A huge walk-in closet was open and a light on in there to show my clothes were all hung neatly. I barely had enough to even fill one rack in there. A couple of easy chairs were in the corner and the cats’ soft blankets lay over them. Tiddles had already claimed one while Tabby leapt onto the middle of the bed like she’d found her throne.
Archie didn’t follow Rachel and me inside, he just stood in the open doorway. “Just down the hall if you need anything. You don’t even have to open the door, just text me.”
I didn’t know what to do with that either except when he went to leave, I raised a hand. “Archie?”
“Yeah, babe?”
A half-laugh escaped me. “Thanks.”
“Anytime.” Then he smiled for real. “I love ripping people new assholes, especially when they deserve it. I will cheerfully eviscerate them and keep them away from you for as long as you need or want it.”
“Same,” Rachel volunteered and Archie nodded to her in the first show of allyship I’deverseen from the pair of them. “We got this, Frankie.”
“We do.” Then Archie flicked his gaze back to me. “Try to sleep. If you can’t, we can always camp out in the game room and watch movies.”
I blinked back the sudden flood of tears, but Archie just closed the door behind him, leaving me and Rachel alone. Exhaustion beat at me as I sank down on the edge of the bed.
Tugging my phone out of my pocket, I blew out a breath. Rachel was exploring the room—no, she was grabbing me a clean t-shirt and sleep shorts from the closet. I couldn’t even really think about getting ready for bed yet.
That was—surreal.
One missed call stared up at me from the phone.
From Coop.
A text, right after.
Coop:
Where are you
No punctuation.
Noare you okay.
Justwhere are you.
My heart stuttered.
Rachel sat beside me, close, steady. “What is it?”
I stared at the screen until my eyes blurred.
Then I typed back.
Me:
Archie’s. Cats are safe. I’m safe. Please don’t come angry.
The three dots appeared.
And stayed.
And stayed.
My stomach twisted.
Then his reply came through.
