Chapter
Thirty-two
Conversations
& considerations
Rys whined, “Honestly? I considered not
coming once I realized Darcy was going to be here.” Paige looked at Darcy then
and Darcy glared back.
“Well, it’s kind of close to where he
lives…” Paige added with a look of disbelief on her face.
Meanwhile, as Mackenzie tweaked Darcy’s
collar, Darcy couldn’t believe Paige was “so into” Rys Wickam.
“Don’t worry about that little climber,
Darcy. (*Mackenzie called the Bennets ‘climbers’ - as in 'social climbers' - but
Darcy knew differently).
If Paige and Shiloh were really social
climbers, surely they’d be into him?!
If only she knew the truth, Darcy thought
as he changed into his suit in his room which overlooked the barbeque being
served outside the Bingley mansion. If only she knew that in a few weeks he’d
need a fake girlfriend to secure his future and with that security he intended
to not just help himself, but others as well.
It had been bugging him; every time he’d
gone to a certain part of his neighborhood, he’d met the same old, homeless
guy. He’d instructed the housekeeper to take him a box of food but he knew
there had to be more he could do for him. But, of course, he’d never tell other
people about his sudden sense of community obligation.
But of course, Paige would never believe
him anyway. She always seemed to think the worst of him now that they were in
competition with each other and he was supposedly dating Mackenzie.
Oh, Mackenzie! What was he thinking? What
had he been on when he agreed to this sham?
Just a moment ago, she’d tried to follow
him up the stairs and smother him with kisses when there was no one around. He’d
had to use all his strength to pry her pink fingernails off of him.
What was the point of really getting with
Mackenzie? Even her own brother didn’t know that she was nowhere near as
together as she pretended to be.
Just a day ago, they’d made an appearance
at a club organized by his manager. Sure, they’d ended up with their photo on
the web, but it was pretty embarrassing to have to hold her hair back
afterwards, after she’d drank too much or taken too much of something he’d been
unaware of – until she later vomited in the bathroom. It was all his fault – he
should never have agreed to this. Surely a stranger would have been a better
idea?
As he pulled on a fresh shirt, he could
still feel her lips on his skin and had to wipe her pink lipstick from his
neck.
Besides, Mackenzie was so needy. He had to
tell her she looked pretty all the time. He still couldn’t believe he’d been so
quick to agree to her offer. He’d kind of been joking. Well, this is where a
joke got you.
“Darcy? Where’s my little smexy Darcy…”
Oh, no, Mackenzie had followed him with her
little slurring baby voice…
“Mackenzie,” Darcy began… “I don’t think…”
Mackenzie reached up and put her finger on
Darcy’s lips.
“Don’t say another word. If you say another
word there’s gonna be tears, Darcy and you don’t want to ruin my party do you?”
Darcy just shook his head. They only had
one week left of this sham.
Since his grandfather was emailing him (a lot) about a possible summer vacay, he was feeling pretty stressed. She’d have to put on a better act when his grandfather was around, maybe set aside all of this sham relationship rubbish. He’d have to speak to Mackenzie when she was sober about the terms of their contract.
Meanwhile, he couldn’t get Paige out of
his mind, but he knew she’d never have agreed to a sham arrangement.
Of course, it was up to him to take the
high road. He could always call a truce about debate club.
Darcy thought back over the week as
Mackenzie fussed over his jacket.
Sharing detention with Paige the previous
afternoon hadn’t been as bad as he thought it would be. Paige had walked so
near him and been told to take a seat beside him – even though she clearly
wanted to be in the opposite corner of the room. She chewed her pencil when she
studied and always seemed to be thinking truly, interesting thoughts. Paige
really was an outstanding debater. He had to admit to even slightly… admiring
her.
The girl wouldn’t look or even speak to him
but he got a chance to study her in repose and hated to admit to anyone just
how taken he was with her pert nose, creamy skin and intelligent blue eyes. Her
hair was draped high in a ponytail and he couldn’t help but wonder just how
annoyed she’d be if he pulled on it as he left, just to get her attention. He didn’t
because it was probably harassment at his advanced teen age. Besides, he knew
she’d be even madder with him than usual.
…And so, the afternoon had worn on, but it
was the best (only) detention he’d ever had.
As Darcy combed his hair that night of the
party, after changing into the clothes Mackenzie the control freak had picked
for him, Paige’s face played over in his mind, like a film reel that never
ended. He was glad he’d taken photography as an elective. He dreamed of being a
film director and in that moment saw Paige’s face in the final reel. Snap out
of it, he thought, as he hurried down the stairs. He could never tell his
father he wanted to be a film maker. His father was sure he’d study to be a
lawyer, like him, then run take over the companies and buy some of his own. Still,
Los Angeles would be the perfect place to get creative.
Mackenzie tugged on his hand.
“I have a surprise for you,” she said in
her little girl voice… “I hired my own publicist.”
A camera flash went off in his face.
Darcy put his thoughts aside as Bingley’s
sister looked up at him adoringly and fake smiled.
