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CHAPTER FIFTY ONE
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THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER FIFTY TWO
I fumble into the house after unlocking the door and allowing it to crash shut behind me as I enter. Before I let go of my luggage, I set it down on the ground. My entire body is trembling, and I have no idea what Rory is trying to accomplish here.Who dares to show up like this after months have passed with no prior warning?He screams the name "DARCY." As I look, I notice his body leaning against the glass panel that runs down the side of the wooden frame, making it increasingly difficult to catch my breath. My palm goes over my lips as I think about it."Rory, what exactly are you doing in this room?" I inquire while looking through the see-through glass. He cannot see me when I touch the area where his hair is pressed against the pillow.I have an intense want to get my hands on him.He responds, "As of just this moment, I am a bona fide resident of Manchester."Is it true that he relocated here? Why?After giving myself a few moments to gather my thoughts, I eventually opened the
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER FIFTY THREE
Even after a long soak in the tub and three gins, my thoughts are still racing, and Rory is the subject of almost everyone. Half an hour ago, he texted me, but I could not force myself to read it; nevertheless, I am now prepared to do so."Hey, that was uncomfortable; I hope I haven't messed it up!"In response, I pull out my lower lip, but it turns out that my reaction is only a shock reflex. Now that the first shock has worn off, I regret telling him to go."No, I'm sorry, it surprised me," she replied. I was at a loss for words regarding my response."I should have kept you updated. I believed you would attempt to stop me," she said. "I assumed you would try to stop me.""All I have ever wanted was for you to be close to me, but I didn't want you to give up everything for me. I can't offer you everything you want because I have a lot going on, and I need to focus on Lucas.""As long as you're in my life, I'll take what I can get" is something that people often say."OMG, where have
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR
At work, all I can think about is Rory and that belt—how he took it out of his jeans and created handcuffs for himself by buckling the belt around his hands. Fuck me. I can't stop thinking about that. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps, and I have to bite down on my pen to keep my excitement in check."Hello, earth to Darcy," Kerry yells, jerking me out of my thoughts and bringing me back to the present."I'm sorry. May I ask what that was?” I ask."What the devil could have happened to make you smile like that?" She questions. I wasn't even aware that I was smiling; it was just so difficult to keep from doing so whenever I thought about him. I have come to the conclusion that I have no choice but to share this piece of knowledge with Kerry."If I tell you something, will you promise to keep your judgments to yourself and let me figure things out on my own?""Holy sh*t, what in the hell have you gotten yourself into?I smile and ask, "More like who,"She gets up, walks over
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE
The next half an hour is spent looking out over the inky black waters that surround Southeast Asia. As I flip through the channels on the television, looking for something else to watch, I observe, "Well, those ugly things have put me off deep-sea diving.""If I use the restroom in your house, will I wake up, Lucas?"" Rory inquires.I chuckle and say, "No, that kid could sleep through an atomic blast."As he walks out of the room, all he is wearing is his jeans, and I watch him leave. It's kind of him to want to hang out with me and do nothing more than speak and watch TV, but the truth is that I'm so intrigued by him that all I can think about is stripping him down. When he returns, I try to engage him in conversation, but it feels strange. We discussed the recently moved into the apartment. He gives a pleasant-sounding account of the things he has recently acquired. He is employed at an engineering firm located a short distance away, and he stated he is having a good time there. Wh
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER FIFTY SIX
My thoughts keep returning to Rory even as I sit here with Lucas, watching reruns of Peppa Pig at seven in the morning. I woke up three times during the previous night to check my phone, but there was no communication. It scares me that I might have to be the one to give in."I am sorry about what happened last night." I text. When it shows as read, it takes me by surprise. After that, I am irritated when he does not answer for more than half an hour."Me too. Are we still planning on getting together tonight?"I give some thought to keeping him waiting, but the truth is that I'm trying to avoid these kinds of games and all the drama that isn't necessary. So I immediately responded to his text with, "Yes, 7 pm?""Until then, x," you said. The tone of a text message can be easily misunderstood. I prefer the traditional method of calling someone; you can learn much more from their voice than from a text message.I'm looking forward to the date tonight, but at the same time, I can't help
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN
He made reservations for us at an incredible tapas restaurant, and I ate some of the very best foods I have ever had in my life there. I don't understand how he has only been living in this city for a few weeks, but he already knows where the best place to eat is. The first bar we go to is one that I am also unfamiliar with, but it turns out to be a superb pick with an amazing variety of drinks and an atmosphere to match.As we finish our fifth or possibly sixth round of drinks, I chuckle and say, "You're more Manc than me."He chuckles and says, "Trip Advisor." The cocktails seem to have had a calming effect on him, and we have scarcely talked about the argument we had the night before because I don't want to bring it up now that we are getting along so well. He seems to be in a better mood. After a few drinks, though, what I intend to say and what comes out of my mouth are two different things.As I lean into him, the warmth of his body provides a reassuring feeling against my bare
