If Beau’s amused by my joke, he doesn’t show it. But Archer smiles and squeezes my hand.

Roaches, bad boyfriends, fire. The man comes to my rescue in many different ways.

Beau turns and focuses on Archer. “You went in, didn’t you?”

We all jump as the roof collapses on Archer’s side of the house.

I shudder, thankful that I’m not still on the floor, trying to scoot my way to safety.

Archer brushes a tear off my cheek. “Yes, sir. Just needed to grab something important. Now we’re both safe. That’s what matters.”

“Very true.” He rests a hand on Archer’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“I will be.” Archer turns as fire trucks make their way up the gravel road that leads to our house.

Beau looks at me. “Other than the leg, are you hurt anywhere else?”

“No, sir. Just the leg.”

“I’ll make sure there’s an ambulance on the way.” Beau walks over to the fire trucks as volunteer firefighters climb out.

I tug Archer closer. “You’re brave. You lost your mom and dad that way, but you still ran in to save me.”

“I’m not brave, Lettie.” He’s staring at the fire.

I rub his arm. “Someone once told me that bravery isn’t fighting dragons. Sometimes it’s just picking up the phone. And I’ll add that sometimes bravery is just showing up.”

“As long as it’s in my power, I will always show up for you, Lettie. Always.” He cradles my face. “My grandmother hated my mom for taking her son away. I remember her crying that he shouldn’t have gone back in. I was a kid, and I didn’t really get it. Obviously, I didn’t hate my mom. But now, I completely understand why my dad ran back into the flames.” Archer brushes his lips on mine, more tenderly than moments ago. “Nothing you can say will change how I feel about you, Lettie. I was stupid to think so. I don’t need to know the reason. Even without that piece, what we have is beautiful, and I’d be stupid to throw it away. I love you.”

I hug his neck. “Oh, Hazy, I love you too. I never stopped.”

Waiting for an ambulance, we do a little more making up for lost time. Archer probably needs the distraction, and I just need him.

When the ambulance arrives, he pulls back. “That leg needs medical attention.”

“Yeah. It’s starting to throb pretty bad.” Maybe I needed the distraction too.

He waves the guys over, then kisses my forehead. “I love you, Violet Delgado. With all my heart. Please don’t ever hide from me again.”

I spent so much of my life hiding in plain sight and not wanting to be seen because of the mess my mom was, but Archer has always been safe. “I should never have broken up with you.”

He squeezes my hand as the medics walk up. “We’ll just pretend you didn’t.”

I wish it were that easy.

* * *

I openmy eyes and blink at the bright lights.

Rough fingers brush along my hairline. “Hey, gorgeous. How are you feeling? Any pain?”

“Nothing hurts.” The fuzzy fog in my head starts to clear, and I lift it from the pillow. “Did they fix it?”

Archer nods. “They did. No cast until the swelling goes down, but the doctor said the surgery went well. He also told me to bracket large pieces of furniture to the wall. And as soon as we get a new place, I’ll do that.”

There is a blanket draped over the chair next to the bed, and not surprisingly, Archer is wearing the same clothes as last night.

“You stayed all night?” I shift and feel a twinge of discomfort.