“Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. My mother would literally kill me if she knew you had to bring your own bags in.”
I laugh at that because May Peterson would definitely give her son an earful. “Who’s going to tell her?”
He stops and turns to look at me, brow raised. “That woman has a sixth sense, Hayleigh.” I snigger at his serious tone. He points to the house. “It’s three stories, the basement is Archie’s, then the living area and kitchen are on the ground floor, secondfloor or first, however you count it, is where I sleep, and where the spare bedroom is, and the third floor is our gym.”
I roll my eyes and mutter. “Of course you have a gym, Mr Abs.”
Nate smirks, holding his hand to his ear. “Huh, did you say something?” My cheeks burn, and I quickly shake my head.
He opens the door and puts our bags down inside. I don’t know what I expected this place to look like, but it wasn’t this. Everything is so clean and modern. The living room is off to our right, the space open and airy. The walls are bare brick where the fireplace is, and the TV hangs overhead with built-in cupboards on either side of the fireplace. A U-shaped, cream couch sits in the centre of the area, and in front of it is a stunning coffee table. It looks to be made from solid wood, with the grooves and grain standing out beneath the clear glass on top.
The kitchen is equally stunning, both modern and homely, with custom wooden sides that, no doubt, Nate made. I nudge his arm. “This place is beautiful. Did you make the coffee table and the kitchen sides?”
He gives me a shy nod as pink tinges his cheeks. “Yeah, I wanted it to look and feel like home but make it my own at the same time.”
“You did an outstanding job.”
He clears his throat. “Let’s go say hi to Arch, oh, uh, best take off your shoes, he’s a bit of a clean freak.”
I stifle a giggle and remove my shoes as we walk across the kitchen and through a door in the corner. Beyond that is a spiral staircase leading to the basement. “Wow, this is like descending into the bat cave.”
Nate laughs. “Jesus, don’t tell Archie that or he’ll fall in love with you.”
It’s a shame it isn’t you.
My God, I hate my brain at times.
Stop thinking inappropriate thoughts, Hayleigh, before you plummet to your death on these stairs.
When we reach the bottom, the open plan room is so light that it feels like you’re upstairs. The whole room is open plan, but it’s hard to take anything in because all I’m seeing is Archie, curled up on his sofa, a film playing while he sobs.
Forgetting I’m a guest, I rush over and yank him into a hug. “Hey, what’s wrong?” I look at the TV. It’s the movie All Dogs Go To Heaven. “Archie, why are you watching a sad cartoon?”
His eyes are red, and his mouth turns down as he shrugs. “I-uh-it’s something I do, have done since my biological parents died, it’s stupid…”
Sitting beside him, I rub his back. “It isn’t stupid, we watch things we’ve seen before because we know what the outcome is going to be. It's like a little boost of happiness, or in this case, sadness.”
He laughs at that before wiping away his tears and looking over at Nate. “Sorry for being a donny downer. What are you both doing here?”
Nate’s eyes widen, and he uncrosses his arms. “Well, I thought that maybe…” His brow creases as he looks at me. “Uh, Hayleigh could, possibly…we could help her to-”
Archie rolls his eyes, cutting off Nate’s ramblings. “Long way of saying Hayleigh’s having a sleepover, Nate.”
I blush at that. “I hope that’s okay, but if I’m…”
Archie levels me with a look. “Whether you like it or not, you’re family. Wanna watch the rest of this movie with me?”
“Yes.” I smile at him as Nate says the same time.
“No.” But then he shrugs. “Guess that means yes. Scoot up and pass me the popcorn.” Then suddenly I’m in a Peterson sandwich.
Have I died and gone to heaven?
**********
Turns out, watching cartoons between two hunky men makes me incredibly sleepy. One minute, I was close to tears over Charlie the Alsatian, the next, I was opening my eyes to Nate carrying me upstairs without even breaking a sweat. I tried to calm my racing heart and stay as still as I possibly could until he placed me on a bed before walking out of the room and closing the door behind him.
I sit up gingerly and look around. The walls look like a light blue, but I can’t tell in the darkness. The only light I have is the moonlight streaming through the window. Sheer white curtains drape over the windows, there’s a vanity table to one side of the room, and the bed is a double with soft, satin covers. Then a floral scent hits me as I move the pillows.
