three until six. Mom will wait there and then chew me out on the way home.”
Robin nodded, though his brows were pulled together in deep concentration.
“What?” I asked him. “What is it?”
He shook his head and then pasted on a fake smile. “Nothing for you to trouble yourself over? Do you have a plan?”
I swallowed. “Yeah.”
He didn’t pry. “Good, I will return at seven.”
Without another word, he vanished.
“Can’t wait.” I blew out a breath. His sudden avoidance reminded me of George’s behavior in the weeks leading up to his confession. Eager to be away from me, nervous and twitchy when we were together. I knew all the signs of a guilty conscience. The question was, what else was Robin hiding from me?
My stomach growled, loudly. Diet would start as soon as I got back to my own time. Although maybe my new self would be in better shape. Having wheatgrass smoothies and drinking green tea instead of gorging on ice cream-enhanced coffee. Either way, the new diet would start as soon as I returned to the future. For now, I decided to raid the fridge.
I struck gold when I discovered half an apple crumb pie on the top shelf. I popped it in the microwave to warm and had just settled down with it at the small table in the kitchen when the back door opened.
“Thought I would find you here. Did it work?” Darcy asked as she dropped her backpack down beside the table. “Did you get there in time?”
“According to me, yes. The other me, I mean.” I tucked into the pie and around a mouthful asked, “Where’s Ursula?”
“She had to get home, though she said she would come by later. Which is weird as hell, because, are we really going to start hanging out with Ursula Green?”
“She’s been through a lot.” And there was more to come. I debated telling Darcy about the fae prince who had both me and Ursula in his sights, but decided she’d had her world upended more than enough for one day.
“Yeah, she has.” Darcy headed for the silverware drawer and snagged a fork for herself. “I know you’re going to share that since you couldn’t have made it happen without me.”
I grinned at her. “Darc, promise me you’ll never change.”
She made an x over her chest. “Cross my heart and hope to die. Stick a big, rubber dildo in my eye. Slightly used, natch.”
We laughed and then finished the pie.
Outside, a car door slammed.
I frowned and glanced at the microwave display. “It’s only three-thirty.”
Darcy got up and headed to the door. “It’s the other you and your mom. And she looks massively pissed.”
Crap. “Which one? Me or Mom?”
She shrugged. “Take your pick.”
I glanced around and then made an executive decision and headed for the cellar door. “Mom doesn’t know about me.”
Darcy nodded. “Secret’s safe with me, babe.”
The dank oppressiveness of the root cellar swallowed me just as I heard the back door open and my mother said, “Darcy, what are you doing here?”
My bestie was fast on her feet and said, “I brought over my chem notes for Joey. Since she missed class.”
I winced. Probably better not to bring that up.
“That’s very considerate,” Mom’s voice sounded tight. “I’m just going to change before Paul gets here and then we need a little family time.”
“Uh, sure,” Darcy said.
The sound of my mother’s heels clicking on the hardwoods echoed as she headed down the hall to her bedroom.
I debated emerging from my hiding spot, but then Joey said, “I can’t believe you helped her.”
“Me?” Darcy’s tone was incredulous. “I can’t believe you went off with that tool Bill Tucker to some shag shack without telling me.”
“He’s not a tool,” young Joey said with more heat than I would have anticipated. “And where do you get off being mad at me? You’re the one who ratted me out to my mother.”
“’Scuse me for being worried about you.” Darcy’s voice dripped with scorn.
“Did you know Mom pulled me out of gymnastics for a week? And I’m grounded through Halloween.”
I sucked in a sharp breath at her words. No. If I didn’t qualify for elite status this year, I’d never make it to the Olympics. I needed to do those 40 hours a week with dedication and focus. A week out of the gym would put me at a serious disadvantage.
“Well, maybe you should have thought of that before you ran off with the tool.” There was a scuffing sound, followed by the slam of the