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT
My lips hurt when I wake up, and I have the impression that they have gotten significantly larger due to all the kissing that took place the night before. I can't think of another time when a kiss from another person had such an effect on me.As his eyes slowly began to open, he greeted her with, "Hey there, sexy."He gets a grin from me. I am overjoyed and appreciative to be with him at this very moment. Because of what he shared with me the night before, I understood that we had progressed and that I now know him better."I love you," I say. I have the need to turn away, but at the same time, I want to watch how he reacts.His grin broadens, and he beckons for me to join him. While kissing the top of my head, he murmurs, "I love you too." He continues by saying, "But you already knew that."Where do you see us going from here? Since he has been back in my life for only a week, all the feelings I had the first time suddenly surfaced. This is not to say that they ever truly disappeare
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT FIFTY NINE
Two days have passed, and Rory has not communicated with me in any way; although I have found some composure, I will not initiate contact with him.As we prepare for lunch, Kerry yells, "Come on, Darcy!" at me. "Cheer up. I'm sure he will come back. He's like a boomerang, that guy. Just when you think he's gone, he resurfaces," the speaker said to the person. "He's like a boomerang, that guy.""Oh, is this the new fella in your life?" Liam asks. When we need assistance with the evaluations, or in this week's case, when we need his assistance with particular regulations and procedures, we call on Liam, the local vet that we work with."Not my new fella, but a fella," I say in response. "Are you joining us? ”Liam laughs as he stands up and puts his coat on before responding to the question, "I thought you would never ask."We all get ready to leave, and because we have some spare time, we decide to eat at the neighborhood pub and have a real lunch for a change."Come on, guys, what ca
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THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT EPILOGUE
In the third year..............It's the middle of July, and Rory and I have just gotten married on our land. The morning was beautiful, with the summer sun shining brightly, and the breeze carried the scent of fresh flowers from the fields all about us. The evening's marquee and food preparations are lovely. The tables have been decorated with green and white flowers to bring the outdoors inside. The tent's thin planted trees provide the impression that you're still outdoors. It's better than my wildest expectations.Kerry exclaims, "Oh my my, what a lovely wedding," although she is currently in her own "wedding mood" after recently becoming engaged to her fiancé of two years, Liam. We all agree that the two belong together because they are so cute. Kerry could not have found a better match for herself. He is hilarious, kind, and forthright. Since he and Rory are such good friends, they can share a pint at the end of a fantastic double date.Saika, whose daughter Lilly is running aro
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHTY SIX
I dare not watch as Rory attempts to pin down the man. I shuffle up the stairs toward the knife, which is shining there. Upon hearing the approaching police sirens, I look up to see Rory on top of the man, pounding him. Blood is splattered everywhere, and it's unclear whether it's Rory's or the other man's.I haven't even had time to take in my surroundings before a police officer starts shouting at me. Can I check on you? Do you have any wounds?It's just fine, I keep repeating to myself. Upon being helped to my feet, I discovered my leg was bleeding; I must have caught it on something during my fall. The man is handcuffed, and a cop has his knee in Rory's back as they lie on the ground. "Rory! Is he alright? When the police arrive, I yell at them. I next turn my attention to the vehicle in which Lucas is riding. I hoped he hadn't seen anything when it took me to place him in the car till the police arrived (which felt like an eternity). He's sleeping when I arrive at the car, so I
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHTY FIVE
Kiran appears to have calmed down after hearing the divorce news; I've initiated the process, and he seems content with it; nevertheless, we must wait two years after the divorce is finalized before we can formally apply for anything; at least he is aware of this delay. Three weeks from now is Christmas, and if he wants to participate in all the festivities Lucas will be hosting, he will need to be near Rory. I want him to hang out with Rory to show Kiran what a decent person Rory is; Rory is a good person; he doesn't want any harm to come to Kiran, and that's why I like him so much.The old house is still not far enough along for Rory to be staying there, so he's been spending most nights at mine instead while it's chilly outside. Even while he insists everything is great, the last time I was over there a few weeks back, the temperature was so low that his tap had frozen.What would you like for breakfast, big man?His eyes fall on Lucas.Lucas yells, "Eggs." Including sausage.The d
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHTY FOUR
