“Oh hey,” I say, quickly stacking my bills and shoving papers to the side. The last thing I need is my friends knowing about my bills. “Missed my pretty face, huh?”
Archer smirks and shakes his head. “Absolutely. You know me so well.”
“How’s my future niece or nephew?” I ask, casually dropping a notebook over the bills.
Archer nods and says, “Great. We’re in the second trimester now, and Viv’s morning sickness has finally subsided enough that she can get some sleep.”
I frown. “I didn’t know it was that bad.”
He smiles, cocking his head. “Well, we haven’t seen much of you since you became attached. Relationship life keeps you busy, huh?”
It’s true that I’ve spent more time at Birdie’s than she’s spent at my place, but that’s because of Rora. It’s easier to stick to their place so that we can keep up with the bedtime routine for her.
“It does,” I admit. “But we have the little one to consider.”
He shakes his head. “You’re really serious about them, it’s nice to see. It’s good you found someone who treats you well.”
“I have, she’s the best,” I reply, almost defensively, though I know Archer would never say anything that could be taken the wrong way. He’s one of the best people I know; he takes care of everyone, and he cares for all of our well-being. Even when he struggled with his own finances, he never let it show. “Question for you. How did you dig yourself out of a hole? Didn’t your grandma leave you with some debt?”
Archer frowns and leans against the counter. “Not so much. It was those investors that really got me.”
I nod. “Right. Forgot about that.”
“I didn’t go into debt, per se. More like I just lost all my savings,” he replies, looking at me with concern. “Why? You doing okay?”
For a moment, I almost say it. I want to. I want to lay my burdens on someone who isn’t Birdie. I don’t want her tohave to worry about this crap, this is on me. My father’s store is no one else’s concern. So I just smile and play it off. “Oh yeah. Just thinking about future stuff and want to make the right moves.”
“Future as in marriage and family and houses and such?” he asks teasingly, leaning against the counter. His shirt is pristine and has the Henry Blake Construction logo typed on it. Henry Blake was Warren’s dad, which is how Archer ended up getting hired to work for them.
He’s worked his way well up the ranks now.
“Yes, Dr. Seuss, precisely.”
He nods. “Figured. I’m happy for you.” He slaps the counter. “And I’m here for some shit we need for my site. The order we had for some of the materials fell through, and I know you have a way of ordering things like that. Figured I’d throw the cash your way instead of through my guy that freaking failed me.”
I brighten at this. “Absolutely, hit me.”
We spend the next hour going over everything he needs, and I immediately get it ordered. The order will put me in a good position financially. It’ll help a lot to get some bills paid, including the overhead for the store.
Archer leaves, and I sit in contemplation. I rifle through the bills next to me and sigh. I’ll pick the ones that haveurgency, like the ones that keep the power on and the building safe from eviction.
I rub my head just as my phone pings with a text. It’s just a picture of Birdie and Rora at home drawing, and it brightens my whole day. Rora had a rough night and needed some downtime, so Birdie took the day off.
Staring at that picture has me wishing for things that are just out of my grasp right now. Like telling Birdie that I want to marry her, like buying us a house to live in together, like not drowning in medical bills and other things.
I send a text back, telling her how much I miss them, even though I saw them last night. We haven’t evolved into sleepovers yet, something I’d like to get around to, but I also understand Birdie’s reluctance. She needs to be one thousand percent sure of me, of who I am and what that will mean for us as a family.
But I am committed. I am sure.
I just have to get on top of my finances first.
Game night is still one of my favorite nights of the month, but these days I get to bring the love of my life there with me.
The group is laughing and enjoying their time together, everyone gathered around the large coffee table between us. It’s a very rare occasion when the entirety of the group is here.
Graham and Quinn had come to town to meet her ex, who was in town for a few days so Alex, Quinn’s daughter, could see him. It was great to see that they could co-parent so well, that they acted as if they were adults. Although, I’m sure it helps that there were no wrongdoings that happened while Quinn and he were together and they maintained their friendship.
But it’s a great opportunity for them to come and visit. Elizabeth and Quinn are talking together, laughing over old times. I hear a snippet or two from their stories, talking about college days and the hijinks that Quinn was up to. I’m not surprised in the least that she was the troublemaker of the two of them.
