Page 65 of Mine for a Moment

“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “What did you say?”

His expression falls, and he sighs. “You know, not long ago, I’d have known exactly what you were thinking without even having to ask. Now I don’t even know where to begin wondering. The worst part is that I did this to myself by not prioritizing our friendship when I told both myself and you that I would.”

“No,” I tell him, reaching for him. “No, Theo. I…I’ve just…” I look into his eyes, unable to explain myself when there’s so much he doesn’t know. He doesn’t know about Archer and me, nor does he know about Tyra. I wouldn’t even have told him about the burst pipe and Ezra and me moving in with Archer if he hadn’t mentioned it. “God, you’re right,” I murmur, a deep kind of loneliness settling deep in my chest. He was always the first person I turned to when anything happened, even if it was only to talk.

He grabs my hand and holds it tightly. “Let me be there for you now,” he says, his tone pleading. “Let me make up for my absence.”

I smile at him. “Don’t be ridiculous,” I reply. “There’s nothing you have to make up for. Friendships are a two-way street, you know? I’m as much to blame as you are.”

He draws circles across the back of my hand with his thumb, his gaze searching. “Let me take you out for dinner,” he says, his voice soft. “You don’t have to answer the question I asked you if you aren’t ready, but let’s just spend some time together. It’s been so long since it felt like we were justus.”

“I can’t,” I tell him gently. “I’m sorry. Maybe some other time?”

He squeezes my hand, his expression pleading. “I thought it might be nice to go to that little Italian place you put on your list of placesto visit here.” My heart wrenches at the thought of everything on my list I know he’s done with Kristen. “I’ve never been before,” he adds, almost like he just read my expression.

I smile at him ruefully, silently lamenting the loss of everything I thought we’d experience together. There are so many places he probably can’t go to without thinking of Kristen, and similarly, there are so many things I’ll never be able to do without thinking of Archer. I should’ve known, even back when I made that stupid list. Archer Harrison isn’t the kind of man you forget. He isn’t someone you can walk away from without leaving part of yourself behind.

“A dinner date, huh?”

My head snaps up at the sound of Archer’s voice and I find him standing a few paces away, his face moving from my face to the hand Theo is holding. My heart clenches painfully when I see the pain in his eyes, the silent accusations.

“Mr. Harrison,” Theo says, his tone polite.

Archer doesn’t even acknowledge him; he just stares at me, his broken heart on display for me.

“Serenity,” he says, my name a quiet plea on his lips. Archer looks at me like I hold his heart in my hands, and I’m squeezing a little too tightly, slowly killing him. He looks at me like he loves me more than anything. Will that look fade in time? Will I come back here someday and find him looking at Tyra like that, like he always used to?

Archer lowers his gaze and forces a smile. “I’d meant to ask you if you were available to work overtime tonight, but never mind. You two enjoy your date.”

He turns and walks away before I can refute his words, and it leaves me feeling empty. “I can’t do dinner,” I tell Theo, my eyes on Archer’s retreating back. “Ezra told me I don’t have to complete my notice period, so I’m leaving tonight.”

“I missed my chance, didn’t I?” Theo says, drawing my gaze back to him.

I hesitate and look away, not wanting to hurt him. “I’m sorry, Theo.”

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “I’ll wait,” he tells me, his voice soft. “I’ll wait for you to get over him, no matter how long it takes.”

I stare at him wide-eyed, and he throws me a shaky smile.

“You look at him the way you used to look at me,” he says. “I tried to ignore it, pretended not to notice…but how could I not? I’ve always known you better than anyone else. I’ll be there, Serenity. In a few months, or even years down the line. Maybe the time just isn’t right for us now, but maybe someday it will be. I’ll wait forever for a chance to be with you.”

“Don’t,” I tell him, gently rejecting him the best way I can. “Don’t wait for me, Theo. Forever isn’t long enough for me to forget about Archer.”

Fifty-Five

Archer

I pause by my front door and take a deep breath, trying my best to improve my shitty mood before walking in. This entire week has been a fucking clusterfuck, and I miss my girl. Serenity is my safe haven, and I miss the way her hair smells when I hold her in my arms. I miss her smiles, and the way she’ll listen to me talk endlessly about work matters she doesn’t give a fuck about.

I miss the way she steals bites of my food, and the way she laughs at my stupid jokes. I miss the way she shivers when I run my finger down her spine, and the way her breath hitches when I kiss her neck.

I sigh and rest my forehead against the door, my heart aching as I remember Theo asking her out while I just stood there, wishing it could’ve been me saying those words to her. Is she sitting opposite him right now, smiling at him in that intimate way I’d come to consider mine? Will he walk her back to my own fucking home and kiss her good night?

I clench my jaws and steel myself before unlocking my door, myheart stuttering when I realize I never changed the code. I expected Serenity to believe in me, in us, when I hadn’t truly let go of my past. I made her key in a code that reminded her of Tyra every damn day, and I didn’t even realize it.

“You’re home,” Tyra says when I walk in, and I pause, looking around my home and finding it looking different. It takes me a moment to realize that a couple of little things are gone—the little dish Serenity bought for my car keys, her polka dot umbrella. My heart begins to race, dread washing over me as I walk farther into the living room and find the blanket she loves missing from the sofa, along with the cushions we spent an hour choosing at a small market stall in Morocco.

“Archer?” Tyra says. “What’s wrong?”

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