Chapter 27
DARCY
The restof the dinner went surprisingly well. We had another debate about Cubs versus Yankees, told each other our favorite movies—his being Boondock Saints, mine being Sixteen Candles—and had a long argument about whether or not it was pronounced car-mel or cara-mel, to which we agreed to disagree.
For the record, it’s cara-mel.
By the end of the night, we were full of garlic breadsticks and pasta, and I couldn’t say whether he fully liked me yet, but I was beginning to think we were on our way. I dropped him off in town, insisting he get out in the dark alley a street over from the inn in order to avoid anyone seeing us together, but before he left the car, he shifted to face me.
“I had a really great time,” he said, his face barely visible in the darkness.
I bit the inside of my cheek. “Yeah, me too. Surprisingly,” I teased.
“Do you think maybe we could do this again? I’m going to be in town for at least another week, and it would be nice to do something other than pace around in my room.”
I swallowed, almost feeling guilty for the way my plan was coming to fruition so easily but swiftly remembered I was doing this for the good of Aveline, and I would not feel guilty for protecting my town.
“Yeah, okay.” I handed him a piece of paper with my number on it, and he smiled, biting his bottom lip subtly.
His hand found the door handle, and he opened it, stepping out. Before he shut the door, he leaned in once more, opened his mouth to say something, but didn’t.
I wondered for the rest of the night what he might have been getting ready to say.
The next morning, I got up as I would on any normal day, and as I was waiting patiently for my coffee, my phone started chiming incessantly, indicating text message after text message was pouring in.
LETTIE: When were you going to tell me you went on a date with Penn?
LETTIE: Better yet WHY did you go on a date with Penn?
My eyes widened. I hadn’t told Lettie about the dinner or the plan because I knew she wouldn’t approve. Lettie was all about expressing yourself and saying what you mean, meaning what you say, and Operation AA was quite the opposite of that philosophy. I clicked back and found a random number had also texted me.
853-334-4523: Darcy, it’s Penn. I think we may have a little problem.
I sat down slowly. I could only imagine what kind of problem had ensued since we had last spoken.
Did I dare look at the next text? My gut already knew what it would say. If Lettie knew Penn and I had been together, I could only assume the whole town knew as well.
PENN: They saw us.
I texted back.
DARCY: Who saw us?
Another chime.
LETTIE: Answer me! Lenora told me that Ruby told her that Rosie was closing the flower shop and saw you dropping Penn off in the alley.
LETTIE: You know that alley isn’t nearly as private as it seems! How many times have I told you that Tuck and I were caught making out in that alley as teenagers and were run off every time by Mr. McDonald?
I clicked out of her messages and back on Penn.
PENN: All I know is Millie asked me about it this morning when I came down for breakfast. She said everyone was talking about it.
I rolled my eyes and pursed my lips as I clicked on Lettie’s name.
DARCY: Damn this town and their big mouths! It was nothing. I’ll explain later. You, however, tell Rosie to keep her yapper shut!
LETTIE: You know I won’t do that. I watched her chase a kid out of her shop with a broom for mouthing off to her.
I ignored her and switched to Penn.
DARCY: Meet me after work at my house. Head over at four because both neighbors will still be at work, and that’s when Ms. Winslow takes her nap. I’ll leave a key under the rock that looks like a butt, and we can figure out how to de-escalate this.
PENN: A butt?
DARCY: Yes, a butt. I’ll send you a picture.
PENN: Of your butt?
DARCY: *rolling eyes emoji*
PENN: What exactly are we deescalating?
DARCY: The town will be planning our wedding if we don’t stop them.
PENN: Don’t you think that’s a little dramatic? We had one dinner.
DARCY: You don’t know Aveline.
I hesitated, slowly laying my phone on the table. Aveline would have a hay day with the prospect of me and Penn Murphy. They would do nothing but gossip and plan and try to push nuptials and babies, and it didn’t matter that we had only known each other for a few days. It would be enough time for them to brand us the newest Aveline couple.
My head was spinning, trying to find a way to do damage control, when an idea came to mind.
Then again, maybe this could work to my advantage.