No Vacancy (The Aveline Series Book 2)

Chapter 67

DARCY

I had playedmy part well until Penn found the notebook I had forgotten I’d shoved into the couch.

“What do you mean, who am I? I am the same person I have been, but you, well, I don’t know who you are at all,” he said, studying me. “This is why you made me sit through that Taylor Swift concert?”

“That,” I said, grabbing the notebook, “is nothing.”

“I think it’s something, Darcy. You have been torturing me to try to get me to leave Aveline. That’s what all the Penny Bear shit was? How much of it has been this stupid operation? Has everything been a game?”

I furrowed my brow and threw the notebook onto the couch. How dare he come at me like he has been completely innocent in all of this. I wasn’t going to let him turn me into the bad guy when all I had been doing was trying to preserve my town.

“I met Mr. Prescott today.”

I watched his breathing increase, and he stood up, slowly walking toward me. “Let me explain.”

“It’s okay; no need. He explained everything. He came to the store to try to persuade my dad to sell. He wanted to tear it down and build a hotel. He wanted to tear the whole thing down! The hardware store wouldn’t even exist anymore.” I cursed the tears flowing down my face and wiped them furiously. “And imagine my surprise when your name came up.” My voice was wobbly, cracking under the weight of everything. “How could you do this to us?”

Penn’s face fell instantly, and I knew he was on the verge of trying to talk his way out of this. “Darcy, please, just let me explain.”

“No, because do you want to know what else he said? He said you were trying to get the store owner’s daughter to like you. That this whole thing was all some stupid challenge for you. So, that’s all this was? Just some challenge to get in my pants so you could win your stupid fucking hotel?” I ran my hands through my hair. “And you are here chastising me about a stupid list and a few nicknames when none... none of this has been real at all for you!” My voice was raised, and my body trembled with anger and pain.

I remembered why I never let anyone in. I remembered why I was so quick to cut people off. This.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Darcy. It’s not true.”

“I don’t believe you! I can’t ever believe you.” Tears were falling from my eyes, covering my face in a layer of salty tears, betraying my strength.

Penn sighed. “Darcy, it’s not true.”

I put my hand up. “Get out. Just get out, Penn, and leave.”

“You can’t act like you didn’t have a part in this. You can’t act like you didn’t fuck with me too.” He wasn’t moving. He was standing in the same spot, the same pleading look on his face.

I wiped my face and squared my shoulders. “You don’t belong here.”

And I went to my room and slammed the door, not even waiting to make sure he left. When I heard the front door shut a few minutes later, I knew he was gone.