Page 50 of Hang the Moon
“I hate it,” Darcy muttered, beginning to pace slowly. “I told Elle when we were in Vancouver that I hoped to show Annie how great Seattle is. Her job in Philadelphia is—was—remote most of the time. She could’ve relocated. Or, she could’ve found another job. A job closer.” She shut her eyes. “Icried, Brendon. I cried and made a big to-do over—over stewed tomatoes.”
“Stewed tomatoes?”
Despite the glare she leveled at him, she looked on the verge of tears.
“Did you tell her you wished she wouldn’t move?”
“What part ofcried over stewed tomatoesdid you not get?”
“Does she know you want herhere? Did you tell her that? Did you tell her that before? When she was in Philadelphia?”
“I thought she knew.” Darcy shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “I... assumed she did.” Her eyes widened, growing even glossier. “Fuck. I messed up. My best friend is moving halfway across the world and—” She broke off, face splotching pink as she blinked hard. “I’m the worst.”
“You’re not. You’ve been busy.”
“I’ve been wrapped up in myself, is what I’ve been.” Darcytook a deep breath, then paused, eyes flaring. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“Meddling! That’s your MO, not mine.”
He scoffed. “I don’t meddle. I nudge. I help.”
“You meddle, Brendon. Not that I’m in any position to judge when I’m doing the same thing. At least I’m being honest about it.”
“Honest. Right. Like when you asked me to come fix your broken coffeemaker.”
“It got you over here, didn’t it?” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Annie told me that you kissed.”
“Does that bother you?”
“No. You’re my brother. Annie’s like a sister to me, you know that. I love you both.” She shrugged. “Besides, I’m pretty sure Annie likes you, too.”
His eyes darted down the hall, and even though the door was shut, he dropped his voice. “Did she tell you that?”
“Not in so many words. Which is why I’m asking you to do me a huge favor.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “I’m listening.”
“I need you to help me convince Annie to move here,” she whispered. “You know the city better than I do.”
“I already said I’d show her around.”
“Yes, well, I need you to be all in. Give it your best. And maybe...” She trailed off, blushing. “Maybe show her what she’d be missing out on if she moves.”
He frowned. “Isn’t that the—”Oh.“Wow. Are you asking me to seduce your best friend?”
Darcy smacked his arm. “Gross. No.” She paused. “Maybe? Ugh.”
“I can’t believe it.” He tsked. “My own sister, pimping me out.”
“I’m not asking you to do anything you weren’t already. Just, I don’t know, step it up. Consider the stakes a little higher now. That’s all.”
Never in a million years would he have imagined that Darcy would be giving him permission—no,askinghim to woo her best friend. “Are you even planning on putting in long hours at the office or was that bullshit?”
Darcy had the decency to look chagrined. “Both? Iamgoing to be busy this week and you and Annie seemed to hit it off so I thought... I’m willing to use whatever I can to my advantage.” She frowned. “If you don’t want to—”
“I never said that. I said I was in.”
