“It—can I talk?”
Darcy gave a tight nod.
“It makes sense, but I’m not upset. You needed a fresh start and I couldn’t be happier for you. You moved on and you met Elle and you have a whole life here. That’s how it’s supposed to be. That’s what I wanted for you when you decided to move to Seattle.”
“Yes, but—let me be selfish, okay?” Darcy gave a wet laugh and wiped under her eyes, her mascara smudging. “I wantyouto be a part of my life here, too. I want to have my cake and eat it, too, Annie.”
Fuck. She pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Darcy sniffled and shifted closer until they were pressed together, hip to hip, thigh to thigh. She rested her hand on Annie’s back and rubbed soothing circles between her shoulder blades.
“Is this about my brother?” she asked quietly.
Annie lifted her head and blew her hair out of her face with a sharp sigh. “I don’t know.”
Without question, Brendon contributed to her confusion. She’d be remiss if she didn’t acknowledge him as the driving force behind her reevaluation of her choices, of what she thought she wanted. Beyond that, he inspired feelings in her she’d sworn off and elevated her expectations, and it was terrifying and exciting and all happening sofast.
“I came to Seattle to tell you I was moving. A bon voyage. I’ve been here less than two weeks and I’m questioning everything.” She groaned and let her head drop back on her shoulders. “I’m seriously considering changing all my plans afterdays, Darcy. I have a job lined up in London and it’s what I thought I wanted and now... I don’t know if that’s what I want anymore.”
“If London isn’t what you want, what’s your alternative?”
Annie covered her face with a hand. “I could turn down the promotion and stay on with Brockman and Brady in the Philadelphia office. Problem with that is, I already have a sublet lined up. I would need to find a new apartment. Stat.”
“Or”—Darcy took a deep breath—“you could pack up all of your things and move here.”
Until two weeks ago, moving to London had beenthe plan, the only one she’d had. But that wasn’t true anymore. She had options. Options that terrified her but thrilled her, too. Options that feltrightin a way that moving to London didn’t.
She let herself think about it. Not just a peripheral glimpse at what the future might hold before she tore her eyes away, too afraid of staring it down. This time, she forced herself to confront it, head-on. What it would be like, living in Seattle, making a life here. Calling this city home.
There’d be no need to cross days off on a calendar. Sure, she’d have to fly back to Philadelphia and take care of things, tie up loose ends, put her plans in motion, figure out the finer details, but she could be back in the blink of an eye, and all of this? Darcy, not just a phone call away, but within driving distance. Game nights and spectacularly strange shopping tripswith Elle. Nights with Brendon on his couch, laughing until she cried and her stomach ached. Exploring the city and discovering Brendon, letting him discover her.
Annie stared up at the ceiling. “I could.”
“Wait.” Darcy shoved Annie’s shoulder.Hard.“Are you serious?”
Annie laughed. “I said I could. Not that I was going to.”
“So it’s a maybe?”
Annie nodded slowly.
“What do you need to turn thatmaybeinto ayes?”
“A crystal ball?” Annie joked, pressing her fingertips to her right temple. Her head was beginning to hurt. “A glimpse into the future would help.”
Darcy frowned. “Look, I don’t believe in astrology, but if you need me to ask Elle—”
“I was kidding. What I need is far harder to come by. A plan. A job.”
She had enough money in savings to swing a few months in limbo, but that was it.
Darcy waved her hand like it was no big deal. “We can find you a job. Easy. You have references, experience.” She pursed her lips. “I bet I could get you an interview at Devereaux and Horton. I think our HR department might be hiring.”
That was nice and all but... “I don’t know if I want to work in HR anymore.”
If—and it was a big, up-in-the-airif—she was starting over, she might as well look for a job she actually liked.
“Okay.” Darcy nodded, taking Annie’s confession in stride. “If not HR, what?”
