Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
“Why is Serena Fisher even here?” Juliet whispered to Robbie, making sure to maintain her red-carpet smile.
She’d long mastered the ability to talk out of the corner of her mouth without being obvious about it, a skill that was always useful when she was at events with Robbie.
As was their standard at nearly every awards show – perfect places for maximum attention as a couple, frankly – she and Robbie were arm in arm during the pre-show. And, just as intended, the press was abuzz outside of the Palladium, hosting the Country and Folk Awards tonight.
Robbie laughed, then held that picturesque smile for the photographer shouting for their attention to their right. “What do you mean?” He asked through the bulbs flashing at them. “Serena’s always around.”
“I know.” She narrowed her eyes once they’d turned away from the closest media group. “That’s what I’m saying.”
She and Robbie had stopped to have a quick conversation with a handful of journalists since they’d arrived. Most of it was the standard questions. First, about their individual albums and tours and projects – Juliet’s favorite ones to answer, since she had real responses.
Then came the others:
- But what about doing an entire album together, rather than just a song or two?!
o Public answer: laughter, never say never!, it would be such a dream if their timelines aligned for an entire album. Real answer: Juliet would rip Robbie’s hair out if she had to try to corral him for an entire album. Then, possibly, her own depending on her frustration
- Are marriage plans on the horizon any time soon?!
o Public answer: demure smile and comment about how busy they both are, how they want to use this time to continue building their music both together and independently. Real answer: lol
- What about kids?!
o Public answer: that seems a little pre-mature, given the marriage part of the equation! But they’d be so cute, wouldn’t they? Cue agreeable laughter.
It was always the same, had been for years. It was almost comforting in the predictability, she supposed, so there was that.
Today, she’d been asked some new questions, though:
- Is it true that you and Darcy Kincaid have buried the hatchet?
o Public answer: It is true! And not in one another’s backs, so don’t go misquoting me – cue laughter. Real answer: Darcy has buried her face in my cunt and gone to town, so safe to say the hatchet has officially been buried
- Did it happen by working together on Shelby Linwood’s album?! It’s just such a 180 after the drama a couple of months ago!
o Public answer: Yes, you nailed it. We worked on Shelby’s album together and realized that we just didn’t know one another very well.
Things, before, had just really spiraled.
Real answer: I didn’t know I could have another avenue to channel my rather fervent reaction to Darcy before, and now I know she’s a giant lesbian.
Doesn’t the world work in mysterious ways?
So, Darcy was very present today, which was also the first time Juliet had seen her since they’d parted ways after the hospital.
They’d both entered at different times, and visited different rooms; Juliet had always been meticulously careful about curating her visits to maintain a low profile, and she sensed that if it was both her and Darcy, things might blow up bigger than she wanted.
She’d done her best to put Darcy out of her mind while they were there, but she’d kept hearing Darcy introduce herself to children, parents, and employees.
Every time she’d walk into a room, she’d say, “I’m Darcy Kincaid” as if the people didn’t know who she was.
Most of the time, they were already amped up and excited.
Like – why do that? Everyone knew who Darcy was at this point. The wildest part about it was that Darcy sounded serious every single time.
Then, Darcy had called a car and left. She hadn’t made it into a thing, and Juliet had appreciated that.
But in the eight days since, she’d been very much anticipating the CaF Awards, wondering what would happen when she saw Darcy again.
Even more so when she’d been asked only yesterday, at the very last-minute to fill in due to the planned presenters getting sick, if she’d want to present an award with Darcy, as the momentum was building for their “Porchlight” cover coming out in a few weeks.
Juliet had readily agreed, and apparently, so had Darcy.
Darcy, who was now only several feet away on the red carpet. She was standing with Blythe and Emerson, talking to – of all people – Serena, herself.
Juliet had stolen several glances at her already.
It was, admittedly, difficult not to. The dress she wore was black and sequined, sleekly form-fitted to curves that Juliet could now confirm first-hand were as enticing as they seemed while she was clothed.
Her blonde hair was blown-out, making her waves look even more pronounced.
Her styling team was incredible at playing into Darcy’s strengths, no one could ever try to deny it.
