Page 147 of A Million To Fall

I remember the ringtone.

Archer.

Skye takes a single sobering breath, then answers the call. “Hey, Archer.”

I take solace in the fact that she doesn’t call him baby or even Arch. Still, she clambers out of bed—naked, and beautiful, and utterly devastating—and walks out of the bedroom.

“Yeah, just finishing up some errands,” she says. Then, “Oh really? I don’t know, I have to check my settings, maybe. My location service has been a little wonky lately.”

She sounds innocent enough, but I grin despite myself. I have a feeling her location service would work just fine—if she turned it back on.

“Just random errands, Archer, nothing special,” she says, her tone slipping into something defensive.

I listen harder.

“I will still be at dinner… Yeah, I should be done in about an hour.”

I can’t help the feeling of dread seeping into my skin. I don’t want her to go.

I don’t want her anywhere near him.

“Alright, why don’t you finish up with Jake, and I’ll see you at six.”

There’s a long moment of silence before she finally says. “I love you, too.”

I close my eyes.

The words sit like bricks in my chest cavity.

I told myself I wouldn’t fall for her. Swore I wouldn’t let it get this far. Not when she’s still with Archer. Not when I’m still… me.

But I did.

I have.

I’m in love with her.

Truly, deeply, painfully in love with her.

Except I don’t know what the hell is supposed to come next.

When I hear soft footsteps on carpet, I open my eyes to look at her.

She’s still so utterly perfect.

She’s quiet, arms wrapped around herself, shoulders tight. Her aqua eyes though hold something I don’t immediately recognize. Not guilt exactly. Not regret either. Maybe just… resolve?

“You okay?” I ask, already bracing myself for the answer.

Skye nods, but doesn’t look at me.

“Stormy…”

She tilts her head up, eyes wide as they lock on mine.

I hesitate, but there’s no putting this back in the box now. I’m already lost to her and ruined for anyone else. Might as well take the risk of shattering completely. “What… what are we doing?” I inhale a shaky breath. “Where is this going?”

It’s a plea. It’s me laying my heart bare, knowing full well it might break in her hands.