I always had a soft spot for Archer Bradley.
“I know this is tough, and I’m sure that’s where it’s coming from,” I say gently.
He pulls back a little, his head tilted as those clear, hazel-green eyes land on mine. “The only thing that’s tough is that you’re not here with me. That I have to go through…all of thisalone.” His voice is low. Raspy. Sexy.
He doesn’t mean losing his mother. He means dealing with his family.
I close my eyes against the heat pinching behind them.
“You told me it was okay to move on,” I say softly.
“Saying it and meaning it are two different things entirely.”
“I can’t read your mind, Arch. You know that’s something I’ve never been able to do.”
“That’s not true,” he protests, hitting me with a little lift of his lips. It was an argument we had often, one that usually ended with us both naked since the truth is that in some ways I sort ofcouldread his mind. After a while, anyway. I learned to.
I blow out a breath, and he settles his head on my chest again. It’s familiar, that’s all. It’s comforting, and I’ll be here to comfort him. But I also need to make space for Ford.
“Is this real with you and him?” he whispers.
“I think so,” I admit.
“If I would’ve asked first…” He trails off.
“I would’ve said yes.” But that’s the problem. He neverdidask, and knowing what I know now, it would’ve been wrong anyway.
He lets out a strangled sound. “The dolphins were a nice touch.”
“You saw the video?”
“Why do you think I didn’t answer his call?” he asks. “Of course I did. I couldn’t fucking escape it, and all I could think about was how that should’ve been me standing there with you. It’s all wrong.”
“Why’d you end it with me, then? Why’d you let me move on?” I ask. “Why’d you give me permission to be with your brother?”
“The feds were coming, Tate. I couldn’t let you get mixed up with that. I couldn’t let it tank your business, your livelihood, everything. I thought I was the smart oneseparating from my family all those years ago. But it turns out that one mistake meant that I wasn’t, and so you weren’t, either. I thought it would just be like all the other times, and we’d find our way back.”
“Do you still think that?” I whisper as I brush away a tear that splashes onto my cheek.
“Until you’ve signed a marriage certificate, I think I’ll always hold onto that hope.”
“It wasn’t just that, Arch,” I say quietly. “There were other things wrong with our relationship. With us. We weren’t perfect.”
“You’re right. I was trying to keep you away from my family. I didn’t know what else my father was doing that we didn’t want to get tied up in, so I thought it was simpler this way. If saying no to letting you work with Madden was our downfall, I still stand by what I did.”
“He’s here now,” I point out.
“Then go talk to him. What are you doing here with me?”
“It’s you. You and me, Arch. Just like it always was.”
“Except it’s not. There is no you and me anymore.” He takes my hand, and he threads his fingers through mine. He turns our hand so he can study the ring Ford slipped onto my finger. “Compass cushion center stone with a platinum band. Your dream.” He sniffs, and then he mutters a curse. He stands, and he walks out of the room.
I don’t know where he goes, and I don’t chase him down. I’ve been sitting here crying by myself for a few minutes when Ford walks into the room. He closes the door, and he sits on the bed beside me. He takes my hand in his. “Are you okay?” he asks.
His mom just died, and he’s here with all this family drama, yet he’s askingmeifIam okay.
I swipe at the tears, and he gets up to grab the box of tissues, which he hands to me. I wipe my nose, and I nod. “I’m okay. You?”
