No Vacancy (The Aveline Series Book 2)

Chapter 36

PENN

I calledmy brother after I left Darcy’s to vent about what had happened. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the version of her I met tonight, and I needed a little brotherly advice.

“Finn, it was like she was possessed or something. She turned into a completely different person.” I took off my watch and set it on the desk in my room at Green Gables. “She called me a little bitch and sang Taylor Swift songs for forty-five minutes.”

Finn laughed hysterically. “Was it a good concert at least?”

“Shut up,” I replied, thinking maybe I should have called Freya instead.

“Well, you did just meet her. Maybe this is just her getting comfortable with you.”

Finn and I were three years apart with Freya in the middle. I never could understand how my mother handled three kids three and under, but somehow, she made it seem easy.

I sat on the bed pondering his statement, but I just couldn’t believe this was the real Darcy. Not after I had spent a few days with the other version of her. The version I had actually started to like.

“No, I don’t think so. I mean, we hadn’t called it a date or anything before, so maybe she just got nervous with the label.”

“Maybe,” Finn replied. “Or maybe she just really likes Taylor Swift.”

“Yeah, she might. I wish Max would just let me move on to another space and leave this one behind. I know him too well to even ask, though. He’s so hell bent on Aveline, I’m sure he won’t even consider it.”

Finn scoffed. “That’s just because Max is a dick. He probably just enjoys watching you squirm.”

I laughed. He had a point. Max was a major dick.

I hung up with Finn and heard a chime indicating a text message on my phone.

DARCY: I had a great time tonight. Thanks for letting me live out my concert dreams. Wanna hang out tomorrow?

I rested my hand on my forehead. I wasn’t sure if I had it in me. I wanted to hang out with her, but only if she wasn’t going to hound me about when we were going to have children. I was chalking the night up to nerves and decided to give it another shot.

PENN: What did you have in mind?

DARCY: Do you like fishing?

The next morning, I met Darcy at The Baking Tin, and when I stepped in, she was already there, standing at the front wearing a pair of bibs and a bucket hat. Lettie and Tuck were behind the counter, filling the glass case with pastries.

“Good morning,” I said as Darcy turned around.

I may have imagined it, but it looked as though her eyes grew brighter when she saw me. Like there was the slightest flicker of happiness and not at all the annoyance I was used to seeing when I came into her eye view. There was something about it that made my heart flutter.

“Good morning. I hope you’re ready for some fishing.” She walked over to the corner and grabbed a couple of fishing poles and a tackle box.

“Absolutely,” I replied, knowing I was lying through my teeth. I used to go fishing as a child, but I hadn’t since I was probably nine years old. I planned to fake my way through it. I figured fishing might be like riding a bike. The knowledge of how to cast and reel would float back from distant memories, and I wouldn’t have to let on that I didn”t know what I was doing.

“Well, let’s get to it. Hey, Tuck, load me up with two of the cheese Danishes and—Penn, do you like maple bacon muffins?”

“I can’t say I’ve ever had one, but it sounds great.”

I was treading lightly, waiting to see if there was anything unusual, but Darcy was acting normal, or at least as normal as I had seen her. She wasn’t burping the alphabet or asking me about my sexual history. Maybe last night had been a weird, nervous, fluke.

“Okay, it’s settled then.” She took the bag from Tuck, and I helped her with the fishing poles. “We’re off!”

“Do you guys have water?” Lettie asked, wiping her hands on her apron. “And snacks?”

“Yes, Mom,” Darcy teased.

“See you guys later,” Tuck called out. “Hey, will you flip the sign over to open for me?”

Darcy flipped the sign and made an “I love you” sign with her hands before walking out the door.