Page 22 of Shots Fired

My amusement is obvious, although it soon fades when Jack looks at me. I know what’s coming, and I’m powerless to prevent it.

Why the fuck did I think playing along with this crazy ruse was a good idea? And why didn’t I connect the dots sooner? Of course it was going to get back to Darcy.

I open my mouth to shut him—and the entire bullshit story—down, but he gets there first.

“All I’ll say is, I’m not the only one here tonight who’s in love.” He winks at me, and I want the ground to swallow me whole, along with Darcy so she doesn’t hear what her brother is about to reveal.

“Well, duh, Sawyer, of course,” Darcy replies.

“No, no. Our boy Archer here. He’s been seeing Abbie from Dallas. Apparently, it isn’t serious, but the other day, we caught him being a simp in the gym while buying her dresses, and the entire story came out.” He takes a pull of his beer, waiting for me to verify his story.

I dare not fucking look at Sawyer. I can already feel his eyes as they bore into the side of my skull.

“Oh.” Darcy’s voice is weaker than earlier, dampened with uncertainty or maybe disappointment. A part of me hopes it is while the other half wants to tear my hair out for being thereason behind her flat tone. “I didn’t know you were seeing someone. Congrats.”

“It’s not serious,” I rush out, forgetting myself and glancing at a seething Sawyer.

I can fully understand why he’s pissed—one minute, I’m declaring how I feel and asking him to take me seriously, and the next, he’s hearing all about make-believe Abbie.

Silence falls between us. I can tell Darcy is looking for a way out, and all I want to do is haul her into my arms and carry her to one of the spare rooms, clarifying my relationship status with my tongue.

The lights go out, and our group—along with the rest of the room—is plunged into black.

“Oh God, she isn’t going to sing ‘Happy Birthday,’ is she?” Darcy whispers.

Taking advantage of the darkness, I lean into her as Jack heads in the direction of Kendra’s voice, Sawyer moving away and giving us a second.

I don’t deserve that guy.

“I’m going to go out on a limb here and say she absolutely is. Happy birthday, by the way.”

I don’t know what the fuck possesses me to do it—desperation probably. But the second my lips connect with her forehead, I regret nothing.

She tenses against me, and I interpret it as a good sign. I affect her.

“What are you doing?” she asks quietly. “I don’t think Abbie would appreci?—”

“Forget about Abbie and do me a favor,” I breathe against her soft skin.

I turn my head just as Kendra starts up singing and the rest of the party joins in.

Quickly, I pull away, aware that eyes will be swinging to Darcy, and we’ll soon be visible in the glow from the candles.

“What favor?” she asks.

My heart hammers against my ribs. “Meet me in the spare bedroom opposite the bathroom in five minutes. I’ve got some things I want to say.”

I spin around to face Kendra just as she makes her final approach.

“I’ve got so much I need to tell you,” I finish, hoping Darcy can still hear and she’ll give me the chance to explain what the hell just happened.

CHAPTER EIGHT

DARCY

He’s got a girlfriend.

Well, there’s a revelation I was not expecting when I showed up tonight.