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Chapter Twenty-Four

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Archer

I t’s a shitty day at work, one of those that make me wonder why I do what I do. Sometimes the red tape makes it impossible to do any good. It doesn’t help that I’ve been so damn worried about East the past few days. That nightmare had been frightening to witness—the way he’d been flailing around, how he’d been screaming for Ella, yelling at Morgan, as if he was reliving the worst day of his life.

At first I hadn’t been able to wake him up, to pull him out of the past. He’d been crying, wailing, in so much pain. I’ve never felt my heart being ripped out the way I did in that moment.

And he’s spent the last eighteen years blaming himself, thinking it’s his fault—something Gregory fucking Swift hasn’t done anything to stop. Something he’s actively made worse. My body temperature rises and my head throbs to the point where it feels like it’s going to explode every time I think about it. What kind of parent treats their child the way East has been treated? And though I shouldn’t be, it’s hard not to be pissed at Morgan and Rhett about it too. Why couldn’t they find a way to protect him?

I’m exhausted when I get off work. East is still at work, and part of me is glad. Not because I don’t want to be around him. I always want to be with him, but I need someone I can talk to, someone I can trust and who will know what to do. It doesn’t matter if I’m thirty-six years old, one of those people for me will always be my mom. And it helps to know she’s also someone who cares about East.

I text her to see if she’s off, and thankfully she is, so I head to their place. Dad is home too, and as close as I am with him, as much as I love him and know I can trust him, I don’t want to share East’s business with him. It doesn’t feel right. But like always, somehow my parents know. Dad takes one look at me and asks, “You good?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I’ll give you two a few minutes.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t—”

He puts a hand on my shoulder. “Hey. None of that. I get it. I’ve got a mom too, ya know.”

I chuckle. Christ, my family is the best, and I’m so damn grateful that now East will have them too. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Have a good chat.” He heads for the backyard.

Mom comes over and gives me a hug. “You look like you needed that. Is everything okay with you and Easton?”

“Yes. We’re good.” I rub a hand over my face and follow her to the couch. “I’m in love with him.”

“I know. And he loves you too. That’s another thing moms always know.”

I chuckle but don’t doubt she’s right. Moms have some kind of magic ability sometimes…but then, when I look at my father, he does too. I guess it’s just that some people are really fucking good at being parents, and I was blessed to have two good ones.

“I don’t even know if I should be sharing any of this with you…” But my gut tells me it’s okay. That East would know she can be trusted and that I’m only doing it because I love him.

“You wouldn’t be here if you knew you shouldn’t be.” And yep, she’s right. “You’re here because you love him.”

“I’m worried about him. Ella…he hasn’t dealt with losing her at all. He thinks it’s his fault.”

“Oh, that sweet, noble boy… It’s hard for people who love big not to blame themselves. That doesn’t mean it’s right and they should, but sometimes our hearts do a real good job at burying our logic. I take it he’s never talked to anyone?”

I shake my head. “I just want to do right by him. I want to support him in the right ways and love him the best I can. What if I do something wrong?”

“It doesn’t look like Easton is the only person taking blame for things they can’t control. No matter what, Easton’s choices and how he moves forward is up to him. You can’t force him to do anything. You can’t make him get help. Even if you force him to go, therapy doesn’t work if you’re not an active participant in it. What you can do is be honest with him, and love him the best you can, which I know you’ll do. And sometimes you might mess up. You’re human. But your heart will always be in the right place, and if there is anyone who will do their best by East, I know it’s you.”

I nod, then push the hair off my forehead. “I just want to make it all go away for him.”

“You can’t, but you can help make every day from now on better than the ones he had before.”

Jesus, I hope she’s right.

“I’m so proud of the man you are, Archer. And that boy—that man. He’s something special too. I feel it in here.” She places a hand over her heart. “I knew it hearing Allison talk about him, and I felt so connected to him that day with Ella. He was meant to be in this family, and I have to believe everything will be okay.”

A deep breath wooshes from my lungs, a sort of calmness settling in my bones. “I feel the same.”

“Do you think he would mind if I asked him out to lunch or something sometime? I don’t want to overstep.”

