“I don’t want to be, but I am. This is just the beginning, and I don’t like not knowing what’s coming.”
“Me too,” I murmur, my eyes sliding shut as exhaustion sweeps over my body. That’s probably why I’m imagining the emotions I see in Archer’s face. Whatever I’m reading in his body language is surely a figment of my very tired imagination.
I wore my contacts today instead of my glasses and I swear they are going to be permanently stuck to my eyeballs. Just another reason I need to say goodnight and lock myself in my apartment before I do anything stupid.
I startle when Archer brushes a thumb over my bottom lip. I open my eyes, only to find him peering down at me with a look I can’t decipher. My heart pounds in my chest and I’m unsteady and very grateful for the wall at my back. What is Archer doing? He’s never looked at me like this before. To him, I was always the tagalong, the kid sister he inherited along with his friendship with my brother. I’m not the woman who is on the receiving end of gazes that could light the sky on fire.
“There’s a pull… I feel an ache in my chest…” Archer rubs his hand over his chest, inadvertently brushing the back of his hand over my breast with the movement. I suck in a breath, and he freezes, realizing what he’s just done. Despite the cool night, sweat beads on my forehead. It’s as if Archer himself is throwing off heat, and I’m a moth drawn to his flame. To his words.
“What are you saying?” My voice is a lot raspier than normal.
Archer searches my face, blinking as if coming to his senses, then takes a step back. The warmth from his body disappears like it never existed, and I’m left shivering in its absence.
“What time do you go to work tomorrow?” His normal smile is back in place.
“Not until noon. Why?”
“Don’t walk to work alone. I’ll walk you there.”
“That’s ridiculous. It’s only a few blocks away and it’ll be daylight.”
The sunshine is gone from his face, a dark protectiveness taking its place. “This isn’t up for debate, Lena.”
I’m too tired to argue, and deciphering these new mood swings is impossible in my current state. “Whatever. I’m going to bed. Goodnight, Archer.”
Before I can think about stealing and adding his sweatshirt to my collection, I pull it off and hand it to him. His face pulls down into a frown, but I don’t wait for a response. Pushing off the wall, I slide past him and head up the wooden stairs to my second-floor apartment.
I feel Archer’s eyes on me as I climb the steps and unlock the door. When I get the door open, a “Goodnight, Luna” floats up to me just before the door shuts behind me.