Beating Hearts [Knight's Rest #1]

10

It felt good to be dressed in comfortable clothes once again. Not that Thelonious' jumper and socks weren't comfortable, it's just that she received a few strange stares on the train, not that she cared all that much. It also felt good to peel off the tight dress she had been forced to wear underneath his jumper due to the cold.

Her eyes lingered on the dark jumper that she had laid over the back of her desk chair.

She would have to return it to him sometime.

Her lips twitched at the thought of using it as an excuse to see him again. Knight's Rest, his hotel was a quick tube ride away from her university, so she wouldn't be inconveniencing herself returning it either. She would be able to use that as an excuse if he questioned her.

Darcy was drawn out of her thoughts when a knock sounded on her bedroom door. Tearing her eyes away from the jumper, she met her dad's warm, loving gaze.

Her father, Elijah Blake, was a man nearing his fifties though did not look a day over thirty-five. The only tell-tale being his salt and pepper beard that connected with his thick locks of matching salt and pepper hair. It definitely wasn't her father whom she inherited her fiery head of hair from. With deep smile lines and slight wrinkles around his eyes, she loved him more and more every day.

Darcy had never felt the absence of her mother, her father had made sure of that. Even while working a full time as an English Literature professor at a University in London – not the one that she was currently attending –, they had dinner together nearly every day of the working week. The only exceptions being when she was still at university and would grab food with some classmates instead, or if she stayed over at Alice's dorm.

It was pretty lonely growing up without a mother and any siblings to pass the time with, but that just brought Darcy and her father closer. They had a pretty open relationship where Darcy felt like she was in a safe place to share her thoughts and feelings without fearing judgement or reprimand.

"I didn't hear you come in this morning." He was neither angry nor upset, simply just stating a fact.

"You were sleeping in late." She shrugged. "I didn't want to wake you."

He nodded. "You didn't text me last night." Another fact.

"I know, I'm sorry." She sighed and winced, disappointed in herself. Even though he didn't mention it, she knew that he had stayed up for her, worried off his mind. Having very few people to hold dear to them did that to a person. She instantly felt bad for getting so drunk that she hadn't even been able to call her dad and just let him know that she wasn't coming home that night.

It was a simple task and while it may seem silly or even overbearing for many, not many had a close as relationship to her father as she did. "I had a few too many drinks and didn't remember to text you." She was probably more disappointed in herself than her father was.

"I know, kiddo. I was just worried, is all. But it's all fine now."

"I am sorry, dad." She repeated before going in for a hug. A sigh escaped her as he wrapped his arms around her and placed a kiss against the top of her head. "I won't let it happen next time." She promised.

"Don't worry about it, Darcy." He brushed it away. "How does brunch sound?"

"It sounds great, I'm pretty hungry." She smiled, her stomach already getting ready to rumble at the sound of food.

He chuckled before walking out of the room towards his own which was located at the end of the hallway. A guestroom that had never been occupied and a large family bathroom separated their rooms, with Darcy's being right at the top of the stairs. More reason as to why Elijah hadn't heard her come in earlier that morning.