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CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
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THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
I've been trying to get in touch with Saika for three days, but she hasn't responded to my messages or phone calls. I hoped she would be well once some time had passed, but she seems to have taken it very hard, and now I'm worried that I may have lost a friend. Kerry has also been angry with me since everyone else departed; she won't stop probing about my whereabouts and has made no secret that she despises Rory.I just have two days left before I have to get back to work. At the moment, I find it more pleasant to spend my free time at Rory's than at my own, as it allows Kerry some alone time and keeps me out of her hair. We completed the assessment of his property today, and he passed with flying colors. To mark the occasion, he is grilling steaks for everyone.I can't believe I have never asked you on a date before—would you like to go out with me tomorrow?'What?' he enquires.I don't know what to say; Kerry was probably right that things were moving in the direction of a relations
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER THIRTY
As he draws nearer, I move uneasily in my seat. Even though it's been only a few days since our fight, he seems distant, and his eyes are melancholy.A nonchalant "Hey" escapes his lips as he slows in front of me.I give him a friendly nod and grin. It's good to have you back.With the words, "Listen, I don't want to finish on bad terms," he draws nearer, increasing the rate at which my heart is beating.I just say, "Me neither." Heavens, I miss him and everything that he was to me. There is nothing I desire more than to be physically close to him. My hands keep wanting to reach out to him, so I clench my fists tightly.Can you make some calls before you depart, maybe? Please, let's just call it quits and act like grownups about this.I give him a knowing nod and a grin he doesn't return.As I watch him walk away in the other direction from which he came, I finally relax enough to take a deep breath. Kerry has been watching the whole time because she rejoins me immediately.Is everyth
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
This last week I have been at home and devoted entirely to spending time with Lucas. Having some much-needed cuddling time and drinking him in. But I keep thinking about Rory and the talk I have to have with Kiran later. I was holding off on talking to him until the weekend so we could both focus and resolve things.When I said, "Do you want me to take him up?" As Lucas dozes off on me, Kiran asks.You can count on me to say, "Yeah, he's beat."Lucas is picked up and carried tenderly to his bed. I checked my phone and noticed that I sent Saika a message earlier today asking if I may drop by and say hello, but she still hasn't seen it. As I wait for Kiran to return downstairs, I take a big breath and pour myself a glass of wine.As he walks into the kitchen, he grabs a beer from the fridge. He's just stepped out of the shower and is already dressed in sweatpants and track shoes. He has a wonderful disposition, is really laid-back, and is physically in excellent form; he will be a woman
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
A week had passed since Kiran had been seen, but I knew he was safe since Kerry had told me he was staying with Ben. But Lucas had missed him, and the house seemed odd without him there. For the week, I almost contacted him several times, but I refrained because I knew he needed time to digest what was happening. I didn't want to have to start from scratch if he came back, and thankfully, the worst was over. I assumed he'd need to contact me for financial and Lucas-related reasons.No word from Saika either; it was beginning to annoy me how much of a grudge that girl could keep; anybody would have thought I had slept with her husband from how she was acting. And when a 'bro' she was into entered the scene, our 'Hoes before Bros' motto went out the window.When Kerry phoned me earlier in the week to let me know she and her friends were all going out on Friday, I immediately realized that Kiran would be our first source of tension. Why would I show up when he was already there? I had no
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
There was a soft knock at the door as I was getting out of the tub at midnight; it couldn't have been Rory.The question is, could it?I silently approach the entrance and peer inside. I can't believe it when I see Rory; he can't have traveled here from Scotland in the past five hours. Can he possibly be sane?Before I open the door, I pause and take a big breath. Like a kid on Christmas morning, I can't control my joy.For a moment after I open the door, we just stand there, his sly grin mirroring my own.I can't tell if he's genuine or just a figment of my thoughts.I'll start out by saying something. "Are you completely insane?"He moves his smoldering behind toward me. As he grabs my waist and drags me into the corridor, he wears that baseball cap that drives me crazy, and I twist it around so I can sink my lips on his. As his hands travel to my behind, our bodies begin to intertwine. I find him quite attractive right away, with his reassuring scent enveloping me and his ample fra
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
I have no idea what just happened. We spent a wonderful evening together; he traveled nearly six hours to be with me, so why would he suddenly abandon me in the morning?My bruised lips and aching body keep bringing me back to him as I attempt to concentrate on Lucas' morning ritual. Just the boy and I today; we won't be doing much of anything. While Lucas finishes his breakfast, I check my phone and hear a message from Kerry. When I hit play, I make sure Lucas can't hear: "Hellooooo Darcy, we miss you tonight. We're both tired of this nonsense and want to get back to our regular lives, but who is Rory anyway?As I let out a hearty chortle, a wave of relaxation washes over me. I can't wait to see my old pals again; I've missed them so much. And I expect I'll need them much more now that Kiran's gone. After a long day, I'm looking forward to calling Saika to catch up and end this affair talk.After barely getting a few hours of sleep, I'm concerned about Rory making the long drive home
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
I nod. These falsehoods just keep on coming. "Yeah, obviously, six hours is a lengthy drive. I feel like I've missed out on weeks of your life, so fill me in.When I ask her how she is doing, she chuckles. The most interesting thing I can say is that I won Lazor Quest.I chuckle to myself as I can't believe I didn't participate in the Lazor quest. When we were tipsy, we did this rather frequently. After a few beers, it was hilarious to use the site since Ben knew someone who worked there and would allow us to use it if we tipped him. The last time I visited, around a year ago, I believed I had broken my wrist while reenacting Mission: Impossible after 5 gins, but it turned out to only be sprained.It was great chatting with my closest buddy again; we picked up exactly where we left off, planning to have lunch with Lucas the following day. I, really, really hope she doesn't find out I'm still talking to Rory.Since I haven't heard from Rory in over a week, I don't believe I need to wor
THE GREAT ARRANGEMENT CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
I waited for Kiran to pick me up since we had planned to eat together. It had been over two weeks, and I still felt horrible for Rory. During those two weeks, my thoughts about him increased in frequency and intensity to the point that they drove me insane.Kiran came on time and was again dressed to impress; he had clearly put in a lot of work with his well-tailored slacks and shirt, and I felt horrible that I had only thrown on some thin jeans and a nice top.As I turn to shut the front door, I tell him, "If I had known you were making such an effort, I would have dressed up."You look fantastic," he says in response. A moment later, he's at the car, door open, and ready to let me in.As I jump in, the unfamiliarity of the automobile hits me. Usually, this was the car we took on lengthy trips since it was roomier and more well-equipped than mine, but today it seemed foreign and unfamiliar. All we can talk about to go to the restaurant is Lucas, just like a pair of total strangers on
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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
