26. Anthony
Chapter 26
Anthony
I S THIS WHAT normal people feel all the time? This…peace? I think that’s what it is. This is what I’ve missed all these years? All because of one woman. A woman I am head over heels for.
Yeah, this is good shit. I’ll take it. I’ll take it all damn day.
The past two weeks have been amazing. I’ve seen Darcy almost every night, sometimes with her at my place, and sometimes me visiting her tiny cottage, spending time in the workshop and watching her work. She’s already gotten an order for a pool table from some fancy celebrity in California, and the way she lit up when she told me about it…that might have been one of the best feelings in the world. If she’s happy, I’m happy.
Tonight is bowling team night, and Darcy’s been at her place working on the pool table order most of the day. I don’t see her until she struts in, sporting the Hall’s Balls shirt as her hips swaying beneath yet another form-fitting red skirt that makes my mouth water. The shirt is tied just above the waistline of her skirt, revealing a tantalizing strip of skin every time she moves. Her hair is done up in some kind of curled ponytail thing, glossy and bouncy, and those velvet red lips curve into a smile when she sees me.
I slide the cocktail across the bar in greeting.
She looks down at it, considering. “It’s a Paloma.”
“Vodka, not tequila,” I clarify.
“Because your beloved does not, in fact, like tequila.”
I wink at her, then turn to make the other women’s drinks as they enter. Soon enough, they’re off bowling, and Aaron tips his beer at me. “You look different.”
I shrug. “Maybe.”
He laughs. “Things are going well with Darcy, then?”
“You know about us?”
He laughs harder. “C’mon, man, you think they don’t talk? Of course I know about you two.”
Something inside my chest unfurls and loosens, and I gotta say, it feels great. “Yeah, it’s going well.”
He toasts me, then takes another swig.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a swath of dark blue, followed by my brother and his wife. “Shit,” I mutter.
Aaron’s eyes narrow, and when he swivels to see what’s got me scowling, all he does is snort a laugh into his beer. “Judging by your expression, that’s gotta be your other brother.”
“I’m not sure I like you,” I quip, then cross my arms and turn to my brothers and Charlotte.
“Anthony,” Levi says.
“Levi,” I answer.
“Look at the love!” Ox enthuses. “It just oozes from their pores, don’t you think, Charlotte?”
Charlotte’s grin is knowing. “Definitely.”
I decide there’s no point in being an ass to Charlotte. I like her, and she’s been good for my brother. Instead of him being an asshole one hundred percent of the time, it’s more like eighty percent. And that’s not nothing.
Is he an asshole because I was one first? Maybe. But I’m the oldest. It’s my job to be a dick.
I offer her an expression that isn’t murderous, and ask, “What can I get you, Charlotte?”
She considers, her gaze roaming over the stocked bar behind me. “Vodka and soda with a splash of cranberry and a lime.”
With a nod, I make her drink, and only then do I deign to look at my brother. What I see almost makes me think he’s been abducted by aliens, because the man actually smiles at me.
This must be what Darcy meant when she told me how different I appeared when I smiled. Because my brother almost doesn’t even look like himself. It’s unsettling.
“The usual,” he says to my unspoken question.
“Good to know some things haven’t changed,” I mutter. “Ox?”
He shakes his head and points to the uniform he’s wearing. “Not tonight. Figured I’d help deliver the bad news, though.”
I pull the top off my brother’s favorite beer and slide it towards him, waiting.
Levi grabs it and takes a sip. “Pipes burst at the rec center.”
I freeze.
“It’s a mess.” Ox picks up the story. “No way will they be done in time for the party on Saturday.”
“So, we need to move it here,” Charlotte finishes, the smile on her face telling me she’s heard about my supposed aversion to having it here and is hoping to soften the blow.
All three of them stare at me, and I glare back. “Fine.”
“Yes!” Ox pumps a fist. “I knew you’d come around.”
“I’ll remind you that I offered to have it here,” I fire back. “But you said this place wasn’t good enough.”
“What is your problem?” Levi asks, his characteristic frown back in place as he steps closer.
“Hi!” Darcy appears at the end of the bar, her bright smile immediately putting an end to the tension. She walks around and nears us, still grinning and holding out a hand. “I’m Darcy. You must be Levi. No mistaking Ox’s twin brother.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing at Levi’s stunned expression. He blinks, once, twice, three times, then seems to pull himself together.
“Um, hi.”
Charlotte snorts and moves him out of the way, shaking Darcy’s hand as she does. “I’m Charlotte. That immobile hunk of granite is indeed Levi.”
Darcy’s smile is so fucking bright my heart physically hurts. God damn , I love her.
“Darcy is my—” I start, but then I stare at her, lost. What do you call the woman you’re totally and thoroughly head over heels for?
“I’m his,” she says with a grin. “And he’s mine.”
Ox squeals. “It’s official?” He clutches his chest. “Ugh. Finally ! I’m so happy right now.”
I shake my head, unable to contain the laughter that bubbles up from my throat.
“Holy fuck,” Levi breathes. “He just laughed.” He looks at his wife, then Ox, then at Darcy before swinging back to me. “Did you—you laughed .”
I do it again, then gesture for everyone to have a seat. “Guess it’s a night of firsts, then.”
“Sit by me,” Charlotte commands Darcy. “I already like you, and I need to know way more about you.”
Darcy’s cheeks go rosy. “I’m in the middle of things with my team, but I’ll swing back when I’m through. You’re welcome to come hang with us if you don’t want to deal with all this.” She waves her hands in our direction.
“Done. And you three? Behave.” Charlotte pivots on her heel and follows Darcy, leaving the three of us and Aaron staring at each other.
“This should be good,” Aaron says, toasting us and leaning back on the stool.
“Lay it on me,” I sigh. “What do we need to do?”
Ox brandishes his phone. “I have a list.”