Page 64 of Hang the Moon
He was too engrossed in the conversation to make a quip about how all of this was in confidence. “Okay.”
“Annie’s dating history is... lackluster. She hasn’t had the best experiences. I think she’s afraid of being disappointed. Again.” Darcy frowned. “She’s a little... skittish. I think more so now that she’s realized she really likes you. I just wanted you to know what you’re up against.”
He frowned, nodding slowly. He wouldn’t call them confessions, but some of what Annie had said certainly aligned with what Darcy had said. How, when he’d said the point of his favorite movies was to show that love could conquer all, Anniehad scoffed and said seeing was believing. How she believed romance was dead.
What Annie needed was someone to show her that disappointment wasn’t an inevitability. Someone who knew how to listen. Someone who liked her, not the idea of her like she was worried about.
Not just anyone, but the right someone.
“I won’t disappoint her.”
Her expression softened. “I know you won’t.”
Darcy gave his arm a gentle squeeze on her way out of the kitchen.
Brendon eyed the plate of burned chocolate chip cookies and sad assortment of snacks on the counter before fishing inside his pocket for his phone.
***
“Thank God. I was about to send out a search party,” Darcy teased, waving Annie inside Elle’s apartment.
Annie had spent the day exploring the parts of Pike Place Brendon hadn’t gotten around to showing her last Saturday, namely the lower levels, which gaveeclectica whole new meaning. There was a magic shop, a luggage store, a store dedicated to all things purple—a real head scratcher—and more smoke shops than she could shake a stick at. The hours had flown by and she was still positive she hadn’t explored every nook and cranny the market had to offer.
“Sorry I’m late. Completely lost track of time.” She slipped off her sandals, leaving them beside a haphazard pile of shoesnear the door. “I hope you guys weren’t waiting for me to start.”
A loud shriek came from further inside the apartment.
Darcy winced. “It’s fine. They decided to play Egyptian Ratscrew to pass the time. I’m glad you’re here because it’s starting to get a little... violent.” Her eyes dropped to the shopping bag Annie was holding. “What’s that?”
Annie swung the bag behind her back. “It’s nothing. Just something I saw at the market.”
One of Darcy’s brows rose. “Can I see?”
It was an impulse purchase. A dumb one she was already regretting.
Annie had spotted a colorful-looking store that, in addition to comics, sold movie memorabilia—everything from mugs to action figures to movie screenplays. The script ofWhen Harry Met Sallyhad jumped out at her. Against her better judgment, she’d joined the checkout line with only one thought on her mind, and it was how she was dying to see the look on Brendon’s face when she gave it to him.
It wasn’t supposed to be a big deal. It was a screenplay. A reproduced screenplay. A million other copies existed. She bought her friends gifts all the time, little tokens and trinkets from her travels.I’m thinking of yougifts. Maybe that was why, standing in Elle’s foyer with Darcy staring at her quizzically, it felt like a bigger deal than she’d bargained for.
In her hands was proof that even when he wasn’t around, Annie was thinking of him, and on some level, she wanted him to know it.
“It’s just something I saw in a comic book store,” she said, downplaying it.
“Youfound something you liked in a comic book store.” Darcy sounded skeptical.
“Excuse you, IdevouredtheArchiecomics as a kid. My first crush was on Archie, for crying out loud.”
Darcy’s lips twitched. “Your first crush was on an accident-prone, well-meaning redheaded comic book character with a heart of gold?”
And her point was—
Her face went hot. Huh. The resemblance was uncanny, but she wasn’t about to admit that. “Shut up.”
Darcy held up her hands in supplication. “What’s in the bag, Annie?”
Resistance was futile. “Fine. I saw a thing and it made me think of Brendon.”
Darcy shot her a wicked smirk. “For Brendon, huh?”
