“Don’t you dare,” I hissed.“He’ll ask what the twenty is for and then you’ll tell him you lost the bet and he’ll want to knowwhat bet.And then he’ll know I slept with Archer because I’m a shameless hussy who can’t keep her legs closed.”
“You’re not a hussy,” Hadley said.“You’re in love with him.There’s a difference.”
I gently pushed her foot off my lap and leaned back into the chair’s embrace.
“I don’t hear you denying it,” Salem said.“So, are you in love with Archer?”
“Who the hell knows,” I grumbled.
“What happened?”Poet asked, finally taking a seat on the other couch.
“When did it happen?How did it happen?How many times did it happen?”Salem asked.
“Two days ago, on the living room floor.We were yelling at each other and then it turned carnal ...but it only happened once,” I said, my tone flat.
“Oh.”Hadley raised her brows.“Why were you guys fighting?”
I explained about the angry message I’d left on Nancy’s voicemail and why.
“She called Archer,” I finished.“And then Archer confronted me.”
“He was mad that you called her?”Poet asked.
“Yeah, he was,” I said slowly.“I didn’t know all the details about what she’d done with Blair’s stuff.She’s not who I thought she was.And something about me acting like Lenni’s mom when I’m not ...I don’t know.I still don’t think I understand what the fight wasactuallyabout.Not really.”
“Well, it’s obvious,” Poet said.
“Oh yeah?Explain it to me then,” I remarked.
“Archerwantsyou to be Lenni’s mom.Not just her nanny.”
“Those are the baby hormones talking,” I quipped.“You’re crazy.”
Hadley nodded her head.“I think Poet’s right.”
“Absolutely,” Salem agreed.
“Hang on,” I stated.“You can’t know that.”
“No?”Poet asked.“Have you met my fiancé?That man knew I was the one immediately.”
“What does that have to do with Archer?”I asked in confusion.
Poet rolled her eyes.“Men know pretty damn fast when they’ve met the woman they want to marry.”
“It’s true,” Hadley said.“Declan knew I was the one before I did.”
“Yeah, so did Cas,” Salem said.
“Fast and furious,” Poet explained.“I’d bet the money I won from Salem and Hadley that Archer wants you.Forever.”
“Now it’s my turn to use the bathroom,” I said.
“Don’t joke.”Poet frowned at me.“Why is this so crazy to you?”
“Because men don’t want me!”I snapped.“They say what I want to hear and the moment I let my guard down, they bail.My heart gets involved so fast and it has terrible taste in men because I believe them.I thought I had all this under control, you know?A penis embargo—dating hiatus.But I can’t help it!I fell in love!He’s a stupid-hot love burglar who stole my heart!God damn it, what the ever-loving fuck is wrong with me?”
I buried my face in my hands and took a trembling breath.
