Wait, she was pretending about not having feelings for him way back when? Trevor only blinked as those words ran through his head as he looked at Darcy to try to figure out exactly what to say to that because he was practically speechless, it was startling to end up learning this information now; even after their feelings for each other had been admitted once more. They didnât change over the six years which was a good thing because he couldnât have imagined what things would be like had she ended up just rejecting him all over again, he was hurt enough the first time from that but then he was only a kid. At least that was what had been said to him, basically. After realizing that heâd simply been staring in silence for the last couple of minutes; finally the words had managed to come back to his mind before somehow finding a way to start speaking again. âYou were pretending to not have feelings for me then? But.. you laughed in my face when I told you I liked you.â he said with a slight frown, trying to not remember that day over again because despite the fact that he might have been over that; it still stung a little bit to even consider that moment. Even Jordan hadnât believed that actually happened although his sister believed that her best friend hadnât really meant it which still wasnât even something he could have trusted to be true. âHopefully itâs for better. But no creeps can touch you so as long as Iâm around, I wonât let them.â He really didnât want her to feel broken again, but there was only so much he could have done to be able to keep her from feeling sad; though he still had made it his personal mission to keep her together as long as possible. âAs far as Iâve noticed, the city hasnât changed much over the years Iâve been away; but Iâd like to think that weâve changed for the better; at least we know that how we feel for each other hadnât changed over the years.â he replied, returning the smile which she had given him earlier. It was nice to smile again, even if it was all because of a simple admission that actually hadnât been all that simple.
The cool breeze had run over his arms as soon as she had asked about whether he was cold, he almost chuckled at the timing because it was too perfect but it wasnât like it had been the Arctic or anything; obviously it wasnât that cold. âIâm sure. Besides, Iâd rather keep you warm right now anyway.â he said. There were a couple of ways that he could have made sure that Darcy hadnât gotten cold, but since they were walking along the beach; this really was the only way that would be worked. Plus he was carrying her shoes too so it was just easier to not bother with anything else. âOf course but that does make sense, going back to London could happen at some other time. I doubt that Jordan would be happy to learn that you ended up leaving the city again, especially considering her wedding is soon.â If she was going to run off back to where she had been living for the last few years, then there was no question that he would have went with her because he didnât want to let her go now. That would have been the worst decision that could have been made. And not one he was going to make either. When she reacted to him kissing her hand, a smile mirrored on his face because he liked to see her happy; he wanted her to be happy and he wanted to be the reason she was happy too. âDo you have any questions for me?â It was as good as time as any to ask that now seeing as there had to have been something she was curious about. He wasnât an open book but he was willing to tell her anything she wanted to know.
She had known that information was going to come as a surprise, even if she hadnât known the exact reaction. Â Indirectly, she had meant it to be, simply because Darcy hadnât wanted Trevor to know that sheâd had feelings for him before now. It was simpler to go through with her sacrifice knowing that he thought she had only looked at him as Jordanâs little brother. However, now thing shad changed and she felt like it was better to just come clean. No matter what happened because of it. She just hoped that it didnât make him take back his thoughts about seeing where this could take them. As far as she was concerned, it might weirdly make things easier, since it meant that they didnât have to get used to new feelings. Although there was still that specter of what he still believed she had done back then, even before she had left without telling him things had changed. âNot then. Not exactly,â she replied as he had finally spoken. âNot when youâd told me, but I didnât laugh in your face anyway. That time on the beach,â she said, knowing that she was probably not making sense anymore but hoping that he still understood what she was trying to say. Namely, her feelings had started when she had first told him she was broken, not before then even if she hadnât meant for him to think sheâd been laughing at him that time either. It had been more of a shock than anything else, and unfortunately the reaction had hurt him. That was the past, though. She had frowned a little at his choice of words when he had continued speaking, however. Apparently the old memories werenât quite as hidden in the back of her mind as she had hoped, because it had only taken that simple statement to make them float back into her thoughts. âOkay,â she said simply, unable to really say anything else without fear of breaking down and telling him that had been a real concern. It likely would always be a worry, but at least she could tell herself that he meant it. He really would protect her, even if they didnât work out. For now, other topics were going to keep her from completely breaking again, and a flicker of a smile had appeared on her face again at his little speech. âSo then youâre saying that weâve changed but we havenât at the same time,â she commented. Oddly enough, it made sense, and being able to smile again felt good as well.
Even if there was still the matter of her having taken his jacket away from him. She wasnât about to refuse, not when sheâd obviously been unprepared and she had known that even before they had found each other, but she also didnât want to know he was cold now. âJust say something if you change your mind,â she replied, swinging their joined hands slightly as they continued walking. It was easier since she wasnât juggling both her shoes and keeping the jacket wrapped around her. There were a lot of things that were easier now, and she honestly wasnât thinking about running away again. Not when she had more than one reason to stay, as Jordanâs wedding was still a priority. That was going to have to be her first priority, too, as dealing with any awkwardness over people finding out that she was maybe dating Trevor wasnât going to take away from that. Theyâd just have to deal with that revelation later, and this didnât really count as a date anyway. âIâm not going to abandon her, or even make her think I would,â she said, knowing that he would believe her. A trip back to London could wait for a later time, after the wedding and after they had figured out what exactly they were. It wasnât entirely clear to her right now what the answer to that was, aside from what his little action had made her feel. Happiness was only the beginning, but that wasnât everything. Even knowing that he really wouldnât hurt her wasnât everything, and she knew exactly what to ask when heâd offered answers. âWhat is this? Us, I mean. What are we now?â Those probably werenât the questions he had meant for her to ask, but they had plenty of time to discuss what had happened to them since high school.