Page 80 of The Archer and his Rosebud

My nostrils flaring, I struggle to find air. “Leave, Ty.”

“I’m not lying, Willa. You know I’m not. He’s not even denying it. The man’s name was Bo Grimes. You can look it up online like I did.”

I don’t offer Ty a backward glance as I shout, “Leave now!”

A weighted pause hangs between the three of us as I stare at the lines of Archer’s brokenhearted, guilty face.

“Fine, but I won’t let this go.” From the corner of my eye, Ty steps back, turning on his heel. “I refuse to have a killer around my child.”

With my hands shaking at my sides, I try to calm my throbbing heart, as Archer closes the door.

“Did you kill someone, Archer?” The question seers coming from my lips.

“He made me sound like a cold-blooded murderer. I’m not… It’s not that simple—”

“Is. It. True?”

His gaze droops, his jaw quivering as he clenches his lips shut. “It’s true, but Ty doesn’t have all the facts. It’s not as black and white as he’s making it seem.”

Tears blur my vision as I pinch the bridge of my nose, backing away from him. A hand lands on my arm, but I jerk away. “Don’t touch me. You lied to me. You let me sleep with you, and you were keepingthisas a secret.”

I feel sick. Hand to my stomach, I breathe through my nose.

Archer nods with pain streaking his eyes, slowly dropping his hand. “This isn’t how I wanted you to find out. I was going to tell you. I swear I was.”

“Not how you wanted me to find out.” I choke at the insanity of this claim against the man I’ve been falling for. “And when exactly were you going to tell me? I don’t even know what—” Clem lets out a cry from the floor in the living room, and Archer takes a step toward her, but I hold up my hand, blocking him. “Don’t.”

The most profound hurt drenches his eyes, but I can’t find a hint of remorse inside of me. “Willa, please. You know me.” His voice cracks with an ache as I scoop her up.

Turning to face him with Clem in my arms, I grasp for strength in my voice. “Go. I need you to go.” My breathing shutters as a vise takes hold of my lungs.

“Willa.”

I clutch Clementine close to my chest as she whimpers. “Archer, if you care about Clem and me at all, you’ll leave. I can’t look at you. I can’t listen to your voice right now.” A sob catches in my throat. “You kept something from me. Something…huge. Something Ty could use against me. I don’t know how… I can’t… I can’t be anywhere near you.”

Blinking, he swipes at his glistening eyes. “Okay,” he whispers before lifting his keys from the edge of the counter. Stalling, he lifts his stare to me. “But I want you to know, I would never do anything to hurt you or Clem or anyone else that I love. And no matter what happens, I regret nothing.”

The door clicks shut behind him, and I rush to flip the lock. Falling to my knees on the hardwood floor, Clem and I cry together.

ChapterTwenty-Five

ARCHER

The clickof Willa’s lock sliding into place is the final blow. I should have told her months ago. I should have explained the entire sordid tale that was Leah and me. Rubbing my palm over the burning ache in my chest, I peer down the hallway toward the elevator. She asked me to leave, but I can’t, not yet.

Dammit.I cross the hallway to the wall of windows opposite Willa’s door. Resting my arm and forehead on the cool glass, I stare at the silhouettes of naked trees swaying in the early January wind and wipe my damp eyes. Two floors below, a car speeds away from visitor parking toward the exit. No doubt it’s Ty, smiling as he leaves ruin in his wake. I tap my fingers against the glass, fighting the pull to force Willa to hear me out. The look in her eyes was enough to send me to my knees. Devastation. Betrayal. No matter my reasoning, I didn’t tell her the truth about my life. I lied and… The turn of a lock is audible one breath before Willa’s door flies open, and she’s standing in her doorway with red eyes and trembling lips.

“Don’t leave.” Her voice breaks as she throws her body into mine, her arms around my neck. “I don’t want you to go.”

My fingers sink deep in her hair, and I sigh as I press my forehead to hers. “Never.”

“I know you’re not some cold-blooded murderer. I know you, Archer Thomas, there has to be more to the story. ” My eyes clench, and she clasps my face in her hands. “Whatever happened, I know you have an explanation.” Her lips brush mine, and I open my burning eyes.

“Will you tell me?” she asks. “Please?”

Unable to speak, I nod, burying my face in her full locks.

“Archer?” Willa’s arms tighten. “You’re shaking.”

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