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My heart beats faster in my chest, and I swallow hard. “Because he’s not here. He left a note saying that he wouldn’t keep putting my life at risk and for me not to go looking for him.”

“Seriously?” Tyler snaps. “Did something else happen?”

“Not that I know of. I just don’t understand why he wouldn’t talk to me first. How could he just leave me like this?”

After a beat of silence, Tyler responds, “Maybe it’s for the best, Ev. If his past is following him, that could ultimately affect you. He’s protecting you.”

“That’s not good enough for me. We need to find him, Tyler. I don’t care what he thinks. We’re better together, not apart.”

“Archer’s a big boy. He can handle himself. If he left to keep you safe, then you need to stay put. We dunno what’s going on, so let him handle it.”

I shake my head, hot tears spilling down my cheeks at the realization that Tyler won’t help me. “I can’t just sit here and do nothing,” I say through a sob. “I love him.”

“I know, and he loves you too. But it’s obvious he’s dealing with something, and maybe he can’t do that with you around.”

“He could get hurt,” I say. “What if I never see him again?”

“I dunno, Everleigh. I can try to call him, but I doubt he’ll answer, especially if he didn’t wait to tell you goodbye.”

“He sent me straight to voicemail,” I say. “Let me know if you hear from him, please?”

“Of course.”

When we hang up moments later, I re-read his letter. I hold on to each word trying to make sense of it, but I can’t.

At least when most relationships are over, the healing process can start, and there’s closure. But this feels different, almost like he was being forced.

After I let Sassy back in, I go into Archer’s room and lie down. It looks exactly as it did this morning. Bed unmade as usual, a lonely sock on the floor, and one of his dresser drawers half-open. Even the panties he ripped off last night are still in place. Wherever he went, he packed without disturbing anything.

Maybe that means he’ll be back? I remain hopeful, but in the meantime, my heart’s shattering.

How the hell were we just talking about getting a dog together to him abandoning me?

I fall asleep with Sassy next to me and wake up a couple of hours later. The doorbell rings, and my shoulders tense. Months later, and I still hate answering it.

Looking out the peephole, I see my best friends with a couple of bags in their hands.

“It’s us, Ev. Open up,” Gemma shouts.

I open the door, and they’re wearing sad expressions. Tyler must’ve said something to Gemma.

“We brought reinforcements,” Katie says as she walks past me.

“And the men are watching the kids tonight,” Gemma adds, wrapping her arms around me. “Let’s get some food and alcohol in you, then we’ll chat.”

Katie offers me a glass of wine, and I take it. When I sit on the couch with Gemma, I ask her if Archer acted unusually this morning.

“No, I only saw him for a moment. He stays busy with clients, and I’m usually jumping between reception and the smoothie bar.”

“Has he gotten any more threatening texts?” Katie asks.

“Well, to my knowledge, there were some sent a few weeks ago. He promised to tell me when he got them but didn’t mention anything recent to me,” I explain with an edginess to my tone. We made a deal to be honest with each other, and he wasn’t. Now, I’m pissed.

“I know you don’t wanna hear this, babe, but maybe Tyler’s right. If Krystal is after him, it affects you,” Gemma says. “As messed up as it is, he probably left without warning because he knew you’d talk him into staying.”

“Maybe Krystal gave him an ultimatum,” Katie offers.

“Like what? Because every scenario I think of doesn’t end well for him. That’s why I wanna look for him. She could hurt him.”