Chapter 9 #2
Juliet’s eyes glittered at her, narrowing into a glare. “I wouldn’t quite phrase it like that.”
“How would you phrase it, then?” She challenged.
“I’d say that we, unfortunately, have to partner with one another in order to accomplish a goal due to circumstances beyond our control.”
A laugh escaped her, admittedly impressed with Juliet’s immediate reply to reframe this situation in a more palatable way. “I mean, that’s a long-winded way of saying: you need me. But I’ll accept your request to have dinner together to hash things out.”
Mostly because it was what she wanted, too. But also because Darcy wasn’t a total asshole; if Juliet could make the first overture, she could be open to it.
With that, she stepped back to allow Juliet in.
Imperiously, Juliet sailed past her. “How magnanimous of you.”
They set up out on the balcony at Darcy’s insistence. If Juliet was going to unexpectedly invade her space, she was going to have them sit where she was most comfortable.
The first thing Juliet pulled out of her bag and set on the table was a bottle of Chateau Cheval Blanc, causing Darcy to double-take. She could only theorize about the price after her years in bartending. “Did you bring a five-hundred-dollar bottle of wine to have with dinner?”
“It’s eight-hundred, and it’s an enticement. If we can get on the same page and complete our song, we will have a glass in celebration tomorrow.”
Darcy, as a rule, would never really understand anyone spending that kind of money on a single bottle of anything, and she couldn’t help but eye the bottle, skeptically. “I’m more of a whiskey person.”
“Of course you are,” Juliet muttered, as she reached back into the bag and took out two containers. She set one in front of Darcy, placing the other in front of herself.
Darcy took in the label on the containers, surprise blasting through her. No way this could be a coincidence. “Did you get us hot chicken from Trudie’s?”
Juliet pointedly did not meet her eyes, taking out napkins from the bag. “Yes. You’ve referenced that as your favorite place to eat in Nashville, and I don’t come unprepared to a parley.”
Trudie’s was Darcy’s favorite place to eat in Nashville, but she couldn’t remember when she’d talked about it publicly.
Obviously, she had at some point, but it wasn’t like she’d done an ad for them or something.
Which meant that Juliet had watched one of her smaller interviews and had remembered this about her.
There was something about it that settled in the pit of Darcy’s stomach. She’d wanted Juliet to just stop talking about her. She really had. But there was also this… obsessive feeling inside whenever Juliet had hit back.
Unhealthy? For sure. Uncontrollable? Also yes.
“Oh, whatever with the smug look on your face right now. You literally wrote lyrics about me, saying that you live rent-free in my mind. You know I’ve watched your interviews. It’s not like this is news,” Juliet huffed out, snapping a napkin down in front of Darcy.
“I didn’t say anything, did I?” She managed, around the self-satisfied smile that she was positive was still on her face.
But Juliet had actually admitted to it. She’d admitted, aloud, that Darcy lived rent-free in her mind.
It sent a thrill through Darcy that she hadn’t anticipated, buzzing through her veins.
Juliet arched both of her eyebrows up at Darcy, as she shot back, “Don’t act like you haven’t watched and read my interviews. I know you have.”
Of course Juliet knew, because with the back and forth they’d had through the media, Darcy had to come prepared. Juliet had seemed to know so much about Darcy and was so good at picking at the things Darcy was insecure about, she’d had to be able to do the same thing right back.
So, she shrugged as she admitted, “Yeah, but it’s different.”
Juliet scoffed. “How so?”
“Because you’re Juliet Jacobs,” Darcy returned, easily. “I’ve read things about you and watched your interviews for years. Since long before you even knew who I was.”
And now, here they were. Juliet bringing Darcy dinner from her favorite restaurant because she’d stalked her through interviews.
Jesus, that was fucking insane. This, actually, might be one of the most insane moments of her life, now that Darcy really thought about it.
Darcy’s honest comment seemed to give Juliet a moment of pause. It also seemed to please her, her full lips quirking into a sly smile. “Have you.”
It wasn’t quite a question, like she was asking Darcy to confirm that she’d followed Juliet’s career for years, more like a musing. Something quiet, a little reflective, and very… satisfied.
Darcy wasn’t ashamed by it, though. She looked Juliet right in the eye, as she confirmed, “Yes, I have. Of course, I have.”
