Page 43 of The Archer Brothers

“The day we met, I thought you were my knight in shining armor even though I didn’t need saving. Being the new girl at school was something I was used to. What I wasn’t used to was you and all the feelings you were bringing out in me so quickly. That first night, I tried to call you. I couldn’t bring myself to dial the last number. I fell asleep with my stupid pink phone in my hand and anxiety in my heart because I felt my one shot at true love slipping away.

“I guess what I’m saying, Evan, is that I’m not going to marry Nate.” My eyes focus on his, as his smile grows wide. I shake my head. “I’m not going to marry you either.”

“What?” he chokes out as his face reddens.

“We’re not ready. We’ve been apart for six years and I’ve changed. You need to know who I am now, and not live in the past. You need time to get to know your son and be a presence in his life. Nate isn’t going to go away and you need to accept that and accept that he and EJ have a relationship. I’m not going to take that away from EJ.”

“I’d never ask that of EJ, or of you. It pains me to say that, Ryley.” He stands and takes the few steps to where I’m standing. He pulls my arms around his waist and places his hands on the side of my face. His hands are soft and warm. “I’ve waited a god-damn long time to be with you again and if I have to wait a little bit more, so be it. As long as you want to be with me, I’ll be here waiting.”

“Will you move back home?” I ask, abruptly. “I want you here. You need to be here with EJ and be a part of our routine.”

“This is where I want to be, Ry. Everything I need is here in this house. I promise not to pressure you into anything. I’ll be patient and wait even though I’m nursing the mother of all blue balls cases. I really think they’re about to explode.”

He’s so dramatic, but he makes me laugh. I can’t contain my laughter and end up snorting. “Oh god,” I say, covering my mouth and nose. “I can’t believe I just did that.”

“Just face it. I bring out the best in you.”

Nodding. “You do, and I love you for it.”

Evan leans down and kisses me briefly. “I think I need to stop doing that if I’m going to be a good boy.”

A good boy? I’m not sure Evan Archer has even been considered a good boy since he turned five. “I don’t mind a few kisses here and there, but what happened in the car yesterday can’t happen again.”

“But… that was so fun,” he whines. I shake my head and step away from him. EJ is still sprawled out on my bed, but his eyes are open. I lay down next him and snuggle into his neck.

“No, momma,” he whines just like his dad. EJ rubs his face and pretends to go back to sleep but his eyes are blinking so fast I know he’s awake.

The bed dips and Evan slides next to EJ. Evan rests on his elbow and stares from EJ to me, back and forth.

“He’s so beautiful, Ryley. Someone is going to pay for what they’ve done to us,” he says quietly.

“I know, Evan. I want them to as well.”

Evan reaches for my hand, pulling me close to EJ while he brings my hand to his chest, tucking it under his arm. We cocoon EJ and this is one of those moments that I’ve waited for, for a very long time.

SUNLIGHT STREAMS THROUGH THEwindow. I shift without opening my eyes. My hand feels warm and tight. For the first time in a long time, I’m waking up in a bed next to the love of my life. The bonus is that our son is in between us. My eyes open slowly, so the sun won’t blind me. I wonder why Ryley left her curtain open. So many thoughts run through my mind about the security of the house, about her and EJ. They’re my priority. I will protect them at all cost.

The first sight my eyes behold, glowing in the morning light is Ryley. She looks at peace. There are no worry lines marring her face, no anger or disappointment in her eyes. No, those emotions will appear later. We can’t make it through a day without those two emotions bringing us down.

My eyes fall onto my son, who has rolled closer to me. My heart dances a little jig, thinking this is a victory, but I know it will be short lived. He’s only this close because gravity has made the space next to me available to him. As much as I want him to recognize me as his dad, I can’t push him. Doing so would backfire and likely drive him away, unless Nate helps. But that scenario is highly unlikely.

I’m not sure what to expect when I see him. Will he be shocked that I’m here? Angry? Disappointed? The reunions that we’ve had in the past will not be what this one will be. I want to act like we’re eight again and wrestle him to the ground for the last Twinkie. Except this time we’ll be fighting for Ryley, although I sort have already won. However, I’m not stupid enough to take her not marrying him for granted. I’m going to have to work my ass off. Six years is too long to be without someone and she moved on, like I’d expect her to.

I didn’t.

I couldn’t.

Everything that she and I had built from our teens has to start over. The only benefit is that I can woo her properly without asking my parents to borrow a car or a few dollars for ice cream.

Ice cream… that is what we need today. My little family needs to be pampered and shown just how much I love them. A trip to the zoo, some ice cream and a walk along the beach with Deefur is what the doctor ordered. Or she would if I told Doc Howard about my plan. I think she’d agree.

Gazing back down at my family, it’s a shame to wake them, but I want to utilize every moment possible. I have this feeling in the pit of my stomach that our world is about to be rocked again and I can’t shake it. Whatever it is, whatever’s coming, I’ll be prepared.

I gently move a few strands of hair from Ryley’s face. She startles, but relaxes the moment my fingertips trail down the side of her face. She was made for me and I’ve often thought how my life would be drastically different had I not hit her with the football that day. Or if her mom didn’t get reassigned to Bremerton. Those thoughts make me feel empty and hollow. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be the man I am today without Ryley in my life.

“You look deep in thought,” her voice brings me back to the here and now. Seeing her like this, no words can describe how sexy I think she is.

“I was just thinking about how I’m a much better man because of you.”

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