I’m sitting across from Darcy, smirking as I watch her strategically positioning her phone under the table. She’s replying to the texts I’m sending her but trying not to look like it. It's fucking hilarious to watch, especially when I start baiting her into talking about me. All I have to do is drop the seed and I know she’ll start digging the hole. I get to find out how she really feels about me, though I’m pretty sure I already know the answer to that.
Me: So. How's your family thing going?
Darcy: Boring as hell.
I rub my jaw and examine the newspaper which I have laid out in front of me. It’s the perfect disguise from what I’m really doing under the table—if that doesn’t sound creepy, I’m not sure what does. I sneak a look at Darcy and watch her for a moment as she studies her phone.
Me: So, make your night interesting. Do something crazy.
Darcy: Like what?
Me: Something out of character, that nobody will know you’re doing. Where are you sitting? At a table?
Darcy: Yes. I’m at the dinner table.
Me: What’s something you can do that would shock people?
Darcy: I can start talking Klingon? Yep, I’m that cool.
I cough to stifle a laugh, which gets everyone’s attention when I start spluttering.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “Soda went down the wrong way.” I reach for my coffee and take a sip, just for good measure and ignore the sideways glare Darcy is giving me.
I skillfully slide my phone back into my pocket then I sit back in my chair and study her. I bite back a grin, because she’s got this cheeky little smirk going on as her eyes dart around the room. I don’t care if she sees me watching her now that I’m done texting her for the moment. In fact, I want her to see me, just to freak her out a little more. I get bored when she doesn’t notice so I turn my attention to Mack, who is texting one of his friends. Every few seconds he chuckles to himself and glances at Darcy.
God, I don’t even want to know what’s going on in his head.
What a great family dinner. The two of them are glued to their phones and Dad couldn’t even make it home in time. It kind of defeats the whole purpose of a family dinner, if you ask me. I laugh when I think about all the shit he gave me for not being sure I could make it.
I scowl at the table, because just like that, my mood has gone sour. I study Darcy for a second. She’s staring off into nothingness, a strange expression on her face. I frown as I study her face. She bites her lip and closes her eyes. I’m just about to ask her what the hell she’s doing, when something cold and wet hits the side of my face.
What the fuck?
Mack’s wide eyes lock on mine. Darcy struggles not to laugh as I slowly reach up and wipe the side of my face. I bring my fingers down in front of me to examine the substance.
“Sour cream?” I ask. I stare at Mack like he’s crazy. “You threw sour cream at my face?”
“Yep,” Mack says confidently. “You looked like you needed something refreshing.”
He leans forward and scoops up a handful of salsa, hurling it across the table, right at my face.
“There,” Mack grins at me. “Now, all you need are some corn chips, and you’re set.”
“Oh, you’re so dead,” I growl.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Darcy dipping her hands into the cream, then she takes aim at the both of us. She ducks behind a chair to shield herself from my shot back at her.
“I’m pretty sure you missed,” she taunts. “Maybe try throwing it underarm?”
“Oh, yeah?” I ask.
I get up, walk around the table, scooping up a handful of dip before grabbing hold of Darcy’s arm and swinging her against me. She screams as I smoosh it right into the middle of her face, covering as much surface as I can.
“There,” I smirk, her face inches from mine. She pants heavily, her lips slightly open, then she starts to laugh. “I didn’t miss you that time, did I?” I murmur.
We both look up as Paula walks in. She stops in her tracks and stares at us. In her hands, she cradles a bowl of what looks like strawberry mousse. Mack’s dark eyes gleam as he turns to Darcy.
“Fifty dollars if you let me watch you and your friend fight in a tub full of that.” He smirks at her. “You know, the hot friend from poker last night.”
I chuckle, half listening to them argue as I step back. I dig my phone out from my pocket and discreetly open my messages, all while keeping my eyes on Darcy and Mack. I’d mastered the art of discreetly texting after years of doing it through classes, only tonight I stare at Darcy for a little too long. She looks up and catches me watching her. I wink.