She bit the inside of her cheek, deciding how honest to be with Juliet.
No way did she really trust her, but… there was also no way they could be collaborators on a song that was halfway decent if they couldn’t form any sort of honest communication. Something that went a little deeper than this.
Darcy tapped both of her hands lightly on her thighs as a little hype for herself. Besides, what was the worst thing that could happen? Juliet mocked her? Already been there, very publicly.
“You know,” she started, staring intently at Juliet. “That’s the reason I took everything you’ve said about me so personally.”
That seemed to throw Juliet off slightly. She’d been taking the top off of her dinner container, and her movements froze. Just for a second, but Darcy noticed.
“What do you mean?” Juliet asked, returning Darcy’s stare with her quiet intensity.
“I mean, I… look, you’re not the first person to say disparaging things about me, in my journey through the music world.
Even long before that. You couldn’t even fathom the number of dismissals and insults I’ve had over the years.
But try not to take them personally,” she confessed, her eyebrows furrowing slightly, hoping Juliet could understand that she was really trying to tell her something important.
“But I did take what you said personally. Every time. Because I… I don’t know, I admired you.
Your career. We share the same birthday.
You do the thing I’ve always wanted to do.
I never believed we’d be, like, friends or whatever.
But at the NAMAs, the first time we were in the same place, I thought, wow. I fucking did it. And then…”
She trailed off, shrugging, because they both knew what happened then.
“Huh,” Juliet’s tone was soft, thoughtful. But that was all she said.
Darcy exhaled, shaking her head slightly as she opened her own dinner. The ball was in Juliet’s court, now. She could decide where to go from here.
Admittedly, Darcy really hoped Juliet decided to go somewhere from here because god, she wanted to do this song. She wanted it so badly.
Winning awards and having this kind of money, it was – incredible. But being asked to do a song for a legend like Shelby? This was a once in a lifetime thing, something Darcy never thought would be in her lifetime.
“In the name of being real,” Juliet began after almost a minute of silence.
Then she paused, the muscle in her jaw tightening.
Finally, she sighed. “The reality is – yes, I was jealous of you beating me for an award. But that wasn’t…
can’t you see? This song for Shelby embodies one of the biggest reasons about why you drive me so damn crazy. ”
Juliet’s hand was curled into a tight fist and she tapped it firmly against the table. Like she had the same kind of energy inside that Darcy felt when she was riled up.
“I have paid my dues for almost ten years, Darcy. And yet, the only way I can be on this album is with your name next to mine.” Juliet’s lips turned down into a deep frown.
Darcy sat back with that, rolling it over in her mind.
At the root of it, she could objectively see why that made Juliet upset.
Even so, she couldn’t help but point out, “Okay, even if I can understand that, the reality is you still made it about me. Like I’m the one who made these decisions.
And, obviously, I didn’t. I’m just here, trying to do the same thing you are. ”
“Oh, it’s still about you, Darcy. I said that was one of the reasons.”
Darcy’s heart flip-flopped at the weight of Juliet’s stare, at the seemingly dark amusement in her tone.
“What are the other reasons?” The question slipped out of her mouth with unfettered curiosity spiking through her. Clawing at her, really, desperate to know more.
Desperate to understand the parts of Juliet’s mind that she’d taken residence in, wanting – more than she’d cared to admit to herself – to know all of the reasons why.
Rather than answer, Juliet shook her head. One side of her mouth curled up in a ridiculously attractive, sly smile. “One shared dinner doesn’t mean I’ll be that open with you.”
Darcy huffed out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
Juliet turned and aimed a hard look out at the city, rather than across the table at Darcy.
After a few beats, she said quietly, “Darcy… look, I get it. You have your ideas about this song, and you want to take a big swing because it’s worked out for you so far.
But you really don’t understand. If we take this song – this iconic song – and make changes that people hate, we’re going to be crucified for it. ”
Wow.
Darcy could only stare, her response momentarily forgotten as she realized that this was Juliet being genuinely authentic with her.
There was a quiet edge of vulnerability, something Darcy wondered if Juliet even realized she was emitting.
Something told her Juliet would rather bite off her own arm than have Darcy see anything that wasn’t her typical polished veneer.
Juliet flattened her lips into a thin line as she turned back to face Darcy. “Why are you looking at me like I said something profound? I’m just telling you the truth.”