Archer #3
“But it’s not the kind of love where I’m stupid enough to hope we’ll ever be together.
” He snags his soda and smirks behind the lip of the can.
“I love who she is when she’s with you. I love who she is for you.
So even if I’m checking her out, like, all the time, I’m just watching and never touching.
Just listening, but never crossing any lines.
Because I love her with the kind of love that tells me, without a single shred of doubt, that her heart belongs to you.
And breaking that up means breaking her.
People who love people don’t break them. ”
“So you…” I’m speechless. Stunned… but not. Shocked, but not really. “Fuck. Okay.”
“It’s the kind of love that means I’ll look at her every day for the rest of my life, even later, when I’ve found me a baddie and given her a diamond ring and said my promises.
I’ll always look at your wife and remember how it felt to love her first. But don’t worry,” he adds nonchalantly. “I’m not making a play for your girl.”
I chug the last of my water and scrunch the bottle, the crinkle of plastic echoing throughout the large, mostly empty kitchen. “Not sure what I’m supposed to say about all that.”
“Nothing. Your life remains exactly the same, except before, you thought I was peeking at your wife. Now, you know.”
“Good to know?” I laugh.
“I’m gonna compare everyone to her, Arch.
And all but one will be put back on the shelf, because they won’t be good enough.
Not even close. Those chicks will be fun for part-time rental, and they all get to walk away satisfied and none the worse for wear.
They won’t scowl and grumble when they hear my name, ‘cos I treat ‘em right. But one day, the right one will swing on through, and she’ll make your wife look like a troll. But until that day…”
I snort and nod, resting my hip against the counter. “Until then, you’re checking her out, because you’re in love with her.”
“Exactly. So when we said words yesterday, and then Steve went and selfishly dropped dead for a minute there, even though, logically, I knew she wouldn’t hold me responsible, my head still made me feel a certain way.
Felt like a breakup, and I was kinda terrified he’d tap out and make her year way worse. ”
“Then you hugged it out.” Yeah, bitch, I watched you. I heard some stuff. “She said sorry.”
“Not a breakup,” he beams. “Just a fight. And then she made me come here to the house to sleep, because she gives a shit and wants me around, even if I’m annoying most of the time.”
I fist my water bottle and search the kitchen for a trash can. Coming up empty, I pitch it into the sink instead. “You’re so fucking warped, Malone. So wrapped up in something toxic and not even sorry for it.”
“Some kids inherit homes. Money. Good looks.” He shrugs. “Some inherit toxic behaviors and weird coping mechanisms.”
“Lucky us, we inherited all that.”
“And more,” he chuckles. “Let me have my weird crush and unrequited love. I’ll whack off in private like a gentleman, and someday, eventually, I’ll find someone else to obsess over.
She’ll get jealous when she realizes Minka had my heart first, the women will hate each other, because they’re both alpha personalities and neither will submit to the other, Thanksgiving will be drama, especially when we add Christabelle to the mix, and life will go on.
” He hunches in on himself and grins, goofy and lopsided.
“She didn’t break up with me, Arch. She told me to stay.
Excuse me while I bathe in that for a little while. ”
“All except the whacking off part. And taking her calls while you’re banging some other chick.” I lunge across the counter and smack him upside the head. “In our apartment!”
“Ouch!” He bounds off the chair, circling and bringing his hands up, ready to fight. “Don’t hit me!”
“Don’t nut inside some other chick while you’re talking to my wife!” I stalk back to the fridge and snag a second bottle of water. “I’ve been a generous man, you little prick. Letting you stay with us. Letting you love her from afar. Letting you check her ass out every time she walks by.”
He giggles, googly-eyed and unashamed. “I hate to see her go, Arch. But I love to watch her walk.”
“Taking her calls while fucking is a hard line. It’s a no-go zone. I’ve killed men for less.”
“And now we know.” He swaps his fighter fists for surrender, stop-signing me despite the island counter still between us. “I didn’t know the line was there before. Now I do.”
“Anyone with half a fucking brain knows that line is there.” I consider pegging my water at his head.
It might knock him out. Might even end his life if I throw it lid-first and hit him in exactly the right spot.
“And stop taking unnecessary courses at the college just because the instructor is cute. That shit costs money!”
“Unnecessary?” He waggles his brows. “Or completely and totally essential, considering I was a hero last night?”
“We’re here, Arch.” Fletch opens the front door, his voice echoing along the hall. “Brought the whole crew.”
“Uncle Arch!” Mia sprints along the hall, big smiles and bouncing hair. She emerges in the kitchen with her little body instinctively turned in my direction. But then she spots Cato and skids his way. “Cato!”
“McStinkerson!” He scoops the girl into his arms and tosses her into the air so she flies an easy six feet up. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, little girl. Did you even shower today?” He catches her again and noisily sniffs her neck. “Poo wee! You stink.”