Also not for the first time tonight, Darcy’s eyes locked in on Juliet’s. She didn’t know if she’d been caught looking or if she’d caught Darcy looking, so she was fine to call it a draw. Provided Darcy looked away quickly enough for no one to take notice, the way Juliet skillfully did.
She turned her attention back to Robbie. “Are you ready to go in? We’ve given our requisite attention to the wolves.”
Robbie’s stare was light with interest. “Holy hell. You and Darcy did hook up. I thought you stopped texting me last week because you were pissed she blew you off!” He accused in a hissed whisper. “You didn’t tell me she actually blew you.”
She was very aware of where they were, so she didn’t glare at him. Instead, she kept her expression light and placid, even as she muttered, “I didn’t get blown. Get real.”
She’d gotten eaten out within an inch of her life; big difference.
“If you can be honest with anyone, it’s your gay boyfriend,” Robbie cajoled.
And he was right. They were always honest with one another when they hooked up with someone, because it was both of their reputations on the line.
“Fine.” She couldn’t help herself from glancing back at Darcy again, running her eyes over that fucking dress. God, she looked damn good. “Yes, she showed up after Shelby’s.”
Robbie was unreasonably excited, wiggling his eyebrows at her. “It’s been a long time coming. I mean, damn, when’s the last time you got with a woman?” He didn’t miss a beat, didn’t wait for an answer, as he continued, “So, you two doing it again? I’ll cover for you tonight at the afterparty.”
She hesitated at that. She and Robbie almost always were spotted going to at least one afterparty together… but if Robbie wanted to concoct some other plan…
She darted her eyes toward Darcy again, feeling the spark of heat that was living inside of her fan into a burgeoning flame.
Darcy had gone back to Pineford the day after they’d had sex. At least, according to what Juliet had seen on her socials. They hadn’t contacted one another again, either.
But… Darcy had been photographed wearing Juliet’s shirt a few days ago, when she’d landed at LAX.
Juliet’s shirt wasn’t recognizable to the public as belonging to her – it was an older, baggier, cotton that used to be black but was now a dark gray with wear – so, whatever. But Juliet knew it belonged to her.
And she also knew that Darcy wore it very differently than she did. It wasn’t baggy quite the same way on Darcy, not with her breasts being at least a cup size bigger, with her being curvier… the material stretched over her chest and her hips, and gave it a decidedly more appealing look.
Judging from the comments on the pics of Darcy, she wasn’t the only one who thought so.
She didn’t know if she and Darcy would be hooking up again. But she did know that if they did, they’d need to cover some ground rules.
Juliet never really wanted to be a closeted woman’s guide into fame. Normally, she’d prefer someone who knew the score just as well as she did, and it was very clear Darcy did not. Sure, Juliet’s shirt wasn’t recognizable… but what if it had been?
“I have no idea if it’s happening again,” she murmured, rolling her lips as she flicked her gaze toward Darcy as they passed by her.
Damningly – so, so damningly – she wanted Darcy enough to lay those ground rules.
“You might want to keep your eyes secured in your head,” Robbie whispered in her ear with a chuckle.
Cameras flashed in their direction; people loved this move. Robbie was nearly always teasing her or saying something that annoyed her when he did it. But it looked so intimate.
How easily people were fooled into seeing what they wanted to see.
“Shut up.”
But, yeah, she probably should stop looking.
Juliet thanked the assistant who shepherded her into the quiet, hidden spot on the wing of the stage during the show. The award she and Darcy would be presenting together was coming up in twenty minutes, and they’d be quickly mic’d up just before that.
Darcy was already here.
The best way she could think to describe the feeling shuttling through her at this point was awareness. That was what she felt approaching Darcy from behind, as Darcy was leaning in to watch what was happening on stage.
“Be careful; too far out and you’ll be caught on camera,” she warned.
Darcy straightened immediately, spinning around. “Is that some sort of faux-pas I don’t know about yet? I just wanted to know who won for best duet. Maybe we’ll be in competition with them next year.”
“Perhaps we will,” she mildly agreed, but did her best to keep a lid on any sort of excitement about their duet.
It was going to be released soon, and they’d find out people’s reactions, and if people hated what they did… well, she’d always be able to tell Darcy she told her so.
“Did I hear you saying my name outside?” She asked, folding her arms over her chest, tilting her head up at Darcy.