The doorbell's ringing jolts me from my restful slumber. Getting awakened is the worst, especially if you're in the middle of a fantastic dream. I'm shocked to see Kiran standing there as I open the door. When he stands with his fists on his hips and his nostrils flared, it's clear he's not happy. He seemed to have gotten out of bed and come here straight away. You don't look nice!" As we enter the house, I invite him in. As in, "What do you want this early?""You've got my undivided attention because I need to know your rationale for entrusting my youngster to your lover.I turn around to face him, and while he looks me over, I zip up my robe. Please excuse me, I had to go for a while, but Rory was here, so it wasn't a problem.Kiran exclaims, "You bet it is a fucking issue."Really? I have to shake my head to believe it. You are being an idiot about this, I tell you."Oh, I'm being a dick. I think you're violating the rules you made," I lied."Kiran, I have been with Rory for a very
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHTY THREE
Things are starting to get renovated. Rory is seldom seen outside the house, and Lucas thoroughly enjoys his frequent visits. Though I haven't gone into details, Lucas knows that Rory's house will eventually be his permanent residence, and he seems fine. In the room Rory eventually settled on, he guided Rory through deciding where to put up bookcases and where to set up the bed. Despite my efforts to discourage him, Lucas will not stop brooding over the empty stable until he has a horse.I must leave now, as Saika is visiting for the weekend, and I have planned a girls' night with Kerry. Rory is off doing something with one of the guys he works with, while Lucas is with Kiran.When asked, "Hey, where are you going tonight?" Inquiring as he wraps his arms around me from behind, Rory is like having his own hot blanket.There is no plan other than "meal than a couple bars."He leans his head back on my shoulder as I massage his face. We're curious, "How about you?" I ask.I just don't fe
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHTY TWO
After nine months of worry and stress, Rory has finally been able to sell the property. He finally takes possession of his new home today. He chose a shabby old house that would take him a decade to restore to living conditions.'Come on, Darcy, hurry up. I can't wait to see it,' he calls up the stairs. I have never seen him so impatient as now, so I'd better be ready. I find it hard to share his enthusiasm for his idea; to me, it seems like a complete and utter failure.About five minutes later, he leaves the main road and drives onto the property. It's just as horrible as I feared, yet he seems to notice something I'm missing. Stopping in front of a yellow stone structure, he exclaims, "Wow, look at this." The building, as it turns out, has some quite remarkable original sash windows. "It's airtight, wired for electricity, and plumbed into a nearby stream for water, but it's missing the gas hookup."Do you feel up to the task at hand?I guess it's too late if I'm not," he says with
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHTY ONE
Rory shares Lucas's enthusiasm for opening presents, and the two of them have a great time giggling together on the floor.Rory says, "Happy birthday from me, big man," and as he hands him the gift he has so carefully wrapped, I can't help but be impressed. As Lucas opens his present, I see Rory's reaction.Lucas squeals, "A tractor!" as he jumps up and throws his tiny arms around Rory's massive shoulders.The question, "Do you like it?" As he breaks apart from Rory, I inquire. I can't help but grin at Rory, who seems completely taken aback by the kid's reaction.Lucas rips open the enormous tractor and runs off with it, leaving his other presents strewn over the floor. "I think he likes it," I say.After tucking him down (with his new tractor), Rory and I settle for a movie night together. The constant beeping of his phone seems to bother him.Someone asks, "Who's there?" I ask. He seems to be debating whether or not to tell me the truth. "What is it that you're trying to conceal?" I
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER EIGHTY
Rory has swung by to join the birthday boy and me on our way to Lucas' celebration. I'm overwhelmed, and Rory comes to the rescue, all heroes in shining armor and whatnot. He collects the goody bags and cake from the party and puts them in the trunk. After I spent twenty minutes fussing with Lucas about his new shoes being too tight, he finally got them on his feet.Are you kidding me? As he encircles me from behind, I ask him why.He jokes, "As real as they come, baby." Now that he's here, he's starting to feel at home and discover his niche. Although the farm hasn't sold yet, he's doing quite well. He must devote his free time outside of work to maintaining control of the finances. I wish he had more time off, but I feel he's just busy no matter what's happening. Once the farm sells, he plans to buy a fixer-upper and trade one set of worries for another. Maybe he has ADHD or something, but the guy never stops moving!"Kerry texted to say she'll be late," Rory replies, glancing at my
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER SEVENTY NINE
We leave the restaurant and head to the local watering hole. By the time we sit down, the place is packed, and there are no available tables. Kiran is with Di, and I can't help but notice his glares; they're making me extremely uneasy and, judging by the furious expression on her face, I suppose Di has noticed as well. What's up? How are you doing? I inquire of Rory, who is still hushing up a bit.What about you?" Really, was that a huge surprise to you or what?"I know," I mutter, pouting my lip. "How can she not see that he's a dick?"Eventually, she'll learn that guys like that always fail. The combination of Kiran's intense gaze and embrace makes me very vulnerable, so I brush off Rory's advances. He notices and gives me a suspicious look; I lean in close to explain. I mutter, "It just feels odd with him watching." Rory looks at Kiran and decides to approach him.'Hey Kiran, are we all right?' The question comes from his lips. Rory isn't swayed by Kiran's nod of agreement, even th
