Page 6 of A Little Complicated

His brows lift. “Yeah?”

With a laugh, I repeat, “Yeah. I wasn’t really looking forward to tonight, and honestly, I’m still kind of on the fence. But if I have any hope of enjoying my prom after everything with Mystery Man, I think you’re the only guy who could actually help me pull it off.”

The laugh lines around his eyes soften, tugging at the duct tape I’d wrapped around my shattered heart in preparation for surviving tonight. No one wants to be around a sad girl, especially at a party. But I have a feeling Archer sees right through it, leaving me exposed and way more vulnerable than I want to be for the evening.

“I’m sorry he hurt you,” he murmurs. His words hang in the quiet cab of the car.

“It isn’t a big deal.”

“Yeah, it is. It’s okay to be sad.”

“Thank you,” I whisper as my eyes fall to my lap again.

I hate it. How crappy I feel. How crappy the whole situation is. How much it hurts. How confusing it is. How lost I seem. I want to be at home in bed, eating a shit-ton of ice cream. But I also want to be here with Archer. Making memories and being young and carefree. It’s conflicting. And confusing. And draining.

Maybe I really should go home.

“Come on,” Archer urges as if he can see the wheels turning in my head. “Let’s go inside, dance the night away, and help you forget about everything, even if it’s only for a little while.”

He doesn’t wait for me to answer. He exits the car, rounds the front, and opens my door. When he offers his hand, I take it, willing my legs to move.

“Help me forget,” I plead.

His smile is soft as he rubs his thumb along the back of my hand. “I’ve got you, Lia.”

* * *

My feet are killing me,and so are my cheeks. I’ve been smiling so hard tonight I’ll be surprised if they aren't sore for a week.

Archer dropped Dylan and her date off—both agreeing it was best to go their separate ways. And now, we’re on my parents’ front lawn with the stars twinkling above us as we make our way toward the porch.

It’s beautiful and peaceful and exactly what I needed.

I peek at Archer beside me, crossing my arms and rubbing my hands up and down my bare skin. “Thanks again for tonight. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

“Anytime, Lia,” Archer replies. “You know, I’ve been thinking.”

I look over my shoulder at my best friend. His pace has slowed, so he’s behind me instead of by my side. “About what?” I ask.

“Seeing you like this…” His gaze follows the curves of my dress. When he looks at my face again, it’s brief. So quick, I’m surprised I notice. But it’s there. Interest. Reverence almost. And I don’t know how I feel about it.

Archer clears his throat and squeezes the back of his neck as if realizing he’s been caught. It’s boyish and innocent, and so adorable I kind of want to tease him for it.

“You were saying?” I quip.

“Well, I mean…spending time with you like this. Where we’re dancing and laughing and looking at the stars. It’s been nice, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, it’s been really nice,” I agree.

“Good.” He smiles at me again. “Really good. ‘Cause I, uh, I like you, Lia. I like you as more than a friend.”

Caught off guard, my pace slows, and Archer catches up with me at the base of my front steps.

“I’ve liked you as more than a friend for a long time now,” he continues, “but I didn't want to ruin what we’ve always had. Then tonight happened, and I feel like we just kinda…fit. Don’t you?”

I bite the inside of my cheek, unsure what to say. “I had a good time.”

“Yeah, me too.” His smile stretches and softens, tapping into the boy next door vibe the man wears like one of his fitted suits. Reaching for me, he rubs his thumbs along the backs of my hands. “I know the timing is shitty because you just broke up with your Mystery Man, but…I dunno. Like I said, I had fun tonight. I had fun being with you. I always have fun being with you,” he clarifies. “But tonight felt different. It felt like we could be more than friends.”

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