My Own Mr. Darcy by Karey White Page A

about what that might mean.
    “You’re an amazing girl,”
Matt said as he held me close.
    In a matter of days, two
men had told me I was amazing. So why did I feel so un-amazing?

    “The dating challenge is
off,” I said in the doorway to Janessa’s dark bedroom. She sat up in bed and
turned on her lamp.
    “What did you say?” She
stretched and shook away the grogginess.
    “I said the dating
challenge is off.”
    “Really? Why?” She watched
me with suspicion.
    “Because Matt just said he
wants us to be exclusive.”
    “Are you serious? Lizzie.
Sit,” she said as she scooted over and patted the mattress. “Tell me about it.”
    “We ate at Sage.”
    “Ooh, Sage. Was it as nice
as I’ve heard?”
    “It was super nice and
super expensive. At least I think it was. I never saw any prices and I didn’t
see the bill.”
    “What did it look like
inside?”
    “The tablecloths were spun
out of real gold and the salt and pepper shakers were encrusted with diamonds,”
I said. Janessa snorted and slapped my arm. “It was pretty simple inside. Black
leather menus, white tablecloths. There was modern art on the walls that wasn’t
any better than the finger painting Jonah did on Thanksgiving.”
    “Maybe Jonah’s a protégé.”
    “He’s my nephew, so I’m
sure he is,” I said.
    “Okay, what did he say?
Word for word.”
    “He said, and I quote,
‘I’d like to think we’re sort of a couple, but if that’s the case, you wouldn’t
be dating the swim coach.’”
    “He did not.”
    “Yes, he did.”
    “How did he know about
Chad?”
    “I’ve told him about Mt.
Hood’s swim meets.”
    “So what did you say?”
    “I told him I needed a
reason not to date the swim coach and he told me he wanted us to date
exclusively to see where things go.”
    “Oh, Lizzie. I’m so happy
for you.” Janessa threw her arms around me. “I know this is what you’ve always
wanted and I’m glad you’re finally getting it. I’m sorry I bullied you into
dating Chad. I just didn’t want you to end up sad and lonely.”
    “Don’t be sorry,” I said,
startling Janessa with my fervor. I dialed back my tone. “Chad’s a really nice
guy. Some girl is going to be lucky to have him.”
    “But you. You’ve got your
Mr. Darcy. I have to admit I didn’t think it would happen.”
    “I know. I’d about given
up myself.”
    “What about the whole vegetarian
thing? Do you think you can handle that?”
    “He told me he ate turkey
on Thanksgiving and tonight he ordered salmon because the seaweed and root
strudel didn’t sound good to him.” Janessa scrunched up her nose and we laughed.
“He said he eats meat a few times a year. Hopefully I can convince him to make
his vegetarian days a few days a year.”
    “You’ll have him so
wrapped around your finger he’ll be willing to start butchering his own meat if
you ask him to.”
    I rolled my eyes. “I guess
I’m going to the Oregon National Bank Christmas dinner and dance.”
    “You said you wouldn’t be
caught dead at that.”
    “That was before Mr. Darcy
said he’d like to go with me,” I said. Janessa squeezed my hand.
    “I’m exhausted,” I said. “I’m
heading to bed.”
    “Congratulations, Lizzie,”
Janessa said as I walked out of her room. “Who says dreams don’t come true?”

    I had planned to attend
Mt. Hood High’s swim meet on Saturday morning, but now I couldn’t, so I texted
Chad.
     
    LIZZIE: I CAN’T MAKE IT
TO THE MEET THIS MORNING. SORRY. COULD YOU STOP BY MY HOUSE AFTER IT’S OVER?
     
    I couldn’t eat any
breakfast and my stomach felt like it was gnawing on itself. I tried to watch a
documentary about vacationing through Europe, but the happy tourists did
nothing to lift my mood, so I turned it off. I folded a load of clothes and
then sat down to wait.
    Even though I was
expecting him to come, I jumped when he knocked on the door.
    “Are you sick?” Chad asked
as soon as I opened the door.
    “I’m okay. How did the
team