an excuse. You know what, I actually don’t even know what that is, but it makes zero sense.”
“Darcy put me in a real bind, okay? Lying to her brother who then blabbed at breakfast in front of my mom.”
Margot slammed her laptop shut and tossed it on the cushion beside her. “So tell Darcy to go fuck herself.”
“It’s not that easy, Mar.”
“You open your mouth and say it.Fuck.You.” Margot shookher head. “Elle.Elle. This isn’t what you want. This is theoppositeof what you want.”
