Page 86 of Pretty Heartache

Before I leave my room, I give Adeline one last look. Her towel is wrapped around her small frame and another towel is wrapped around the top of her head. Her eyebrows are set in deep concern. I wish I could take it away from her, but the expression on her face is the way I feel inside.

Eventually, I jog down the stairs and find Archer sitting on the sofa, his arm draped over the back. He turns his head my way, and I sit in the chair opposite him, placing my feet on the edge of the coffee table as I flick my gaze to the front entryway. “How did you get in? The door was locked.”

“Did you forget I have a key?” he asks, jingling the keys dangling from his finger. His eyebrows are knitted as he tosses them onto the coffee table.

“Oh, yeah.” I scratch the back of my head. “It’s been so long.”

Archer takes in the living room. “It looks great in here.” His gaze falls back to me. “Let me guess: Adeline.”

I laugh. “Definitely.”

He grins but doesn’t add to the conversation.

“So, what’s up?” I ask him, pointing at him.

“What’s up?” he asks, his eyebrows rising. “I haven’t seen you in months, and you ask what’s up?”

I tilt my head to the side, confusion marring my expression. “Well, the last time you texted me you said you weren’t able to make it to visit because it wouldn’t be safe.”

“I’ve got everything handled for now.” He waves me off. “You shouldn’t be worried.”

“I shouldn’t be worried? Did you know I’ve seen Soren’s men?”

“What?”

“Yeah, I saw one of them dancing with Adeline at Exodus. I don’t know why he was there, but he was clearly keeping tabs on her.” I rub my forehead. “Luckily, I pulled her out of there before he was able to do anything, but I’m almost certain he’s been following me. At least, hewas. I haven’t seen anything recently that would make me think they still are, but I’m not under the assumption that they’ve suddenly stopped for no reason, either.”

“Dammit.” He looks out the window and exhales heavily. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

“What the fuck, Archer?” Just how deep into this are you with Soren?”

“Soren?” Adeline’s voice carries from the staircase. Her feet land on the bottom step before she steps through the opening to the living room. “Who’s Soren?”

“Nobody,” Archer says, turning to Adeline.

Her gorgeous eyes bounce back and forth between us, and I can tell she isn’t buying Archer’s lie. I wouldn’t, either.

“Who is he talking about Micah?”

“Seriously, Addy,” Archer interrupts. “It’s fine.”

“No,” she bites back. “I heard you upstairs. Why wasn’t it safe for you to visit before? Is Soren the reason you haven’t shown up in months?”

“I’m not kidding, Addy,” he barks. “Drop it.”

Anger sparks in her eyes, and she takes a few more steps into the living room to stand above Archer and cross her arms over her chest.

“Dammit, Archer. Stop treating me like a child. If there’s something going on, then we should know about it.”

A drop of water from the ends of Adeline’s hair splashes onto Archer’s leg. It soaks into his jeans, causing him to follow it with his eyes before looking back up at Adeline.

Her hair is still wet from our shower, hanging in waves, framing her face. She’s dressed in a pair of loose sweatpants and a form fitting tank top.

But when Archer’s eyes move from Adeline to me, I know exactly what he’s thinking.

I told him I was in the shower when he came in, and now Adeline is in front of him, with soaking wet hair, the scent of her strawberry body wash filling the room, mixing with my cedar-scented one.

In one breath his eyes turn wild.

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