Page 6 of Trick or Trouble
“I noticed that,” Holly replied dryly.“But I said I’d go—so I did.Denise’s dad was supposed to have picked her up over an hour ago at the diner, but he wasn’t there.We were walking towards Rachel’s house when we saw you guys.”She shivered slightly.
Logan studied her silently, and Darcy almost felt sorry for him.“All right,” he spoke at last.“I’ll let your dad deal with you.Prepare to be grounded until the next millennium if I know my brother.”
Darcy's stomach chose that moment to growl like a thunderstorm intent on significant damage.
“Sounds like you missed dinner,” he said with a grin as Holly rolled her eyes and huffed off down the hallway.“I have some leftover spaghetti if you’re interested.”
“I might be,” Darcy admitted grudgingly.Spaghetti sounded heavenly at the moment.She looked around at the modern kitchen, done in cool blues that blended seamlessly into the living room décor, featuring a plush navy sofa and matching recliners.It was a beautiful home with an island in the kitchen and a family dining table in front of sliding glass windows hung with long, flat blinds.The cabinetry had been remodeled in a French style, and the flooring consisted of blueish-gray tiles.
Logan handed her his phone.“You can sit at the bar and make your call,” he told her, “I have water or sweet tea if you’d like a drink.”
“Tea, please,” Darcy replied, taking the phone.She watched him furtively as he moved about the kitchen with quick, efficient movements.Briefly, she wondered how it would feel to have him caring for her all the time.Nah.Men wanted to be taken care of, not the other way around.
She shoved those useless thoughts aside and punched in the number for her current boyfriend.There was no point in calling her roommate—Pamela was undoubtedly hooked up with whichever boyfriend had spent the most money on her lately.She couldn’t keep up with her romantic exploits and didn’t bother to try.
But Pamela did help with the rent.Darcy spent most nights with Doug at his place, but wasn’t about to give up her apartment, no matter how much Doug whined.Call her paranoid, but she wasn’t ready to commit to giving up her independence—it was her escape hatch.
Especially lately.
Impatient, she drummed her fingers on the table as she waited for him to pick up.Finally, after the 5thring, he answered.
“Hello?”
“Doug...hi...it’s me, Darcy.”
“Where the devil are you, Darcy?I’m falling asleep here waiting for you to get home.Do you realize how late it is?”His voice was querulous and complaining.Nothing new there.
She rolled her eyes even though he couldn’t see her.“I know, I got tied up over here in the Birmingdale area on a case, and my car’s been stripped.They stole my purse, too.Can you come and get me?”
“It’s almost midnight, and Birmingdale is two hours away.You know I hate driving at night, and I’m extra tired tonight.Can’t you get a hotel room or something?”
“And how am I supposed to pay for that?”
“Just get the room, and I can bring you some money in the morning,” he growled impatiently.
“And with no car, how do I get to a hotel?My car’s stripped, remember?”
“If it weren’t for that sleazy job you refuse to give up, you wouldn’t be in this predicament,” he shot back.
The exasperation in Doug’s voice fired her temper.No,“Are you ok, babe?”No,“What happened to your car?”Nothing.Just that same put-out tone as if she’d caught him in the middle of something important—like watching Netflix.
Lately, it felt like every time she asked him for anything, it was always inconvenient.However, it was a federal crisis when he needed something, and she was supposed to drop everything and come running.The disenchantment with him that had begun months ago finally came to a head.Her ‘I’ve had enough meter’just hit the red zone.
“You know what?Never mind,” she snapped.“Just forget it, Doug, don’t put yourself out for my sake.I’ll find my own way home tonight and every other night.We’re through.”She viciously jabbed the off button to hang up the phone.
She was so done with Doug.Test it with a fork, done.
Still, she stared at the phone.Just in case he called back.
He didn’t.
Loser.
She rubbed her forehead with tired fingers.Maybe Pamela would accidentally be home.She dialed her apartment number.After the tenth ring, she hung up and dialed her roommate’s cellphone—no answer.She’d already expected that.Pamela rarely answered her cell phone on dates; she preferred not to be interrupted.
Should she try her mom?She lived three hours away, though, and didn’t see well at night—probably not a good idea.Her best friend, Amy, lived in another state—no help there.
Darcy didn’t have many people she could turn to.Getting close to someone meant letting your guard down, and that wasn’t an option.
