CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Sara
I ran, tears falling, heart shattering.
Leaving him took all I had.
I ran faster, putting distance between us—from the man who had my heart.
The man who loved me, then broke me, heartlessly.
A few people noticed my tears. Some recognized me, but I didn't stop running.
I just needed to get home, lock myself in my room, cry until there was nothing left, and emerge only when I felt a little stronger.
"Sara!" a voice called behind me, footsteps quickening as if to catch up. "Sara!"
A hand grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop. I turned, breathless, and found Maria standing there, her face etched with concern.
"Oh, sweetie, what happened?"
I couldn't answer her. If I spoke, my voice would break, and I would fall apart right there, in front of her, in the middle of the busy street.
But Maria knew. She understood what I was going through without me having to say a word. And she knew me well enough to recognize that my pride wouldn't allow me to break down in front of everyone.
So, she simply rubbed my arm gently and said, "Let me walk you home."
Then, after a brief pause, she smiled and corrected herself. "Or... we can run together."
I gave her a watery smile, one that never reached my eyes. But deep down, I was grateful she was there.
We walked fast, hurried. And true to her words, Maria stayed beside me, her presence a quiet source of strength. Every so often, she whispered, "Just a few more steps, sweetie. Hold on."
A sob escaped me. I couldn't hold it in anymore. My vision blurred with tears, but I kept running, pushing through the crowd, blind to where I was going.
Then, I crashed into a solid chest.
Strong arms wrapped around me, steadying me. And in the midst of my breaking, a deep, gentle voice whispered quietly to me.
"Peaches. I'm here."
I looked up, my vision blurry, but I didn't need clarity to know the worry in his eyes.
His hands reached for my face, fingers warm and sure. Gently, his thumbs wiped away my tears, clearing them one by one, until I could finally see him.
"I'll take you home, okay?" he said, giving me a small smile.
I nodded before turning to Maria, who was eyeing Archie with narrowed eyes, suspicion evident.
"I'll walk behind you," she said firmly. "Just to make sure you're okay."
Archie took my right hand, and I covered his with my left. With our hands clasped tightly together, we walked quickly toward my house.
It wasn't far. I could already see my front door, just a few steps away. But somehow, the short distance stretched endlessly before me, my legs carrying me forward while my heart begged me to stop, to breathe, to gather myself before I broke down completely.
When we reached the steps, Maria nudged my arm gently while Archie walked up to open the door. I turned to her, and she met my gaze with quiet understanding.
"When I walked by earlier, I saw him standing in front of your doorstep," she said. "He stared down this side of the road, looking so damn agitated. I called you to ask if you knew him, but you didn't pick up. Now I know he was waiting for you. The moment he saw you, he jumped down right away."
She gave my arm a gentle squeeze. "I'm so sorry for what you're going through, Sara. I know how it feels. I'm here if you need me. Just give me a call, okay?"
I nodded, forcing a smile, and watched as Maria turned and walked away.
"Sara," Archie's voice was soft, pulling my attention back to him.
When I turned, he had already extended his hand to me. Without hesitation, I took it, and together, we stepped inside.
Archie closed the door behind me, and I stood frozen, my sobs wracking my body, tears spilling endlessly. My living room blurred before me, but his presence remained solid just behind me. He didn't speak, didn't move. He simply stayed. A quiet reassurance in the storm of my grief.
I forced my feet to move forward, sinking onto the sofa in the living room. Archie followed, hesitant at first, but when I held up my hand, an invitation, he sat beside me. Without a word, I inched closer, curling into the refuge under his arm, my head finding its place on his chest.
For what felt like an eternity, I wept in quiet tremors, his hand tracing gentle circles on my back, his voice a tender echo in the stillness, "It's going to be okay. You're going to be okay. Let it out, Peaches. Let it all out."
And so, I did.
I let the grief, the anger, the exhaustion pour out of me in broken sobs. I clung to him, burying my face into his chest as I unraveled, piece by piece, shedding the weight I had carried alone. And through it all, he never let go.
After a while, my mind blurred, as though my thoughts had retreated into some hidden sanctuary, a defense against pain and heartbreak. I felt distant, detached, as if encased in glass, watching the world from behind a fragile barrier. Yet his heartbeat remained—a calming, grounding rhythm—and the steady rise and fall of his breath kept me anchored to my sanity.
Then voices pierced the haze, familiar and warm. Emma's arms encircled me, her embrace firm from behind as she asked Archie, "What happened?"
I didn't catch his reply, but I felt Julian's hand grasp my knee and give it a gentle squeeze, a silent promise that he was here for me.
I could get through this. I knew I would.
Because even in the darkness, in this madness, I was not alone.
*** *** ***
I hadn't realized I had fallen asleep.
Somehow, I was already in my room, tucked under the blanket. Darkness cloaked the world outside my window, and my room was equally dim.
I glanced at the clock on my bedside table. It was already midnight.
My entire body ached. A deep soreness settled in, though I had expected only my eyes to feel heavy. I rubbed my face with my hands, and just as I was about to slide out of bed, a voice broke the silence.
"Peaches, you're awake?"
