Page 36 of The Archer and his Rosebud

“Then I’ll hear from you in fifty.” I shoot him a glance. “Humor me, please?”

As I move to get in the car, Archer reaches for my hand and pulls me into a hug. Even though I’m caught by surprise, it doesn’t take me but a second to melt into his hold. Every muscle and tendon relaxes from his touch as I fit in the cove of his chest. My head falls against the reassuring beat of his heart. Devin is the only person I’ve been hugged by since Mom left. Archer’s arms are reviving, breathing new life into my lungs.

How is it possible that the embrace of a man I’ve known for less than two months makes me feel safer than the man who helped create me, or the father of my child?

As I slip inside, Archer taps the top of the car, leaning into the open doorway. “I’ll be home tomorrow around five, six at the latest. Want to order pizza and watch some Office reruns?”

“Sounds like a plan.”Or a date.

My mind fixates on the warmth of his lips brushing my temple before he walks away, and I crank the ignition with a fluttering in my chest.

ChapterTwelve

ARCHER

Nolan clingstighter to me than usual before I leave Leah’s house Monday afternoon. A sort of desperation in his eyes when she urges him inside for a shower and dinner. I’d stand here as long as he needs, but his mother isn’t having it.

“Nolan, dinner’s waiting.” Leah crosses her arms from where she stands by the front door.

“I love you, bud. How ’bout I eat lunch at school with you one day this week? You’re not too big for that, are you?” He’s in fifth grade. Next year he moves to middle school where he’ll start pretending he doesn’t know his parents when we’re around.

At last, he steps back. “Only if you bring treats for the whole table.”

“That I can do.” I muss his hair. “All you have to do is pick up the phone if you need me, right?” It’s something I remind Eli and Nolan every time we part.

“Right.”

“You can’t keep babying him.” Leah steps down from the porch after Nolan slips inside the house.

Yeah, just what I wanted tonight.Thisconversation.“Is that Kurt talking or my son’s mother?”

Her lips purse and I hate that she’s so damn beautiful when irritated with me. Sometimes when I look at her all I see is the girl I grew up with, the girl I loved into a woman, the girl who made me a man. If only that was all I saw. If only I could ignore the woman who broke my heart and nearly tore my life, and that of our boys, apart.

“He got hurt, Leah. There was blood dripping down his arm. I’llbabyhim whenever he needs me.”

The lines around her mouth fade. “How will he get past the fear if we keep making a big deal out of it?”

“I don’t know. How did you?” My accusation is explicit. I turn to leave, then pause. “I’ve been fair with you throughout the years. I’ve never questioned Kurt’s parenting skills or style in front of the boys. I’ve never spoken a word against him. But I draw the line at his opinion on this. He has no idea what we’ve been through.”

“Archer.”

“If you want to ignore Nolan’s trauma, call me, Leah. I’ll take care of him. But don’t make light of it. Don’t pretend you don’t know why our son hates the sight of blood.”

* * *

“Hi.”I open the door to a jaw-dropped Willa and sleepy-eyed Clementine with water dripping down my chest from the shower I snuck in the moment I arrived home.

Her brown gaze travels my torso. Considering our friendship status, it’s inappropriate to answer the door this way—in nothing but athletic shorts and beads of water but after the way I caught her watching me yesterday when I pulled my shirt off, I wonder if we could grow what’s between us.

Eventually.

Willa finds her voice. “Um, you sent me a text saying come over.”

“I did.” I open the door wider so they can enter. “Which I knew gave me five minutes to shower because that’s how long it takes you ladies to gather all the necessities when we hang out over here. Evidently, you decided to take four tonight.”

“You could have come to my place.”

“I have cable.”

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