I haven’t seen Archer since we all left Mr. Bradley’s office.
I want to say goodbye. I want to say…something.
To defend why I’m marrying Ford, maybe. I don’t need to defend myself, but I want to. Only, I’m not exactly sure why I’m marrying him.
Because he asked.
Because I want the money.
But also…
Because I think I’m falling for him.
Ford is angry. All the Bradley siblings are, and they all have a right to be. He’s angry-packing after he changes out of his suit and into jeans and a T-shirt for the plane ride back home. Putting things into his suitcase with a little more force than necessary. Throwing his toothbrush back into his toiletry bag. That sort of thing.
It’s definitelynotthe time to ask him about how we can work out a deal on keeping the mansion in the family.
“Can I do anything to help you?” I ask softly.
He sighs, and he backs up to lean against the wall. He shakes his head. “This was just…a lot. You know? I need to get my focus back on football since wehaveto win this weekend or we won’t even make the wild card game. But my head is here with my family. With my dad and his lies, how it affects all of us, this fuckinglegacy. With Archer and how he’s reacting to this. With you. Wanting to take the next step. Solidly not where it should be.”
“So how do you get your focus back?”
He shrugs. “No idea. I’ve never gone through this before.”
“Losing a loved one?” I ask, and I take a step to close the gap between us.
He twists his lips. “I mean…yeah. We weren’t close.”
“But it still hurts.” I take another step, and I reach out to touch his heart. He reaches up to rest his hand over mine, and I feel how fast his heart is racing.
“Yeah.”
“It’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to feel all the things. It’s even okay if you don’t feel anything. If you’re numb and just want to get the hell out of here. Everyone processes grief differently.”
“What if I don’t feel like I’m grieving?” he whispers.
“That’s normal, too. Ford, she just died last week. It’s going to take some getting used to, and maybe you’ll never truly grieve her. Maybe one day down the line, you’ll be sitting at a table, and a memory will pop up that will take you down at the knees. However you react, however you feel…it’s all normal. It’s all okay.”
He loops an arm around my waist and rests his forehead against mine. His breathing picks up the pace, and I think he’s about to kiss me when I hear a voice at the door.
“Knock knock.”
“Ugh,” Ford mutters in disgust. “Who’s there?”
“Ev,” Everleigh says.
“Ev who?” Ford asks, playing along as he straightens, and we both turn to look at her.
“Ev-eryone from the Vegas side is heading out if you want to come down to say goodbye.”
I giggle at her little joke even as my heart seems to constrict at the thought thateveryonefrom the Vegas side is leaving. Does that include Archer?
“Our flight is soon, too,” Ford says. He zips his suitcase, and mine is already standing by the door. “Can we hitch a ride with you to the airport?”
“We’re full. Sorry.”
“Is Archer going with you?” Ford asks.
