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Archer returns with a pillow and a blanket. I hate that he’s staying on this couch. I’d ask him to join me, but I don’t want to sound too attached.
“I’m so tired that I might immediately fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow,” Archer says, yawning.
“Yeah, same. Gonna wash my face and brush my teeth, then head in too.”
Before I can walk away, Archer gently grabs my wrist and pulls me into his chest. “Thanks again for joining me. Having you here means a lot.”
I wrap my arms around his body and feel his heart beating. “Of course. They’re amazing. Must run in the family.”
“Nah, I don’t know about that,” he says, pushing away. “But they love you, just like I do.”
My breathing stops, and I blink a few times. I know he means that in a friendly way, but that doesn’t mean those words don’t affect me. Because holy shit, they do.
“Uh, well good night.” I swallow hard, then make my way to the bathroom.
After I’ve brushed my teeth and changed my clothes, I climb into Sadie’s bed. Closing my eyes, I count to ten and try to fall asleep, but it doesn’t happen. After fifteen minutes of lying here, I grab an extra pillow and wrap my arm around it. Definitely not the same as Archer.
As I’m slowly drifting off, I feel the bed dip, and then the pillow moves out of my hold. When I open one eye, Archer’s sliding in next to me. His arm snakes under my body, and he pulls me close.
“What’re you doin’?” I whisper, resting my arm over his muscular stomach.
“I didn’t want to miss you mumbling my name,” he taunts.
“Very funny,” I mutter. “I was dreaming about Ashton Kutcher, thank you very much. It just sounded like Archer.”
“Oh really?” His chest vibrates with soft laughter. “Ashton from early 2000s or Ashton 2020s?”
I flash a lazy grin. “FromThat 70s Show.”
“Oh God, that’s bad. He was like twenty when that show premiered. Guess that makes you a cougar.”
“He was my teen heartthrob crush,” I say with a half-shrug. “Though he’s aged like a fine wine.”
“Alright, that’s enough, maneater. Back to sleep.”
“Is that jealousy I hear?” I tease.
Archer wraps his leg over mine, and I instantly relax. “Shush, woman. You need to save your energy for our hiking trip tomorrow.”
“Ugh, fine.”
His warmth covers me like a blanket, and I instantly drift off.
My eyes snap open as an earthquake rolls through the room. Scratch that, a tiny human who’s shaking my shoulder.
“Hi,” I say softly.
“Are you awake?” Sadie asks with a bright, hopeful smile.
“Uh, yeah.” I blink a few times before sitting up, then quickly look around for Archer. The blankets look like he never snuck in last night.
“Yay! We’re about to have breakfast, then go hiking!”
“Can’t wait,” I grind out between my teeth.
After we eat and get dressed, Annie takes us to one of her favorite trails that’s close by.
“When we get to the top, make sure to get out your camera,” Annie says. “You’ll want to take pics of the view.”
