Page 119 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

“Why?” he asks.

“He didn’t think it was wise for me to be divulging family secrets.” I shrug. “At the time, I thought I was better. So, I stopped. The nightmares stopped, and with them all my anger and anxiety.”

“But then, you moved in back with your dad and the urges slowly returned. Is that right?” He brings me closer to him as if trying to erase the bad memories. How does he know so much about me?

“Sometimes. I can’t tell if you can read my mind, or if you just simply hired someone to find out everything there is to know about me.” I lift my head to look at him. “It’s the latter, isn’t it?”

“You really want to know the truth?” He sighs.

“Yes, please.” I try to think of all the embarrassing stuff I’ve done. What could Archer find out about me that would absolutely make him hate me? But the thing is, anything worth noting in my life happened within the walls of the theatre. “I want to know what you know about me. Maybe some of it isn’t true?”

“I don’t keep a dossier on you if that’s what you’re thinking.” He stops to inhale. “I did ask Gardenia to do some light Googling on my behalf.”

I let out a laugh. “Wow, that’s straight up stalking.”

“I’m okay with that word.” He cups my face and captures my mouth. “Let’s go meet my mother.”

“Okay.” I bite my lower lip.

“Don’t worry, she’s going to love you.” He bends down to kiss me again. “Just don’t tell her your father is a politician and you’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, no problem. I figured that one out since I was in middle school.” I push off him and climb out of bed to get dressed.

He follows me into the closet. And again, I feel like a voyeur watching him get dressed in one of his dark suits.

As he works on his tie, he turns around to look at me. “Spring is almost here. You need a new wardrobe.”

“You know, I have a lot of clothes. If you would just let me get them.” I pause to think. “What do you think Dad did with all my stuff when he moved out of the house?”

He pauses for a beat before he finishes with his tie. “It’s all still there.”

“What do you mean? Wouldn’t the new owners want to move in and make it their own?” I hadn’t considered that new people would be in my old room. Thinking about all the years I spent in the house and how I would never see any of it again makes me very sad.

“I bought his house.” He stuffs his hands in the pockets of his trousers. “And everything inside it.” He looks at me as if waiting for me to finally lose it.

I run to him and throw my arms around his waist. “Thank you. I didn’t want to think about what it meant to lose our family’s legacy. Dad grew up in that house, same as me. And, even if it was for a little while, he was happy there with Mom. It would’ve been too sad to see it go. Thank you.”

He clears his throat. “Right. The Senator grew up in that house.”

“Why do you say it that way?” I peer up at him.

“You never talk about her.” He slides the pad of his thumb over my lips. “What was she like?

“I don’t know. I was very little when she died. I only remember her from pictures.” I shrug.

“I’m sorry.” His eyes are so full of pity.

“Don’ t look at me like that. It doesn’t make me sad to think of her. I only know good stories about her.” I straighten his tie even though he tied it perfectly. “Am I okay wearing this dress?” I chose a simple black dress and pearl earrings to meet Archer’s mom. I don’t know why I really want her to like me. Maybe because if she does, Archer and I will be closer to becoming a real family.

“You look beautiful.” He brushes his lips to mine. “Let’s go. She’s been waiting on us for a while.”

“Lead the way.” I place my hand in his.

He escorts me out of the suite and down the wide hallway. With each step he takes, his hold on me tightens. What is he not telling me? I smile at him and pretend I’m not nervous as heck. Or that his grip is making me extra anxious about his mom and seeing his family again.

When we reach the foyer, voices filter in from the dining room. It sounds like a party in there, and a part of me feels jealous. I’ve never lived in a house where people laugh and talk like that over lunch.

“Everyone is here.” I beam up at him.

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