It was also the reason Xavier fucking Greene was already on the team, and I was just a prospect.
That was all going to change with the new and improved Kane in a relationship now, wasn’t it? I needed her to play the part of doting love interest to my devoted Lothario, or whatever the hell it was. Anyway, end of the day, I would be smelling like goddamned roses while Darcy got props for a well-written glowing article on yours truly.
Everyone goes merrily on their way.
“Don’t overwork that last brain cell, there, Dory.” Her head tilted toward me, brows furrowed in mock concern.
“Did you just compare me to a cartoon fish with amnesia?”
Her white teeth flashed in a quick smile as she shrugged. “Just keep swimming.”
“Your reference is outdated.”
“Your face is outdated.”
We both barked a laugh. Darcy’s smile faded too soon, replaced by a stillness that reminded me of the look I thought I saw in her earlier.
“What can I get you guys to eat?” The waitress stood at the end of the table, pen and pad poised.
The moment broken, we ordered enough food to feed twice our number, and I saw the moment Darcy resigned herself to having dinner with three men instead of just the one that she had planned. So much for finishing the night in bed with the guy, huh, Darcy? Did I feel bad about the clam jam? Hell no. It was a happy byproduct of us maintaining the image of our relationship that we had yet to announce.
Besides, if I had to be celibate, she could damn well join me in the pain.
We sat in silence for a while, listening to Randy kiss Cody’s ass to the point where I was sure my buddy would have hickies.
It was around the time our meal arrived that I decided I’d done Darcy a favor. As trays of steaming hot pizza, and bowls of pasta were loaded onto the space between us, Cody shot me a look that swore retribution before leaning in for yet another selfie with Darcy’s date. The dude must have taken a separate photo to use as a profile pic for every social media outlet he was on.
I mean, I had fans, but this was a FAN. Cody was probably going to kill me after we got out of here.
Worth it, I thought as I watched Darcy in her smoking hot LBD slurp a long strand of pasta. The noodle whipped around her face, leaving streaks of red sauce on her cheekbone, nose, and chin. Wiping a hand down my face to hide my grin, I studiously turned my attention to my slice of pepperoni deep pan and reached down to subtly adjust the tightening in my jeans. Christ. I hadn’t popped a boner since… fuck. Since I was dating Darcy in high school.
Across the table, Cody’s cell let out a loud chirp, and the guy lunged for the hunk of metal like it held the elixir of life.
“Hey, I gotta bounce. Dinner’s on me, guys. Bryson, you coming with? Or you wanna keep playing interference on these two lovebirds?”
Now it was my eyes narrowing at my asshole best friend. “Just looking after my girl,” I gritted out, falling short of the light tone I was aiming for.
Darcy huffed beside me. “Not your girl. And yes, Cody, he is going with you. Actually, it’s about time I headed off myself. Thank you for a lovely night, Randy. I’ll call you.”
While Casanova gaped at the spitfire beside me, she pushed from her seat and headed for the exit. It shouldn’t have been sexy the way she pulled at the hem of her skirt, but I had long ago resigned myself to the fact I was tremendously attracted to the woman. But physical attraction didn’t mean I should have anything to do with her.
While the three of us trailed in her wake, Darcy strode through the restaurant, catching the eye of our waitress without missing a step. “Thanks, Tia, the food was amazing. Football Star back there is picking up the bill, and he’s leaving a thirty percent tip for you. Bye!”
The waitress laughed and waved, turning her attention to Cody as he peeled off toward the register. Without thinking too hard about it, I blew out the door right behind Darcy, catching up to her quickly. She may have been determined, but her legs were half the length of mine, at least. Slowing to a walk as I came parallel with her, it felt like the most natural thing in the world to drop an arm around her shoulder. The elbow in the side wasn’t completely unexpected, but she was so quick with the jab-and-step-away routine that I still had to take a moment to rub my poor abused ribs.
“Rule number one. No touching,” she said, eyes fixed ahead as though she were trying to bring her apartment building closer through sheer force of will.
This was wrong. As the thought occurred to me, I slowed until my feet ceased their forward momentum completely. Darcy didn’t have the same problem. Her stride was strong and surprisingly long given the height of the heels on her feet.
“What happened to us?”
Her shoulders tightened, and while she stopped, she didn’t turn to face me right away. A group of people pushed past her, forcing her to back up against the window of the bakery we were stopped in front of. Cakes, macaroons, and pastries, all the colors of the rainbow framed her, highlighting her monochromatic appearance. Pale skin, pale hair, black dress. Beautiful.
The group of guys parted around me and continued on with their night as I closed the distance between us again.
“Darcy—”
“We were kids, Kane. Don’t get some rosy idea about what, ultimately, was nothing but a case of puppy love. I’m over it, and I suggest you do the same.”
