Page 4 of Beautiful Envy

CHAPTER 2

Darcie

Lennox woke me entirely too early for my liking, and I was reconsidering our friendship until she placed a warm mug of coffee in my hands as I stumbled into the kitchen, my eyes half-closed.

“I can hear you grumbling. I thought you were a morning person?” she asked, sitting next to me at the bar.

Ignoring her for a second, I took a sip of the coffee, letting it fall over my tongue. The bitterness helped to ground me; the aroma aided in not wanting to roll back into bed, consequences be damned.

“You’ve only seen me after a pot of this stuff. Anyone can be a morning person after a pot of coffee,” I finally said, opening my eyes to stare at her. “Besides, I don’t think this counts as morning. This is sleepy time,” I whined when I noticed the clock said it was 5 am.

“We’re heading out at seven, so I wanted to ensure we had enough time to take care of you before we left.”

I caught a hint of sadness wrapped around her words, making me wake up more. Finishing the last of the mug, I set it down on the counter before wrapping my arms around her. Lennox came easily to me, hugging me back just as fiercely.

“I wish we had more time. I hate that I have to leave. Just say the word, and I’ll stay, Darce.”

I pulled back, shaking my head. There wasn’t any situation where I’d make her delay her dreams to save me. It just wasn’t who I was.

“So, when do we talk to Bubba?” I asked, hoping to show her I was on board.

“We need to leave in twenty minutes,” Slade said, walking into the kitchen wearing all black. His tattoos peaked out on his neck and hands, but everywhere else was covered. If you didn’t know him, Slade painted a menacing picture. “I’ve moved your car to the barn. It will be safe there.”

“Why can’t I take it?” I asked, not liking that I’d be without a vehicle.

“I’m not saying you can’t, just that I wouldn’t. I know someone you can trade it with for a new one just in case you were captured on any CCTV footage or traffic cams you weren’t aware of.”

Sighing, I thought over his words, hearing the truth there. “Yeah, okay. I’ll go change.”

Sliding off the stool, Lennox squeezed my arm as I passed by. I offered her a sliver of a smile, my thoughts jumbled as I headed toward the room I was staying in.

I quickly pulled on a jean skirt, a flannel shirt, and my cowboy boots. I brushed my hair back, parting it into two pigtails before placing my cowboy hat on. If I was going to play a part, I might as well dress like it.

Gathering my bags, I double-checked that the few things I held dear were with me. My mother’s music box and the contents of the safety deposit box were all in my bag with the journal. I instantly felt better knowing they were with me. I’d need to face the contents of the box one day, but I knew it wasn’t this one.

Soon though.

I carried my two bags out toward the door, finding the rest of my belongings being loaded into the back of a van.

“This what you took on your road trip?” I asked, pointing toward the van.

“Yep. It was perfect,” Lennox said, beaming a megawatt smile at me.

“You didn’t, you know?” I asked, wiggling my eyebrows.

“What?” she asked, looking from me toward the van.

Simon snickered as he shut the back, clearly understanding my question. “It’s safe from any bodily fluids, Darcie. We do have some restraint, you know.”

Lennox’s face turned red for a second then she shrugged, accepting that my question was valid when she had three boyfriends.

“Oh, I’m sure you do,” I joked, deciding to pick at her some more. “It’s Lennox I worry about.”

She stuck her tongue out at me, twirling in her dress as it spun out around her, her colorful hair shining in the rising sun.

“Just you wait, Darce. I’ll get you back one day.”

“Bring it, short stuff.”

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