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She presses her lips together quickly before walking over to me, and then she grabs my wrist and presses a key into my hand. “That’s for the building. I’ll be upstairs.”
I give her a smile, nearly beaming when I look over at my art space again. She heads up the elevator as I answer my phone, my heart doing a little happy dance.
“Hey, you,” I say.
“Hey, yourself.” Archer sounds tired. “Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you.”
I shrug, not nearly as annoyed as I was earlier. “You’re busy. I get it.”
“That’s why you’re my girl.” He sighs. “I love how understanding you are about my work. Seriously, you’re the best.”
“Well.” I hum a little to myself, reveling in the compliment. “It helps to know you’ll be back in a few days.” Then I swallow and direct the conversation to where I know it needs to go—to what’s best for all of us. “Maybe when you get back on Sunday we can find another place to stay. Just the two of us. I’ll put it on my credit card, so you won’t have to worry about paying it off.”
“Yeah,” he says, something tugging in his voice.
“Archer.” I head for the elevator and press the button, waiting for it to come down. My gut is screaming at me that I know. I know if he were in front of me right now, he’d have his cautious little crooked smile. “Why does it feel like you aren’t coming back on Sunday?”
I hear a long exhale as I shove up the elevator door. I step in and slam it shut, hitting the button for the lobby.
“Derek decided to keep the clinic open one more week. He asked me to stay.”
The lobby air feels cold compared to the warmth in the basement. I didn’t even bring a coat with me as I step outside into the chilly night air.
“No.”
It’s all I say. It’s all I can say. He’s not doing this to me again.
“Charlotte,” he says, his voice soft, like he’s taming a wild animal. “Baby, it’s so important. These kids—”
“Don’t.” I blink away tears. “That’s not fair, and you know it.”
Of course the people he’s helping need it. They deserve healthcare and all the things Archer works to give them. I don’t need him to make me feel guilty for wanting him here when they need him there.
“I thought you were only staying until they found someone else.”
“I was, but with three of us, we can—”
“Wait, they already have someone there to help?” All the irritation from earlier returns and all the other times he’s done this flood in. Promised me it was only for a few days, only to turn around and be gone for two weeks. Said he’d leave when other volunteers arrived and I didn’t hear from him until the next day. He even stood me up for dinner with my parents a few months ago because he refused to leave a charity event.
I always let it go because Archer is the perfect guy, but suddenly, all those rocks in my belly make me think maybe he’s not the perfect guy for me.
“Stay.” The word comes out before I have a chance to talk myself out of it. “Stay in Detroit.”
“Thank you, baby.” He has a smile in his voice, but I have a lump in my throat.
“Don’t thank me,” I say. “I’m not telling you to stay because I understand or because I’m the best. I’m telling you to stay because I need some time.”
“Whoa, hold on, Charlotte. What are you talking about?”
I lick my lips, the cold air attacking them as I push away the burn of tears. “I’m not sure this is working anymore. Hell, maybe it was never working. I love you Archer—”
“I love you, too, baby,” he coos into the phone.
“But I don’t know if that means what it’s supposed to mean.”
Silence meets my words, and I brace myself. I know Archer, and I’m not sure if I’m ready for what he’ll say.
“Is this really what you want?” he asks, no malice in his words. Just genuine curiosity.
