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She hesitated. “I-I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“Because your life is here. Minneapolis is a lot closer to Wild Pines, which you just committed to, and you’re closer to your family. I couldn’t tear that away from you.”
He sighed, defeated. He dropped his grip on her neck and placed his hands on her thighs. “Then stay.”
“B-but—”
“You said you’re not sure where home is. So stay. With me.”
She covered her mouth with her hands. She looked lost. Uncertain.
“Do you not want to be with me?”
Her shoulders sagged. “Archer.”
“Do you?”
Her eyes were glossy with tears. “What if…what if we did long distance? You stay here, and I go back with Mom? I-I can’t leave her, Arch. She’s all alone out there.”
Long distance. The thought churned like acid in his stomach. It would be back to what they were before—three months together, nine months apart. It sounded like literal hell.
“It could be good,” she babbled on. “A little space, maybe? To think it through? Figure out what we should do next?”
He stood up. “I need to think. I’m going to take a walk or go for a drive or something.”
“Hey, wait—”
He didn’t wait. This time, it was him who needed a little time to parse through his thoughts. He snatched his keys and left.
Archer wandered the craft beer aisle at Hector’s. It was the only place he could think of, and for some reason, looking at microbrew varieties calmed him. He scanned the labels and took deep breaths and—
“Why am I not surprised to find you here?”
Janelle stood beside him, holding a basket of groceries and two bottles of wine tucked under her arm.
His instinct was to offer to hold them for her, but he caught himself. He turned back to the fridge. “Yeah, not a surprise.”
She stepped in front of him. “You okay, Archie?”
He sighed. “Not really. Came here to clear my head.”
“Want to talk about it?”
He eyed her, thankful his mask was hiding the scowl he couldn’t help. “With you? No.”
“Girl problems?”
He scratched his head. “Janelle, please.”
“So you are with her, huh?”
He sighed audibly and looked up at the fluorescent lights, not caring if they temporarily blinded him. “Yes. For now.”
“For now?”
His chest flared as he looked back at her. “Yes, for now. She’s heading back east like always and leaving me behind. To pretend like whatever is happening between us doesn’t exist. Or at least not for nine months of the year.”
