Chapter 58
DARCY
“Getthis freaking thing off of me; I can’t breathe.” I was feverishly scratching at my back, trying to figure out how to get out of the dress.
“Darcy, slow down,” Lettie said. “Are you okay?”
I stopped, throwing my arms at my side in defeat. “No. I’m not okay. I just kissed Penn Murphy in front of the entire town of Aveline. Why did I do that? What was I thinking?”
“You were thinking he looked like Damon Salvatore,” Lettie said, untying my corset.
“Lettie! Not helpful,” I groaned.
“It’s not the end of the world. I guarantee everyone just thinks Miss Yvonne pressured Mr. Fitzgerald to add in a kiss at the end. You know she’s been pushing for that for years, but Rena said we need to keep it ‘rated G for the children.’” Lettie mocked Rena’s pretentious voice.
“True. Rena is such a prude. I didn’t even think about her. She is going to give me a tongue lashing, that’s for sure.” I shimmied out of the dress and stepped away from it, watching as it stood perfectly in place. I took my first deep breath since removing the corset, exhaling slowly. “It still doesn’t fix the fact that Penn knew there was no kiss in the script.”
“That one you might have to explain.”
I slipped into a much comfier outfit and pulled my curled hair into a ponytail. “I should probably figure it out for myself first.”
Lettie nodded, feigning sympathy as she tried to keep her mouth from turning into a smile.
“What?” I said, my hip popped out already in protest of whatever she was going to say.
Lettie backed up, her hands in front of her. “Nothing. Nothing at all. It’s just...I have never seen you flustered over anyone before. Let alone a guy.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, right. I am obviously a very flustery person.”
“Flustery? You can’t even string together a proper sentence right now!” Lettie teased.
I puffed out my chest. “I can, too! See...I just did.”
“That doesn’t count.” Lettie smiled as she hung up my dress. “Come on, let’s go. Maybe the nice cool air outside will help to clear your head.”
“My head is perfectly clear already. There is nothing in it at all.” I paused as Lettie giggled and began walking out of the room. I caught up with her. “Not what I meant, and you know it!”
Kids were allowed to attend the reenactment and dinner, but The Founder’s Day party was only for those who were twenty-one and older. It was an adult occasion, on the account there was copious amounts of alcohol and what Rena deemed to be “dirty dancing.” She believed we could not subject our young people to such scandalous behavior. I had always loved the party, but tonight, I would have rather just gone home and curled up in my bed, pretending I didn’t let myself surrender to Penn’s lips.
I had done my best to avoid Penn at the dinner, constantly moving when he would get near, and sitting right smack dab in between Lenora and Teddy Burton so he couldn’t take the chair next to me, but he had tracked me down at the party, and I knew I couldn’t avoid him forever.
Or could I?
“I have a feeling you have been avoiding me,” he said, sneaking up behind me.
No, apparently I couldn’t.
I licked some of the icing off of my finger from the cupcake. I should have left before dessert. Damn me and my sweet tooth.
I turned around and raised my eyebrows. “What gave you that idea?”
Penn came around and sat next to me. “Maybe the fact that every time I come near you, you quite literally run away.”
I rolled my eyes. “I only ran once. Don’t be dramatic.”
Lettie and Tuck came up to the table we were sitting at. They were so cute holding hands, it was almost gross. “Hey, we are heading home. You guys want this bottle of wine? Teeny gave it to me even though I’ve told her time and time again Tuck and I don’t drink.” Lettie smiled and set the bottle on the table.
“I never say no to free wine,” I replied, taking the bottle.
“I figured you wouldn’t mind it.” She looked from me to Penn and back to me. “You guys have a fun night.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I shooed her off. “Go on, now. Love you both.”
I grabbed the bottle and struggled trying to open it. “They make these things impossible to open,” I groaned.
Penn grabbed the bottle from me and opened it with ease, handing it back.
“Show off,” I muttered. I peered around. “Dang, I need a cup.”
I watched Penn’s eyes move around, and he spotted the table with all the silverware, plates, and cups from dinner. “I’ll get you one.”
I surveyed him, his crisp jawline, his full lips. It was no wonder I kissed him. The son of a bitch was so insanely attractive, and honestly, I was tired of pretending I didn’t want to see him naked.
Surely, one night wouldn’t hurt.
“Better yet, fancy a game of UNO?”