Page 20 of The Archer and his Rosebud

“Nope. You get the night off, too. I didn’t invite you over to be Clem’s babysitter.”

“What if I want to hold her?”

“Then you can,” I say. “After we eat.”

I place the pan of nachos in the center of the table and pass out plates. It’s a dining table made for a doll house because I’m not picky and my apartment is small enough without a normal-sized table, so the sharing setup works. Plus, it was donated. Free trumps style for this broke girl.

As we fill our plates, Archer says, “So, Devin. What grade are you going into?”

“I’ll be a senior Tuesday.” He sounds shocked to have made it. I remember those feelings. How time flew, even when it dragged.

“And, he turns eighteen on Saturday.” I bounce Clem when she fusses. “That’s why he came out and surprised me.”

“Oh, no way. Happy Birthday.”

Devin covers his mouthful. “Thanks.”

“What are your plans after you graduate?”

Such refreshing phrasing. People always assume the next step is college, and it makes me wonder, did Archer go? Or is that why he’s not assuming? With his becoming a father at nineteen, he might not have.

“The plan is college.”

“Do you know where you want to go yet?”

“I have a few options for scholarships with football and baseball, but they’re smaller schools.”

“Double varsity sports, huh? That’s impressive.”

My baby brother shrugs the praise off. “Yeah, I just don’t know if I want to play in college. My heart’s set on going to California, so I might have to play to cover the out-of-state tuition. I’m not smart like Will. There’ll be no academic scholarships in my future.”

“Please, you’re plenty smart, and I still can’t believe you’re considering leaving me for California.”

“Like you ditched me for Vermont?” He smirks.

I swat him off, scooping up a bite. “At least we’re still on the same coast. You ditch me, and I’ll never see you.”

Devin shrugs with a somber smile.

“I can’t say I blame him. Sunshine and beaches as far as the eye can see?”

“Don’t encourage him.” I frown at Archer and Clementine howls, her body arching as she fights my hold.

“What’s wrong, little one?” Archer plucks Clem from my lap. Snuggling her into his chest, her face burying against his neck, she settles immediately like the warmth of his touch was all she needed.

I tug my bottom lip between my teeth, watching him hold her body in place with one strong arm. A foot knocks against my shin, and I catch Devin’s smirk as he looks between Archer and me with raised brows.

Rolling my eyes at my brother, I slide my chair back and turn to Archer. “She’s been awake since before Dev arrived at four. She’s probably exhausted. I can lay her down.”

“Eat, Willa. You know I like holding her.”

The man is too sexy with a baby in his arms to be mad at, and he’s been too kind to us for me to argue with, so I relent, returning Devin’s kick to the shin when he doesn’t curb his annoying know-it-all smile.

ChapterEight

ARCHER

“You know,you guys didn’t have to do this for me. I’m sure your sons have other things they’d rather do than celebrate the birthday of some guy they don’t know.” Devin sets down some grilling tools and seasonings for burgers on a picnic table in the community space.

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