That was to say – she got hit on a lot. And she’d long trained herself to be impervious from that kind of thing. She’d dabbled in reciprocating men’s attention in her teenage years, and it never did anything for her. All she’d been able to do when she’d have sex with men was think about how she could either be working on her music at that moment, or even justworking.
Color her shocked when the businesswoman from Nashville had turned on the charm and Darcy had felt a little dumbstruck by how much she’dfeltit.
But Blythe didn’t know that.
She’d always figured she’d tell Blythe when there was something to really tell. It wasn’t like she was in a relationship with any of the women she had sex with who were passing through.
Besides, what would be the purpose?
All Blythe would do was turn her attention to Darcy getting into a relationship with a woman, instead of a man. When the reality was that Darcy only wanted something physical. Her deepest feelings, her most vulnerable thoughts… that was all still dedicated to her music.
Nothing and no one would distract her from The Goal.
Now, she’d obtained The Goal, and her unhealthy fixation was on how to maintain it.
“Oh? Can you guess?” Blythe asked, dragging Darcy from her thoughts just as she reached the bistro.
Darcy clicked her tongue in mock-disappointment. “Ohhh, you know what? I just arrived for lunch.”
“Ugh.” Blythe immediately switched gears. “Are you prepared to set aside your differences?”
She was using Eliana’s exact phrase from when Eliana had brought this lunch to Darcy’s attention yesterday. In her firm, no-nonsense way, she’d told Darcy that she was going to be able to record a song on Shelby Linwood’s tribute album, provided she made her “overdue” peace with Juliet.
Darcy had nearly fallen out of her chair at the Shelby news.
And she was accepting of her fate, regarding the second piece of news.
Especially when Eliana had given her a stern, grounding look as she’d delivered her final blow: “I’m going to level with you here. Juliet’s career is tried and true; she’s been around for almost ten years. She’s survived flops. Your mutual fanbase loves her. Your star is on the rise right now, and the last thing you need is for that fanbase to eventually turn on you. And sooner or later, that’s how this goes. The tides will turn on one of you, and yes, maybe it could be Juliet. But do you want to flip that coin?”
The competitive part inside of her wanted to say yes.
But, she hadn’t because the part of her that wasn’t an idiot knew it was reckless.
She paused before she opened the door to the restaurant, and she took a long, deep breath. Centering herself. And she said the same thing to Blythe that she’d said to Eliana: “I’m prepared to call a truce if Juliet is.”
After all, Juliet had started this damn thing! Not Darcy.
“Darce…” Blythe trailed off with the faintest hint of disapproval. “Look, she’s not going to be a monster. You two areboththere to call a truce about a ridiculous media scuffle that’s been blown out of proportion. Youbothwant to do this song, even if it’s together. I’m sure it’s going to be fine. I’m also sure that’s the mentality you should have going into this.”
The thing was, Blythe had always been better at politicking than Darcy was. And she knew her sister was right.
Juliet had agreed to this, too. If she was here, she had to be ready to get over whatever the hell this thing was, too.
… right?
After all, Juliet didn’tneedthe boost with the Shelby Linwood song the way Darcy did. Juliet’s career, despite the rollercoaster of critical success, was years long. She wasn’t still hungry and clawing the way Darcy was.
“You’re right,” she conceded. “Juliet probably wants to put this adolescent crap behind us, too.”
Darcy sincerely hoped so.
It had taken just about everything inside of her not to hit back after Juliet had posted her song response to Darcy, especially after the ridiculously catchy remix had been made. But Eliana had been on top of her not to and so had Emerson and Blythe.
Specifically, Emerson, who had very patiently, very calmly – as was her specialty – allowed Darcy to vent out her feelings every time she felt the knee-jerk reaction to blast Juliet right the fuck back.
Look in the mirror and admit you love living in a man’s world.
Juliet’s accusation lived inhermind, rent-free. Like. Fuck her.