5. Darcy
5
DARCY
I stood at the counter, my heart pounding as I sorted through mail for maybe the tenth time that day. Callum was going to think I couldn’t read or something. But it was the only thing I could find to look occupied with when Callum walked out from the back hallway.
For the second time that day I had run away from him. I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment as the door behind me swung open. I kept my eyes down, unable to look at him.
“Darcy,” he said. Without warning a wave of desire flushed through me as I remembered the way he had whispered my name in the back closet. He crossed in front of the counter and I was glad to have the large desk between us.
“Is everything okay?”
“Sorry,” I said, though I kicked myself for apologizing. It felt like I had spent all day trying to make amends for my actions.
“Did I …? I’m sorry if I misread something back there.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. My eyes were still on the mail. It felt too strange to meet his gaze. The truth was, I didn’t even know why I had run. Kissing Callum had felt good. Maybe too good. When I felt his body press up against me, all thoughts seemed to fly out of my head. I only felt desire and longing, stronger than I had in a long time. It left me feeling confused and overwhelmed. And I had to get out of there. I had spent nearly ten years hating Callum Jones. I couldn’t let one afternoon with him erase all our history together.
“I really am sorry,” Callum said. There was confusion in his voice, and I glanced up to see him run his hand over his face, as if washing away our encounter. Was he upset? I wanted to explain all the things I was feeling, but I couldn’t figure out how to form words.
“I just got out of a relationship,” I blurted out. When I was cornered in a bar, some guy begging to buy me a drink, this had become my go-to response. If some client asked me to dinner, I always had it in my back pocket to let them down easy. I wasn’t sure why I was pulling this excuse out for Callum when, in reality, all I wanted was to reach across the counter and pull him back in for another kiss. But it felt like something that might excuse my strange behavior back there.
“Right,” Callum said, and it sounded like he might know the story. I made a mental note to yell at Liz for telling her brother about my failed engagement.
“I’m not in a place to jump into something else right now.”
“Of course. I get it.”
“Plus, my dad passed away.”
Oh my god, why are you telling him all of this? It was like I had no control over what was coming out of my mouth. All I wanted was to sink into the floor behind the counter and disappear.
“Liz told me about that. I’m so sorry.” For a moment I thought he might come around the counter to put a hand on my back or try to hug me. But before he could, I walked away, intent on keeping as much space between us as possible.
“It’s alright,” I said, as I rearranged empty flower pots that were perfectly fine where they were. I just needed something to keep me busy until Callum took the hint and left me alone.
“Look, I’m playing a show tonight at the Music Hall. I’d love it if you came.”
The gentleness in his voice made me look up at him despite my determination to do anything but. I was touched he wanted me to come to his concert.
“I set it up so my manager would let me come home. He’s always looking for opportunities to get my name out there and play more shows. But it’s just me—no band. So, I’m trying out some of my acoustic stuff.”
As he spoke, I recognized a tentative excitement in his voice, as if the idea of performing on his own was something he was looking forward to. Did I also sense some nerves? I had to admit I was interested to see what the show would look like. I was familiar with the loud and energetic shows he usually played with his band. Seeing Callum alone onstage with his guitar would be a much more intimate experience.
“Sounds like you’re excited about it,” I guessed, and I saw a genuine smile spread across his face.
“Excited but scared,” he said, and I was pleased with myself for picking up on those emotions so clearly.
“You’ve performed in like a hundred countries,” I laughed. “How are you scared?”
“It’s different when I’m on my own. I don’t have the band and all the loud music to hide behind. Anyway, it would be great if you came.”
I looked at him, trying not to let my eyes drop down to those full lips that had been kissing me only moments ago. Every time I tried to remember why I didn’t like Callum Jones, I was drawn into him again. He was being so kind to me and seemed genuinely interested …
That’s exactly what you thought last time , I told myself. As a teenager, I had thought he cared about me. But he had proved otherwise. Plus, there were all those girls I saw him photographed with on the covers of magazines. Callum Jones had his pick of women. There was no way he was seriously interested in me.
“Maybe,” I said. I wasn’t ready to commit, but I was also trying to get him out of the store.
“Liz will be there.” It was clear from his eager expression that he wanted me to say yes. If that was what it took to get him out of the store, I would do it.
“Alright, fine,” I said. “I’ll be there.”
“Great.” His smile seemed genuine. I watched him push the hair out of his eyes and wondered if he was going to say something else. But then he nodded and cocked his head toward the door.
