Page 169 of A Little Complicated

Beep. Beep.

She’s still asleep. Still blissfully unaware of our conversation. Good. I don’t want her overhearing any of this.

Archer follows my gaze, confirming she’s still out. He scrubs his hand over the top of his head, tugging at the roots as his face twists with regret. “She was always yours.”

“She wasn’t,” I argue. “She still isn’t. She belongs to you, too, man. Always has. Always will. I think we both know it.” My stomach twists. “I kept my distance because I didn’t want to hurt her. The funny thing is, I wound up hurting her anyway.”

Again, he looks at Ophelia, and his mouth lifts for the briefest of seconds. But it’s sad. Torn. “She’s stubborn.”

“Yeah,” I breathe out. “She really is. So stubborn she’s refusing to let me go.”

“Good.” His gaze finds mine again. “She should refuse to let you go because you’re going to be fine.”

“Stop,” I order.

“No.”

“I’m serious, Arch,” I snap. “Do you know how many things have to line up for a fucking heart transplant? To find a perfect match? To get the heart in time? To go under anesthesia and have a successful transplant, let alone my body not rejecting the organ even if the surgeryissuccessful? It’s…it’s like winning the fucking lottery, Archer. We both know I’m not that lucky.”

“Have a little faith,” he pushes. “The doctor sounds optimistic.”

“He’s supposed to sound optimistic,” I counter. “But you can’t blame me for wanting to plan for every outcome in case it doesn’t work out the way we want it to.”

“It will.”

“But if it doesn’t,” I argue, “I need you to promise me something.”

He sighs, taking his seat again, the exhaustion getting the best of him. “What is it?”

“Gonna need you to promise me that when I…” I swallow. “When I’m gone—”

“If,” he interrupts.

My nostrils flare. “Fine.IfI go, I need you to promise me you’ll take care of our girl.”

His expression falls, and he shakes his head. “Don’t say shit like that.”

“I need to know you’ll look after her.”

“Mav—”

“I get her for now. You get her in the future.”

“Fuck you, Mav,” he rasps, but there isn’t any malice in it. Only…defeat.

I swallow the lump in my throat, forcing myself to continue. “Even if you fall in love with someone else. Even if you move on and get married and shit. Promise me you’ll look after her. You’ll invite her over. Make sure she’s happy. Watch over her. Make sure she’s okay.”

“Mav—”

My hands vibrate as I grab his shirt and yank him closer until his ass nearly falls out of his seat. “Promise me, Arch. It’s the only way I’m gonna be okay. The only way I’m gonna be able to come to terms with…with everything. Promise me.”

He closes his eyes and slumps in my grasp, his fight dissipating entirely, leaving a shell of my brother. When he opens his eyes, a single tear falls. “I promise.”

My hold eases, and I collapse on the bed. “Thank you.”

A beat of silence follows, and his low whisper hits my ears. “Anything, brother.”

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