Chapter 38 Darby
DARBY
They make everything so fucking easy. Like I had no idea life could be so easy. Let alone with a man. Let alone two.
I’ve never had a man be willing to help me. Even something as minor as taking Skadi out without complaint. Without me even asking. Making breakfast like it’s no big deal. Clearing his calendar at the drop of a hat. Calling a friend to fly me to Vegas at the last moment.
Easy, funny conversation over fluffy omelets I didn’t have to make. Laughter. Teasing. Jokes.
When they could have made it tense, ugly, and scary. Because I…
I’m developing feelings for both of them.
Who am I kidding? I already have feelings.
Or I wouldn’t have slept with them both last night.
That’s not something I would ever do. Certainly not old Darby, and not new Darby either.
Though it feels like I’m still hurtling on the ice and trying to backflip over a bonfire even though I don’t know how to skate.
After breakfast, both Ren and I help Henrik with the dishes even though he grumbles. Then somehow I’m picked up and tucked in on the huge white couch with a fuzzy blanket around me. Not even the one Skadi had on the floor. With a cup of coffee and their past performances playing on the television.
Henrik gives me a surprisingly brief kiss and heads to the door. A man on a mission. “We’ll be back soon, babe.”
“Where are you going?” I call after him. “Why can’t I come?”
Ren bends over the couch above me, kisses my forehead and then my lips. Upside down, it feels strange. Different. He lightly nips my bottom lip and sucks on it.
Making me remember exactly how he used his mouth last night. He knows it too from the lazy heat burning in his eyes as he straightens. “It’s bright and clear, so it’s as cold as Doyle’s balls today. Tonight’ll be even colder.”
Henrik snorts. “His loss.”
“Stupid weather,” I mutter. “I’ve got the warm pants and sweater from last night.” Though I really didn’t want to put my only pair of underwear back on. They were… let’s just say… a little sticky. Ugh.
Given how long Henrik’s shirt is, neither of them have noticed I’m going commando. Sadly.
“And soon you’ll have the rest of your stuff. Let’s go, Hotshot.”
“Coming, dear,” Ren says in a falsetto voice.
Henrik slaps him on the back as he passes through the door. “You sure did, again and again.”
“Fuck you. Better yet, you can suck her clit next time and let me fuck her.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Henrik winks at me and shuts the door before too much of the cold blasts in.
Now I’m blushing again. Ridiculous, really, given what we did last night. Skadi’s sitting on the couch at my feet looking at me, her head tilted.
“What are you looking at?”
She flicks her ears at me, which is basically Husky for flying the bird.
“That’s what I thought.”
I watch a couple of the videos on the playlist, and they’re still not back. I’m enjoying their shows—but I need the damned lyrics. Sigh. My phone’s still in the kitchen. I should’ve grabbed it, but I didn’t know they were going to install me on the couch and leave.
When did they even have time to make their plans?
I’d like my clothes, sure, but I didn’t demand they go fetch all my crap.
Can Henrik bring my giant suitcase on a snowmobile?
Maybe he has one of those little pull-behind sled thingies.
Though thinking about him juggling my suitcase, Skadi’s big bag of food, and steering at the same time makes me smile.
She lifts her head, sensing my change of mood. She’s always picking up my moods—usually before I know what I’m doing or feeling.
I heave out a sigh. “We should talk it out, shouldn’t we? Especially before they get back. I know you like them both, or you wouldn’t go out with them. Right?”
She chomps her mouth several times in agreement. It’s not her “giving me what for” chomps, but more of a “yes, queen.” There’s a difference. Though sometimes I’m too thick to pick up on the subtleties of Husky lingo.
“Would you want to live here?”
She hops down and does a play bow, wagging her tail vigorously.
“That’s what I thought. You’re easy to please as long as there’s snow. Before we left the apartment, I was thinking about moving back to Vegas.”
Her tail droops and she sits down at my feet. She doesn’t yip at me, and she can’t possibly understand my words. Can she? But she looks so sad.
“I can’t do that to you.” I scruff behind her ears gently and down her jaws on either side.
“What kind of asshole takes a Husky to live in the desert? A brief visit in the winter, sure, but not forever. You love it here.” I hesitate, combing my fingers through the longer hair on her ruff. “You love them.”
Her tail slides back and forth on the floor.
“As much as you love me?”
Her tail stops. Okay. Whew.
“Do I love them too?” I whisper.
She yips and yowls, turning herself around in a circle, and then sits again. Like duh, obviously.
“But I thought I loved Michael.”
Her lips curl away from her teeth.