I turned toward the sound, my eyes adjusting to the shadows. Archie sat on the sofa across from the bed, leaning forward, trying to see me through the darkness.
"Yeah," I murmured.
"Do you want some water?" he asked.
I nodded.
He grabbed a bottle from the coffee table, twisting the cap open as he walked toward me. "Here," he said, handing it over before settling beside me, watching as I took a long, thirsty gulp of water.
After I finished, he gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "You alright?" he asked softly.
"Not really," I admitted weakly. "Not yet."
He nodded. "Are you okay with me here? Or do you want me to leave?"
I hesitated, meeting his gaze. Before I could answer, he added, "Emma was sleeping next to you earlier, but she snores so loud that Julian had to carry her to her room. We were afraid she'd wake you." He chuckled. "That was a powerful noise coming from such a tiny body."
I chuckled too. "Yeah, Emma snores. But I'm fine with it, usually."
Glancing to the side, I found Archie watching me with so much concern that I sighed. "I'm okay. No need to worry about me."
"I can't help it," he replied.
"Maria said you were waiting on the doorstep."
"Yeah. I was waiting for you."
"You knew I was going to be a wreck?"
"I was hoping you wouldn't be," he admitted. "But before you left, I saw your expression... and his. I figured you were about to have a heavy conversation. I was worried, but I didn't know what else to do. So, I just stood there, waiting for you."
"Thank you," I said, holding his gaze.
He frowned slightly. "For what?" His confusion was genuine.
"For caring," I said softly. "For being here."
His brows drew together slightly, as if the thought of me thanking him didn't sit right. "I said I would be, didn't I?"
I nodded. "Yeah. And you've stayed true to your word."
"Always," he smiled tenderly.
We sat in a comfortable silence, the quiet wrapping around us like a familiar embrace. My thoughts churned.Cole and the closure I sought, the future I was trying to piece together. And then there was Archie, steady, unwavering. I stole a glance at him, wondering if he could sense the storm raging inside me.
Finally, I exhaled and said, "It was good that Cole and I had that talk. I needed it. It was closure."
"Okay..." he said slowly.
"It's really over," I exhaled, the reality settling heavily on my chest. "The divorce was already in motion, but this time, it felt truly final. And I hate that I wasted so many tears on him. He didn't deserve them."
Archie studied me for a moment. "It's okay to cry, Peaches," he murmured. "You're letting go of something that meant so much to you. That's not weakness. It's just part of healing."
I nodded, swallowing past the lump in my throat. "Yeah..."
I turned to face him, my eyes meeting his gaze. He held it, patient and attentive, as if he already sensed the weight of what I was about to say.
"I'm going to start my life now, Archie. My new life."
He didn't speak, but I saw the slight tension in his expression—waiting, listening, bracing himself for whatever came next.
"And I don't know how long it will take until I'm ready. For you."
I saw it instantly, the way his whole body tightened, even though his expression barely shifted. I offered him a small, soft smile.
"Or if you're the one for me."
A flicker of disappointment crossed his face, subtle but undeniable, and it made my heart clench. Still, I didn't look away. I held his gaze.
"Right now, my feelings for you are still tangled, Archie. But one thing I know for certain, what I feel for you is more than just friendship. But after everything I've been through, I need to be very sure before I take another leap."
His green eyes softened; relief was clear in his expression. He leaned in, gently taking my hands in his. His thumbs traced over my knuckles before his grip tightened, firm and reassuring.
I exhaled, trying to steady myself, uncertain of how he would react to my next words. But I had to say it, what I needed from him and what I could offer him, at least for now.
"I want us to stay friends for now, Archie. No pressure, no expectations. Just... taking things slow and appreciating the moments we share."
He stayed quiet, his gaze shifting away from me for a moment. His fingers twitched slightly against mine, but he didn't let go.
"Am I confusing you?" I let out a small, nervous chuckle. "Because I'm confusing myself, to be honest."
He shook his head, his voice an inaudible murmur. "I'm listening, Peaches. And I understand."
"I know it's not fair for me to ask you to do this for me, and I also know there's Nicole in your life—"
"No," Archie cut me off, his gaze sharpening. "Nicole is my past, and that's where she'll stay." He hesitated, his jaw tightening as he carefully chose his next words. "I thought she could replace you. I wanted her to make me forget you."
Something in his eyes stole my breath. Not just his words, but the way he looked at me. The depth of it settled deep in my chest, stirring something I wasn't ready to name. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came.
"You remember the restaurant where we first met, Peaches?"
I nodded, my heartbeat quickening just a little.
"I went back there twenty-two times after that, hoping to see you again." He exhaled, his expression softening, but laden with deep emotion. "I kept searching for you. And when I finally found you... it was the day Cole introduced us. And I saw you loved him so much."
Archie released my hand and slowly rose to his feet. My gaze followed him, and my breath hitched as his knuckles grazed my cheek—soft, reverent. My eyes fluttered shut at the warmth of his touch.
"I'll wait for you, Peaches," he said, his words carrying the weight of a vow. "Because I love you. I've been drawn to you since the moment I met you eight years ago, and somewhere along the way, I fell completely. And I'm not going anywhere unless you look me in the eye and tell me, without a shadow of a doubt, that there's no hope."