I reach over and squeeze her hand. “I think he would like that.”

She places her other hand on top of mine, and we sit there for a moment together like that.

“Do you want to know why I do what I do?” I finally ask, and she nods. “When Trav started to get into trouble… I kept telling myself that if only someone had given him a chance, tried to help him rather than just seeing him as troubled, as wrong, maybe that might’ve made a difference. Maybe he’d still be here. That’s why I went into law enforcement, but sometimes it feels like I was wrong. I haven’t done what I planned to do. Hell, I don’t even know if I like my job…but maybe…is it too wild to think that part of it was for him?” Even as I say it, I feel my cheeks heat.

“I think this world is filled with a million little miracles that we just don’t see, or don’t believe. This could be one of them.”

Because those times I went to help East when he needed it are part of why he trusted me, part of why he let me in. If it hadn’t been for me, he might not have ever told anyone what really happened that night he’d gotten into trouble for assault. But just like East has felt different to me from the start, maybe I’ve been different for him.

“Archer…Travis wasn’t your fault.”

“Yeah, I know. East said the same thing. I told him we’d work on our misplaced guilt together.”

She smiles, pulls me closer, and kisses my temple. “I love you.”

“I love you too. And thank you, for everything. Not just me, but how you are with East.”

“You better be careful, or he might end up being my favorite,” she teases, and I laugh along with her. I don’t think I would mind that at all. He deserves it.

We talk for a few more minutes before I go out back and chat with Dad. East is still at work, and I drop by there before going home to change and then meet him at his place.

He and Dusty are laughing, the two of them by a car in their coveralls, East with his head thrown back in a way I don’t often see. I stop and stare at him for a moment, struck stupid by this fucking man and how beautiful he is.

Dusty sees me first and gives me a knowing smile. “Archer is here,” he tells Easton, who turns his blue eyes on me.

“I went to see my mom after work. The shop is on my way home, so I stopped by.” I force myself not to put an arm around East, not to pull him close and kiss him. “She asked for your number. I hope that’s okay. She said something about you being her favorite and wanting to take you out to lunch.”

“I…” He nods. “Yeah, that’s fine.” And then he surprises me by reaching over and taking my hand. Dusty notices, of course, but just grins and doesn’t call us out. “Will you be around on Sunday? We were thinking that might be a good day for Dusty, Morgan, and Rhett to come over.”

Jesus, he’s trying so fucking hard. I can see it. He’s unsure right now, nervous, but he’s doing this, holding my hand and inviting them over. Hell, I’d call off for work if I had to. “Yeah, that works for me.”

“It’s a plan, then,” Dusty says. “I have to go…take care of something. Or you know, make up a reason to give the two of you a moment. I’ll be back.”

I laugh while East shakes his head. The moment Dusty slips into the office, I pull East close, leaning against one of the counters and wrapping my arms around his waist. “I think my good boy deserves something special for that.”

He bites his bottom lip. “Oh yeah? What did you have in mind? Giving me that big fucking cock of yours?”

“Anything. I’ll give you anything, East.”

He presses his mouth to mine. I flick my tongue against his lips, and he grants me entrance. It’s a short kiss, not one where I can devour him the way I’d like to do, before someone clears her throat behind him. East jerks away from me, and damn it, I was just making out with him in the middle of the shop in my uniform.

“Archer Thorn…is that you?” old Mrs. Williams says.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you two boys were…you know. I think that’s very nice.”

I laugh, grateful for her reply, even though it’s ridiculous.

“I came by to check on my vehicle.”

“Yes, ma’am. I can help you.” East walks over to her, and I wait for him. Maybe I should be worried about her seeing us or how fast it will get around town, but I can’t find it in myself to care.

East talks to her for a few minutes, before she waves to me and is on her way. I pull him close again.

“What are you smiling at?” he asks.

“I like people knowing you’re mine.”

East drops his forehead against my shoulder. “You’re ruining me, you know that?” I’m not sure how to take that, but then he says softer, mouth against my throat, “But in the best way.”

“Then you already ruined me, sweetheart. I’m just waiting for you to catch up.”

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