“Don’t look at me like that. You loved him too. You did. He used to play fetch with you in the backyard.”
She snorts in disgust and turns away, refusing to look at me.
“Yeah, you’re right. I just didn’t see it.
He never liked you. I mean, he would go through the motions.
He’d take a picture with you and post it online but then throw a hissy fit if I asked him to take you out or check your water bowl.
God forbid you have an accident in the house when you were still learning.
Did you notice Ren had a bowl of water down for you without me even asking? ”
She gives me side eye over her shoulder.
“I know. And Henrik made you a salt-free omelet this morning since I didn’t have your food. But I haven’t forgotten that he gave you raw rabbit organs too. Disgusting.”
She tosses her head, yowling a long string of all the reasons the rabbit was clearly tastier than her dry kibble.
“He didn’t like me either,” I whisper.
She whirls around and puts her front paws on my lower stomach, leaning in to try and lick my face. I let her get my chin but not my mouth.
“Not Henrik. Michael. He didn’t actually like me as a person, did he? Or he never would have treated me the way he did. It was all for show. He needed emotional support to make the move, and then financial support for all his ridiculous schemes that always turned sour. He used me. He used us.”
Which only makes me think about what Henrik said this morning after his phone call.
My throat aches. “I don’t want to use Henrik, no matter what he said this morning. What if Doyle’s right?” I hide my face against her neck. “What if I am just using Henrik to get to Ren?”
LELAND
I’m way too early—by hours—for dinner. But I can’t seem to make myself stay away. I know I don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell with Darby. Not with the Mighty Zon and the Hotshot ahead of me. But the slightest possibility…
Has me slinking over to Ren’s house.
He’s not for formalities—at least with us—so I just walk in the back door. I’m not trying to be sneaky in the slightest. I hear voices. Her voice specifically. Which pulls me like the moon calls the tide.
I’m not sure why she’s all alone on the couch. Talking to her dog.
I open my mouth to announce myself, but I don’t want to startle her. Damn. Is she crying? She’s hugging Skadi.
“What if Doyle’s right? What if I am just using Henrik to get to Ren?”
“That bastard,” I growl, pulling my phone out.
“Oh!” Her head snaps up, her eyes wide and guilty. “Leland.”
“Does Henrik know he said that about you? Did Doyle come by here and upset you?”
“No. I mean, Henrik knows, yeah, but I haven’t seen Doyle since last night.”
I snort with disgust. “And Doyle’s still walking around on his own two legs? I’m surprised the Mighty Zon didn’t pull his sticks down and kneecap him.”
Her lips twitch, a definite improvement. “He threatened to knock his teeth out.”
“Good. He deserves it.” I put the phone up to my ear. “Where the fuck are you?”
She slips off the couch, kicking free of the blanket, and rushes toward me. “Oh, no. Please. It’s no big deal. Really.”
Whoa. She’s wearing the big guy’s shirt again.
Why am I always catching her without proper clothes?
Not that I’m complaining. Far from it. Though the shirt’s so big on her all I really see are her calves and the long column of her throat.
The sleeves hang down past her fingers. I’m so distracted I forget who I called. “No big deal? You were crying.”
“WHAT?” Henrik roars so loudly I hold the phone away from my ear. “Let me talk to her.”
She scowls at me—even though her eyes shimmer and her cheeks are wet with tears. “I’m not crying.”
I hold the phone out to her, and once she takes it, I reach up with both hands and lightly swipe her tears away without a word.
Her lips soften, parting. A small breath escaping.
“DARBY…” Henrik growls. Who needs to put a call on speaker with his volume?
“I’m not crying,” she says again. “I’m fine.” Though she mouths, “thank you,” to me as she turns and climbs back onto the couch. “When will you be back?”
Hearing her calm response, his volume diminishes but I still hear what he says. “We’re on our way now. Fifteen minutes tops. Thirty if we’re running by Doyle’s to feed him his own teeth.”
“That’s not necessary. I was just talking about your conversation with him this morning. Leland overheard and thought I was upset.”
“You sure, babe? Like I said before, nobody, I mean NOBODY, upsets you. If anyone’s a dick, they get to deal with me.”
“I’m sure.”
“Put Lee back on.”
Settled on the couch, she holds the phone up to me. I take it from her but don’t sit down. “Yeah?”
“Stay with her until I’m back.”
“Sure thing. Sorry I put a burr under your saddle. Sounds like you already know what Doyle said.”
“I do, and if he has the balls to say that again to my face, we’re going to have a different conversation entirely.”