"How was Pemberly Digital?" Jane had asked her, and all she could respond with was "Oh, it was...nice."
"Uhg," she mumbled and rolled over on the sofa bed in the den, she was exhausted, but her mind refused to shut off and allow her sleep. It was currently replaying her earlier conversation with Jane.
Nice. That was the best her communications major brain could articulate. Well, it was true, wasn't it? It had been nice, though if she were being completely honest, it had been so much more.
San Francisco had been an amazing experience. It was the first time she had lived away from home. Really, been away from home, and her family and out on her own. Sure, she had stayed with Charlotte when she was out shadowing Collins & Collins, but that was different, she had Charlotte.
No, out in San Francisco, she's had her own apartment, well her own borrowed apartment, and was shadowing an amazing company. Amazing was the perfect word for Pemberly Digital. All of the employees seemed so creatively fulfilled and happy. Though, she supposed it's hard not to be happy at job with a swimming pool on the roof.
And though she had missed her family, it was nice being independent. Not that she had been completely alone, she had Fitz and Gigi. They had both been so wonderful at making her feel welcome. Especially Gigi, hanging out with Gigi reminded her of spending time with her own sisters. She couldn't remember the last time she laughed so much than when they went to Karaoke. Except maybe when Darcy dressed up as Fitz for costume theatre.
Then there was Mr. CEO himself, William Darcy. Now that the whole website debacle had come to an end, she found her thoughts turning more and more to Darcy. No matter how hard she tried to push all thoughts of him aside, she would find her mind wandering to the time at Pemberly that they had spent together. She had to admit, she'd been wrong about him, he was smart, and when he let his guard down could even be borderline charming. She didn't think she could ever forgive him for what he did to Jane, and yet, she now at least, understood in his own pompous "I know what's best for everyone" way, he was trying to do what was best for a friend.
He was there when she had found out about Lydia's situation. He had been so kind about it, almost pitying. He had gotten her a car, on a flight and even her things packed and sent to her parents' house for her, and just like that he was out of her life. Lizzie would never admit that it bothered her, after all she said time and time again on her videos how she just wished he'd go away, but deep down, now that she was alone with her thoughts, she realized she missed him. If she was being honest with herself, she'd have to admit that when she answered with the word "nice" it was his smile that had filled her thoughts. A smile he so rarely bestowed, that when he did, it sent a slight flush to her cheeks.
He had asked her to the theatre the day she left, just the two of them, and though she would deny it if asked, deep down she knew she would have said yes. But none of that mattered now, if he was embarrassed by her family before, now... well she didn't want to think about it.
She closed her eyes, willing sleep to come and thoughts of William Darcy to vanish. No use thinking about things that would never be.