Crazy Thing (The Brighton Family #5)

Chapter 39

39

DARIUS

S he finally ditched me.

Over the past few days, I’ve done everything in my power to keep Ziggy around. But today after work, she insisted that she had a few things to take care of in Honey Hill before we leave for our Chicago trip tomorrow.

It sucked, watching her jump behind the wheel of her bus and drive out of my yard. It felt just like when I was in the third grade and out of nowhere, my best friend got transferred to a different school. Then I had no one to hang out with at recess. It sucked , I tell you.

Am I a melodramatic fool? Yes, I am.

Do I care? I do not.

In any case, I take comfort in knowing that Ziggy and I leave for our business trip tomorrow. That means I’ll have her all to myself in a comfy hotel bed for the next few nights.

But for now, I’m stuck here at The North Node Tavern with my annoying siblings.

There’s a dance-off going on at the moment. Karli started it when One More Time by Daft Punk came on and she dragged Mason to the middle of the room, grinding all over him while challenging Nicky and Ronan to outdo them. Felix forced poor Daphne into the mix, determined to upstage them all. I’d expected Nolan to put his foot down when Inez danced her way into the middle of things, but he willingly followed after her like an off-beat puppy trying to make his owner happy.

Thankfully, it’s Tuesday so business is rather slow here at the bar and there aren’t many witnesses to this embarrassing scene. Anyway, who am I to judge? If Ziggy were here, I’d probably be on that dance floor making a fool of myself, too. That girl can get me to do just about anything.

So I’m sitting with Archer, hidden at a shadowy table in the corner. We’re both trying to avoid eye contact with Karli, lest she coerce us to join her ridiculous dance party.

When my siblings and their significant others are done wearing themselves out, they trudge back to our table. They’re laughing and panting for air as they collapse into empty chairs.

Moments later, Nolan comes over with a tray of chilled beers.

“Hey Noles. You mind making me a bourbon lemonade?” I call out after him as he walks away.

Around the table, everyone gives me funny looks. I ignore them, convinced that having Ziggy’s favorite drink might somehow make me feel closer to her.

“Uh, sure,” Nolan says, clearly confused.

But when he returns with my drink, it just doesn’t taste right. It doesn’t taste like Ziggy’s.

Nothing feels right. And everything annoys me right now. Because Ziggy isn’t here .

Can’t stop thinking about her.

I send her a text message.

Me: Did you get to Honey Hill okay?

I stare at my phone, waiting for a response. Minutes pass by and I don’t get one. I huff, pulling on my hair.

“Hey, D. You okay?”

My head snaps up and I find Karli giving me a worried look. And you know what? I’m not okay.

“I think I’m gonna call it a night.” I’m already pushing out of my chair.

My siblings exchange looks but I don’t care to explain myself. I grumble a ‘good night’, eyes on my screen as I head out of the bar.

Throughout my drive back to my house, I listen intently, hoping to hear the ding of my phone, letting me know that Ziggy has gotten back to me. But there’s nothing but the smooth rumble of my engine in the quiet night.

Fuck.

Why does everything feel so…hollow without her?

I turn onto my driveway and the spotlights blink on. The imported fountain is there. The second and third story balconies are there. The perfectly manicured lawn is there. Still, it feels like something is missing.

The absence of Lady Tourmaline feels like a gaping hole in my front yard. What the fuck? I’ve developed an attachment to an ugly converted school bus. What the hell is wrong with me?

I take a quick shower, then I’m pacing through the rooms of my cavernous house like a zombie. I trudge through the hallways, flipping through pictures of Ziggy on my phone. When I mindlessly stare into the fridge and see her face reflected in the bottle of orange juice, I know I’ve officially lost it .

The thought of this woman has possessed me.

I step out onto the balcony, staring down at the empty driveway. Fuck those dating rules about double-texting—I send Ziggy another message even though I still haven’t received an answer to the first. She doesn’t even read them.

Man—I just don’t feel right. I might as well turn in and start over tomorrow.

With a sigh, I head inside and collapse into bed, staring at the ceiling, ready to give up.

And then the doorbell rings, echoing throughout the house.

My hand taps around in the dark and I find my phone in the bedding beside me. I check the security cameras and Ziggy’s angelic face fills my screen.

She’s standing at my front door, looking nervous and beautiful and perfect with a big old-fashioned suitcase at her feet.

No fucking way.

I jog—no, I’m lying—I sprint down the hallway and take the stairs three at a time to get to her, probably breaking a few track and field records in the process.

I swing the door open with a flourish.

My heart smiles. My cock smiles.

“Hi,” I say, breathless and hopeful.

Her eyelashes flutter shyly. “Hi.”

“Is everything okay? Are you okay?” I reach for her hand, peering over her shoulder to make sure there’s no danger lurking in the bushes. All I see is a glorious purple school bus parked in the yard, too close to my car as usual.

Ziggy’s clammy fingers weave through mine. “Can I…can I spend the night?”

I pause. I blink.

I take too fucking long to respond .

Now, she’s slowly backing away, doubt all over her face. “Oh god. I’m sorry. You’re busy. You’re in the middle of something. And I showed up without calling first. I can just leav—”

“Are you kidding me?! Not happening.” I grab her ratty suitcase and yank her inside.