Hiring Mr. Darcy - Valerie Bowman Page 0,57
across her chest.
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m packing.” He pulled the suitcase into the living room, hoisted it onto the leather club chair and opened it.
“Ever heard of folding?” she drawled as he dumped the laundry he’d left on the couch into his suitcase.
“Folding is for suckers.” Luke pointed to himself with a thumb. “And I ain’t no sucka.”
Ellie rolled her eyes. “I suppose we should be glad that you actually washed them first.”
“Who said I washed them first, Nurse Jackie?” Luke asked, batting his eyelashes at her.
She opened her mouth to retort, but I jumped in. “I can assure you, he did wash them.”
“Why ya gotta bust me out like that, Meg?” Luke replied, grinning at me. “I wanted Judgey the Nurse to think I was gonna take dirty clothes to Nashville.”
“How long will you be gone?” Ellie asked him, taking a small sip of her wine.
“Six nights.”
“Oh, so not long enough then,” she shot back.
“Just long enough to get a record deal out of it.” He gave her a smug smile and zipped up his suitcase.
Jeremy and I exchanged exasperated looks. “Don’t worry,” I said to Jeremy. “They’re always like this.”
“I’m done packing,” Luke announced before Jeremy could reply. “And Remington and I are off to play one last round of poker with the guys before I leave in the morning.”
I shook my head and pushed my glasses up my nose. “Don’t beat them all too badly.”
“I’ve got to. I need cash for my trip,” Luke said.
“You use poker games as your ATM machine?” Ellie sneered.
“I never thought of it quite that way before but yes, I suppose I do,” Luke replied. “Easier than earning it the old-fashioned way.”
“You mean by actually working,” Ellie said.
Luke shrugged. “I’m working. I’m using my brain to make money. What’s wrong with that?”
“Break it up, you two,” I finally said.
Jeremy pulled Luke toward the front door. I gave him a grateful look before turning to my best friend. “Ellie, come upstairs with me. I need to start packing too.”
“’Kay,” Ellie said. “I’m tired of trading insults with Rockabilly anyway.”
“Don’t miss me too much, Hoffman,” Luke said as we started up the stairs to my bedroom. “Meg, wait.”
I paused on the third stair while Ellie continued to the top of the staircase. Luke came jogging over to me, leaving Jeremy waiting by the front door.
“I’m leaving for the airport early tomorrow so I probably won’t see you before I go.” Luke rested his palms on the tops of my shoulders. “Don’t let ‘em give you any crap over there.”
I frowned. “Who?” I glanced at Jeremy, whose hands were folded in front of him. He was conspicuously looking at the rug in front of the door.
“Dr. Strangelove and Megan Fox,” Luke replied.
“What do you mean?” I wasn’t entirely sure what my brother was getting at, but I had a feeling he was being sweet and brotherly and I did not want to cry.
“I just mean that you explain away bad behavior sometimes. Don’t do it. Give them hell, not the other way around,” Luke said.
“Got it, Luke.” I nodded, tears springing to my eyes regardless.
“Aww,” Ellie said from above us. “That was actually sweet. If I didn’t know any better, I might not think you were such a deadbeat after that speech, Rockabilly.”
“Shut it, Hoffman,” Luke growled, not looking at her.
I patted Luke on the shoulder, and continued up the stairs. Once Ellie and I reached my bedroom, I made my way over to my closet and pulled out my small roller bag and my giant going-someplace-for-ten-days mama suitcase. I wouldn’t be in England for ten whole days, but the Regency costumes necessitated the use of the serious luggage. I pulled both empty suitcases over to my bed and hauled them up. Then I went back to the closet to gather all of the Regency clothing that I’d been working on for the last year. Arms full, I waddled over to the bed and deposited it all on the mattress next to the suitcases. Seeing it altogether in one spot like that made me realize how much hard work it had been. I’d made all the clothing by hand so it would be more authentic. I’d spent hours and hours sewing, pricked my fingers countless times. I’d drawn blood, even. I deserved to go to this competition and have a shot at winning. Harrison, Lacey, and Dr. Holmes could suck it.
“You don’t have to wear a corset, do you?” Ellie asked,