The urge came over me to turn the vehicle up the hill. I didn’t like how Robin and I had left things. I really had begun to accept him as a friend. A sly, devious, and lecherous friend that was looking out for number one, but if I could befriend Ursula, then I could deal with Robin’s antics.
My hands clenched the steering wheel tightly. Darcy would help me figure out what to say to smooth it over. And then I would stop by and see Grammy and my mother, maybe have them up for dinner.
Darcy was just coming down the steps to her house when I pulled up to the curb. Not wanting to leave the warmth of the SUV, I rolled down the window and called out. “Need a ride, little girl?”
Her head snapped up from where she’d been rooting through her purse. “Joey?”
“In the flesh.” I grinned.
She stared at me sans reciprocating smile. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see you.” Why was she being so standoffish? That wasn’t Darcy’s style at all.
“I have somewhere to be.” She turned her back and headed towards her Subaru.
My jaw dropped. What was going on? An emergency maybe. I rolled up the window and then slid out of the SUV. “Is it the kids? I’ll come with you.”
She sighed. “If you must know, I have a job interview.”
“Job interview? What about your doggy costume business?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Look, I don’t want to be late. Mike and I need this. I’m sure you’ve heard that he lost his job. Or maybe you didn’t. When was the last time you left your fortress on the hill?”
What was with all the animosity? First Robin and now Darcy? “Look, if you need money I can—”
“Do not finish that sentence.” Her eyes flashed with a warning.
I held out my hands helplessly. “Darcy, we’re best friends. If I can help you out of a jam, I want to.”
“Best friends?” She laughed but it held no humor. “Since when? We haven’t spoken in years.”
“Years?” Horror filled me at the thought.
“Twenty four years to be exact. Right around the time, you decided that screwing Billy Tate was more important to you than I was.”
“No.” That couldn’t be. I needed Darcy.
“You know I tried. After the accident that ended Billy’s football career and he moved away, I tried to talk to you. But then you were too busy being an elite gymnast. You didn’t have time for me or anyone.”
“That’s not true.” She was my rock, the person who made me laugh and see the bright side even when I didn’t believe there was one. I always made time for Darcy.
“Believe what you want.” She yanked open her car door and inserted the key, giving the engine time to warm up. I rushed around the front of the car and to the driver’s side before she could drive away. The wind tugged stray blonde hairs out of her untidy bun.
I curled my fingers over the top of the car door so she couldn’t shut it. “Please wait. I just want to talk. There are things you don’t know about and I really need someone to talk to.”
“That’s it? One day you just drive up and park in front of my house and I’m supposed to drop everything and be your sounding board?” She shook her head in obvious disgust. “Grow up, Joey. We aren’t kids anymore.”
She yanked the door out of my grip and slammed it in my face.
I watched helplessly as she drove off without a backward glance.
Chapter 16
On wooden legs, I returned to the SUV and then sat there, stunned. Damn it. I knew that fight young Joey had had with Darcy was new to this timeline but I didn’t think it would have caused such a rift between us.
My head reeled from all the information she’d dumped on me. I didn’t have time for her because of the Olympics. That sounded bitter as hell. Like she was jealous of my success.
The more I thought about it, the more sense it made. Sure, I’d made a mistake with Bill Tucker and I had been a bitch to her about it. I’d heard the conversation firsthand. But to blame my elite training for the downfall of our friendship? My career had lasted maybe four years after high school at the very most. She could have tried harder in the intervening years.
I was so busy rationalizing what had just occurred that