31. Darcy
Chapter 31
Darcy
S UNDAY MORNING YOGA isn’t the same without Anthony. I didn’t exactly expect to see him here, but I did hope. I worried about him all last night and literally had to turn my phone off and put it under the couch to keep me from checking it constantly.
And when I woke up this morning and dug it out, it honestly sucked to see he hadn’t reached out. But I did tell him to reach out once he had his shit together, so…I guess I need to be patient.
Amanda casts a worried look at me as the instructor calls the class to order. “You okay?”
I nod stiffly. Because I have to be okay. I have to trust that Anthony will do the very thing I told him he needed to do. And I have to wait.
I can’t focus. Every pose feels forced, and Amanda keeps looking at me like I might burst into tears at any moment. Probably because I keep huffing and puffing, thanks to my inability to get focused. It’s all shit. I’m jittery and it feels like I have ants in my pants.
Halfway through, I give up, nodding an apology at Amanda and the instructor as I roll my mat and pick my way to the door. I burst outside and practically run to the edge of the boardwalk, bending over and taking deep breaths.
“Darcy? You okay?” Ox’s voice breaks through my jumbled thoughts.
With a final exhale, I look up, shielding my eyes from the sun as I find myself in front of Anthony’s little brother. “Hi, Chief.”
He huffs a smile. “Please. You’re practically family. I’m Ox.”
I shift on my feet. “I don’t know if that’s true,” I admit. “But thanks.”
“Oh, it’s true.” He smiles. “Don’t worry.”
I give him a rueful grin. “If you say so.”
“I do,” he says cheerily. “Whatever you said to him last night worked, because he came to Mom and Dad’s last night and apologized.” He steps forward and lowers his voice into a conspiratorial whisper. “I don’t know if you know this, but Anthony doesn’t apologize.”
My chest warms at his words. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, good,” I say.
Ox studies me. “He hasn’t been in touch yet, has he?” At my answering shake of my head, he continues, “Give him time. I don’t know what went down between the two of you, but he’s definitely doing what you told him to do. That much I can guarantee.”
I want to believe him. “Thanks, Ox.”
He smiles. “Any time, Darcy.” The radio on his shoulder goes off, the words a mumble that I can’t quite make out. He cocks his head to it, listening, then presses a button. “Chief here. I’m close by. I’ll check it out.” Then he looks back at me. “I’ll see you soon?”
“Hope so,” I offer.
He winks. “I know so.”
I watch him walk away, the anxiety coursing through my body having calmed a bit at Ox’s words. But I’m still uneasy.
My phone dings, and I check the screen. It’s Dad, needing my help at the store. I blow out a breath and send him a note that I’ll be there shortly.
I find him where he almost always is: at the front, greeting customers like he’s known them his whole life. Which he has. Dad grew up not far from here, fell in love with his high school sweetheart, and stayed here. When she died, I was a baby. I don’t have any memories of her; just photos of her holding me in her arms with a contented smile.
“Darcy!” He looks up and smiles, his eyes lighting up as he sees me. “Thanks for coming.”
I lean in for a hug. “Of course. What’s going on?”
He hesitates. “I know you said you don’t want to work here full-time,” he begins.
I stiffen. “Dad,” I warn. “You better not be trying to talk me out of this.”
“I’m not, I promise.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “I have a request, though.” A beat. “Two, actually.”
Crossing my arms defensively, I ask, “And they are?”
He grins. “First, I need you to show me how the damn accounting software works.”
“Only if you promise to actually pay attention this time.”
“Pinkie promise.” He holds his out.
Hooking my pinkie to his, I meet his eyes. “That’s serious.”
“I know.”
We tighten the grip, then move our hands up and down in a shake. “Deal. And the second thing?”
“Call JJ and see about putting an ad in the paper.”
“For what?”
He unhooks his pinkie. “You’re fired.”
“What?” I choke out. I didn’t hear him correctly.
His smile is kind. “Sweet girl, I’m pretty sure you won’t really stop working here if I don’t make you. And I’ll keep finding ways to hang onto you. So, this is me trying, the only way I know how.”
I sniff. “Seriously?”
He holds his arms out for an embrace, and I step into them. The hug he gives me is warm and tight, and it releases something deep inside me. I exhale and hug him back.
“You forgive me?” he asks.
“For firing me? I’m not sure how I feel about it yet.”
He laughs, the sound muffled by my ear being pressed against his chest. “Something tells me you’ll get over it. But I meant about Anthony.”
We release each other and I look up at him. “Anthony?”
He nods, a serious expression taking over his face. “I wasn’t very understanding when I first found out.”
“Which is why I called you out on it immediately,” I point out.
He grimaces. “Oh, I remember.”
“And your timing was shit,” I continue. “I’d just gotten fourth place in a tournament and was so happy, and you’re all can we talk and what the hell is this ,” I mimic him, lowering my voice even as I grin.
“I know, I know,” he says. “I just want you to know that no matter what, I’ve got your back, Darcy girl. And I’m sorry I didn’t behave that way at first. It’s…well, it just took me by surprise, that’s all.”
“I accept your apology. Now, are you paying me severance?” I ask cheekily.
Dad makes a huffing sound. “Get outta here with that mess.”