“I’ll get out of here. See you tonight.”
“Yeah. See you tonight.”
I followed him to the front door so I could lock it behind him. The last thing I needed was any more unexpected guests wandering into the store. On the sidewalk, Callum smiled at me before turning right and heading back into town. I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched him walk away.
With an irrational fear that Callum might change his mind and come back, I rushed back to the counter to grab my purse and my blazer before returning to the front door. I closed it and locked it, turning both the lock and the dead bolt just to be sure. I checked down the street and saw the figure of Callum getting smaller and smaller in the distance. And then, making a break for it, I rushed across the street to our real estate office.
I pushed my way through the door with the colorful ‘Dream Home Realty’ logo we had recently revamped. I felt a strange sense of panic as I closed it as quickly as I could and turned the dead bolt behind me.
“What’d you do, rob a bank?”
I spun around, shocked to hear someone behind me. Liz sat at her desk, papers set up all around her and an iced coffee in her hand.
“My god, I thought you left,” I said.
“I wanted to get this paperwork finished up. Eric’s picking up the kids. Why do you look so spooked?”
“Nothing,” I said, crossing to my own desk. But I knew Liz wouldn’t let me off the hook that easily. As I slumped down into my chair, the whole story came tumbling out.
“Callum came into the store. I don’t even know how he found it or how he knew I was in there, but things got … interesting.”
“What does that mean?” Liz rolled her office chair over to my desk as I dropped my head into my hands.
“We kissed,” I groaned through my fingers. I heard Liz squeal in excitement next to me.
“That was fast! How did that happen?”
“I don’t even know! We were talking and all of a sudden, he was right there in front of me, looking adorable. And then the lights went out in the place, and we had to find the fuse box. And he was just there , right behind me. It just happened.”
“This is amazing!”
“No, it’s not. I ran away from him again . I literally pushed him away from me and ran away .”
“Oh, Darcy …”
“I know. He must think I’m a total freak.”
“What did he say?”
“Nothing! Of course, he was the one apologizing. I couldn’t even look at him.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t that bad.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing, Liz.” I said, turning to her. I felt like I might explode if I didn’t figure out all the feeling swirling inside of me. “The man’s a celebrity. It’s not like he’s looking for something long-term. He has his pick of whatever woman he wants.”
“Callum’s not like that,” Liz said, but I brushed this aside. Of course, Liz would say that.
“I don’t know …”
“It sounds like something else is bothering you.”
I sighed. Liz was always so perceptive. Sometimes she seemed to know my thoughts before I knew them myself.
“I know it’s stupid, but I can’t stop thinking about high school. He was a total jerk . I know it was ages ago, but am I just supposed to forget all about it?”
“You could talk to him about it,” Liz suggested, but the idea of bringing up some incident from so many years ago made me feel sick. Liz could read it on my face, and she quickly tried to change the subject.
“You need to get out and have some fun. You’ve been wrapped up in work and all the stuff with John and your dad for months . Callum has a concert tonight—why don’t you come along? We can have a girl’s night!”
“He already invited me.” I couldn’t believe I had agreed to go. After kissing the man only to push him away, I didn’t know how I would face him tonight without dying from embarrassment. I started to wonder if I could sneak out before the concert was over. I began running through excuses in my mind, working out what might be a reasonable excuse for going home early.
“You have to come!” Liz said, but I was distracted, too busy imagining what the night might be like. I felt Liz’s hand on my shoulder as she gave me a good-natured shove. “Don’t think about things so much.”
“Easy for you to say,” I laughed. “I don’t know if I should go.”
“Just relax, Dar. Callum’s staying for the summer and, since he’s my brother and you’re my best friend, chances are you’ll have to interact a bit. Maybe you can just have some fun?”
I had to admit that fun was one of the last adjectives I would use to describe the past year of my life. Maybe Liz was right. He was only here for a few months. Would it be so bad to let myself relax a little bit?
“Alright,” I said, letting myself feel a bit of excitement about the night ahead. “I’ll go.”
Liz squealed again, and I felt my spirits rise as I thought about a fun night out with Liz. It had been ages since we’d been out for more than a quick dinner or drink after work. With Liz’s kids and my attention on the business, we hadn’t had a real night out together in a long time.
“Let’s go,” Liz said, gathering her things from her desk.
“Where are we going?”
“Shopping!”