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I lifted my brow. “And you’re so respectable yourself?”
His eyes widened. “You really dislike me, huh?”
“No.” I shook my head and chuckled. “I don’t know you. I can’t hate someone I don’t know.”
“You’ve just assumed certain things in the meantime.”
“Yes, because of how distant you’ve seemed in the past.”
“Maybe I was just shy. Did you ever think of that?”
“I doubt it.”
“Let’s clear some things up.” He moved to sit on the edge of my bed, putting me on edge. “What’s one impression you have of me?”
“That you’re stuck up,” I said immediately.
He crossed his arms. “I could’ve assumed the same about you—that you were a smart, know-it-all, overachiever who wanted nothing to do with the dumb jock son of your parents’ friends. Because you also never made an effort to get to know me.”
“I don’t think you’re dumb.” My eyes narrowed. “And who said I was smart?”
“Your parents are always bragging about you.”
“Yeah, well, your mom brags about you, too.”
“Exactly.” He huffed. “My mom, not my dad, right?”
Crap. I’d touched that sore spot. “Yeah…your mom always has amazing things to say about you.”
“And yet you think I’m an asshole, for some godforsaken reason.”
“You know what? You’re right. I made assumptions about you. You’ve just always been elusive.” I crossed my arms.
Archie stood up and inched closer, putting my body on high alert. “If you want to get to know me, then get to know me. But don’t make assumptions without anything to back them up.” He looked me in the eyes. “And I promise to do the same.” He then stood and walked backward toward the bathroom door. “Anyway, the bathroom’s free. But FYI, only the door on your side seems to lock from the inside. So while I can lock you out, you can’t lock me out. I’ll be extra careful to knock first, though.” He winked and turned away. “Unlike some people.”
Great. “Thank you.”
He turned around one final time. “Nice to actually meet you, Noelle Simone Benedict.”
He knows my middle name? Interesting. “You, too,” I murmured.
He headed through the bathroom and disappeared into his room. It felt a little like that bathroom was a gateway to heaven—or hell, depending on how you looked at it.
Imagining him listening to every move I made, I washed my face and brushed my teeth as quickly as possible. I almost opted to go to sleep without using the toilet for fear that I’d fart or something, but then I figured out that I could run the water to hide any potential sounds. He was just too close for comfort.
I had trouble getting to sleep after that, albeit with a reluctant smile on my face. Because Archie Remington? He was a bit different than I’d imagined. He was…alright.
• • •
The following morning, I dragged my butt out of bed at 5 AM for another morning run. I spent a few minutes watching the sun beginning to rise over the ocean as I stretched, the sound of seagulls the only sign of life.
But about a minute after I took off down the road, I heard footsteps on the gravel behind me. My heart raced. It sounded like I was being chased—until the footsteps caught up with me. My adrenaline waned after I turned to find Archie jogging beside me.
“You scared the shit out of me,” I panted.
“You shouldn’t be running this early by yourself.”
“Why not? This is a nice area.”
“It’s not as nice as you think. There are plenty of lowlifes lurking around, ready to take advantage of people they think deserve it because they’re rich and entitled. People travel here to prey on others. And you’re the perfect victim, all alone out here with no one else around. It’s practically the middle of the night. The sun isn’t even fully up yet.”
“How did you know I went running?”
“Well, your fucking alarm woke me up, for one. Then I looked and saw you stretching out front. Figured I’d catch up with you.” He turned to look straight ahead. “Anyway, I run too and don’t mind having a partner.”
“Well, I don’t exactly need one, so…”
He shook his head. “You were upset because I was anti-social, and now you don’t want my company? Isn’t that a bit of a contradiction? I get no points for effort here?”
Speeding up a bit, I said, “I like running alone to clear my head. And I can already see you talk too much.”
“Now I talk too much?” He chuckled. “Damn, you’re hard to please, Noelle. How about if I agree to shut up while we’re running?”
God, he looks fucking hot right now. He wore a Dodgers cap backward, which was barely able to contain the golden-brown hair peeking out from under it. And his black athletic shirt hugged his muscles impeccably.
“Okay…” I sighed. “I can deal with running and no talking.”
