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“Tyler didn’t want Gemma to know and asked me not to tell you because he knows you’d slip.”
“That little shit!” I scowl.
Archer chuckles, gets out, and meets me at my door.
“Well, is he wrong?” he asks, holding out his hand.
“Shush.” I take it, and he helps me stand. “I probably would’ve in a look how hot you are after having a baby, kind of statement.”
“I’m surprised Damien didn’t tell you.”
“Me too,” I say honestly.
Archer leads us inside the house, and I find Sassy passed out on the couch. There’s an empty bowl on the coffee table, and I smile at the thought of Archer and Sassy sharing popcorn.
“Probably didn’t want you to do the same to the other eye.” I snort.
“If he knows what’s good for him, he won’t talk about another man’s woman again.” He wraps his arms around me and pulls me to his chest. “Especially my woman.”
I stand on my tiptoes and press my lips to his. “Oh yeah?”
He smacks my ass, then lifts me until my legs circle his waist.
“Yep. Hope you’re sober enough to feel what I’m about to do to you.”
My eyes widen in shock. He normally denies me when I’ve had too much to drink because I can get a little mouthy and wild. But as soon as he strips me out of my clothes and gives me my first orgasm of the night, I’m not complaining one bit.
Chapter Ten
ARCHER
“You hit like a kid,” I say when Kyle swings at me and misses. He’s around seventeen and a cocky little shit. Too bad he doesn’t have the moves to back up his ego.
He circles me, but I don’t flinch.
“I bet I could knock you out,” he retorts.
“Dude, I’ve been waiting thirty minutes. Make your move.” I keep my defensive stance and watch him closely.
He aims for my face again, but I block him. Next, he swings an uppercut to my jaw, but I hardly flinch.
“Put some power into your punches,” I direct. “You have the positions down but no confidence. You chicken out as soon as you—”
Before I can finish my sentence, Kyle fakes a punch, and as I dodge it, he kicks my knee and forces me down. Instinctively, I hold up my hands to cover my face, but Kyle’s in too much shock to react. I kick out my leg and take him down with me.
“About time a fire gets lit under your ass.” I chuckle as he lies flat on his back. “Nice job. Once your opponent is down, keep them down. Aim for the face and gut, but keep watch so they don’t take you out. You hesitated after the fact.”
I get to my feet and hold out my hand to help him up. “But you did a good job.”
“Thanks. See ya next week?” he asks, ripping off his gloves with a cheesy grin.
“Yep. Nice work. See ya then.”
After I clean up, I order a protein berry blast from the smoothie bar. Tyler finds me shortly after and asks how things are going.
“Great, can’t complain honestly.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Can you believe this time last year we could only talk on the phone a couple of times a month?”
“It’s surreal. I’ve only been out for six months, but so much has happened during that time. My life has changed more than I thought was possible,” I admit. One of those life-changing things is Everleigh. I’m so happy and grateful for what we have, yet I can’t fight the feeling that I’m going to somehow fuck it up. Maybe it’s because I’ve never been in a serious relationship before or that I just love her so damn much that the fear of losing her consumes me.
“Yeah, after I was released, my world drastically changed too. Gemma and I had to become friends again first, and once I confirmed she still had feelings for me, I knew a life with her here was all I wanted.”
I smile as I think about everything he’s overcome. He looks at me as if he’s waiting for me to say something else, and when I don’t, he continues. “I know it’s none of my business, but it’s been weighing on me, so I have to ask.”
“What’s up?”
“Do you think you’ll stay in Lawton Ridge? Since Annie and Sadie are in Wyoming, I wasn’t sure of your plans, especially now that you’re with Everleigh.”
Ahh…the long-awaited big brother talk.
“Honestly, I’ve not thought too far into the future. I enjoy being here, and I love Everleigh. I hope one day Annie and Sadie will move to Alabama, but I think that’s gonna take some convincing.”
Tyler nods with a grin. “I’d like that for ya, man. Family’s important to have around.”
“I agree, though I think of you as my family too,” I say truthfully. “You gave me a home.”
