Written in the Stars(11)

The plan was perfect . . . as long as Brendon didn’t actually say anything to Elle.

“Look.” Darcy sat straighter, staring him down, or up as it was. He might’ve been taller, but she was his big sister and he’d be ill advised to forget. “No meddling, all right? Don’t say anything to her. I don’t want you messing this up.”

“Me? Meddle?” Brendon held a hand up to his chest as if affronted.

“Brendon.”

He rolled his eyes. “Geez, Darce, chill. I’m not going to say anything. It was honestly a stroke of luck that I overheard her talking about how difficult dating is. Was, I guess.”

He shot her the world’s most god-awful wink, both eyes closing. He’d have her married off within the year if he had his way.

“I mean it.” She pinned him with a stare. “I’ve got this. Thank you, but you’ve done enough, okay?”

He shook his head. “You really like her, don’t you?”

It didn’t matter if she liked Elle. Chances were, they’d never see each other again. But if Darcy played her cards right, she could keep Brendon off her back—perhaps not indefinitely, but at least long enough to avoid several weeks of pointless speed dating.





Chapter Three


What Brunch Food Are You Based on Your Zodiac?

Aries—Spicy Chorizo Hash

Taurus—Monte Cristo Sandwich

Gemini—Chicken and Waffles

Cancer—Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal

Leo—Strawberries and Cream Stuffed French Toast

Virgo—Spinach and Egg White Omelet with Whole Wheat Toast

Libra—2 Pancakes x 2 Eggs x 2 Slices of Bacon

Scorpio—Bottomless Bloody Mary

Sagittarius—Belgian Liege Waffles

Capricorn—Acai Chia Pudding Smoothie Bowl

Aquarius—Baked Egg Danish with Kimchi and Bacon

Pisces—Giant Cinnamon Roll

Elle. Elle.”

Elle tore her eyes from the notes app on her phone. Across the table, Mom stared at her, dark brows raised expectantly. Pen poised over a notepad, their waiter smiled tightly.

“Oh, shoot, sorry.” Elle tossed her phone on the seat beside her and scooped the laminated menu off the table, scanning it quickly. Everything sounded delicious and the smells wafting from the kitchen weren’t helping her make up her mind. Fresh brewed coffee. Maple syrup drizzled over banana nut pancakes. Sticky cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven. Bacon. Oh man, bacon. She wanted it all, right now, her stomach unleashing a vicious grumble of agreement. She licked her lips. Hunger transformed Elle into an instant-gratification seeking Veruca Salt, albeit hopefully less bitchy. “Um, I’ll have the cinnamon sugar crepes with raspberry jam and— Ooh, do you have whipped cream?”

The waiter nodded and scribbled down the order. “Sure.”

“Elle.” Mom pursed her lips, the elevens between her eyebrows deepening.

“Scratch the whipped cream?” She grinned, eyes darting between Mom who looked torn between amusement and exasperation, and the waiter who’d begun tapping the end of his pen against his pad.

“You’re going to be in a carb coma all day, honey.”

“Which is why I was ordering whipped cream. Dairy equals protein.”

Mom rolled her eyes and reached for her green tea latte.

Elle shrugged at the waiter. “I’ll have a side of scrambled eggs, too, please.”

The waiter nodded and hurried off to the back of the crowded restaurant.

“How’s Margot?”

“Good. She’s been moderating this fic fest for rare pairs in one of her Harry Potter fanfiction groups and there were triple the number of entries than anticipated, but her new foray into rock-climbing seems to be helping with her stress. And her belay instructor is super cute, so.” Elle grabbed her peppermint mocha and blew on it. “Yeah, she’s good.”

Tongue poking the inside of her cheek, Mom nodded slowly. “I understood most of that.”

Elle sniffed theatrically and wiped away a fake tear. “I’m so proud.”

“Cute.” Mom took a sip of her latte before setting it aside. “It’s funny that you mentioned rock-climbing, actually.”

“Is it?”

“Lydia’s boyfriend, Marcus, is an avid rock-climber. Loves hiking, too. He’s gotten your sister into it.”

“Lydia goes hiking? Our Lydia?” The idea of her sister in a pair of hiking boots was too much for Elle to wrap her head around. Lydia who refused to admit she sweated, instead referring to perspiration as glistening. Not that Elle was inclined to hit the gym, but come on. “Wait, back up. Lydia has a new boyfriend? Since when?”

When Mom’s brows did the forehead equivalent of a shrug, Elle was in trouble. “Marcus isn’t new. If you hadn’t missed the past three family dinners, maybe you’d be up to speed.”

Elle’s molars clacked together. She’d heard similar iterations of the same chastisement on the phone. “I’ve been super swamped with—” The deal with OTP, but Mom didn’t know that and Elle wasn’t sure she was ready to broach that subject on the heels of hearing about Lydia’s new—to her—boyfriend. “Life. I’ve been super swamped with life. Adulting. Bills, taxes, existential doom. You never told me it was such a drag.”