63

Adrianna
I walk up to the door of Archer’s apartment, my heart thumping at a hundred miles an hour.
Am I crazy for being here?
Perhaps. I knock on the door and wait a few moments and then I hear the thud of footsteps descending the stairs. Archer opens it and smiles at me with a smile that could stop most women’s hearts. “You are here.”
I smile back at him. “I didn’t get murdered.”
“I’m glad,” he says, stepping aside to allow me in.
I pause for a moment, knowing that now I’m coming to him of my free will rather than because he’s blackmailing me. I’m not sure how to feel about that. It changes everything.
His brow furrows. “Are you going to stay there or come in?”
I purse my lips. “Still trying to decide.”
He laughs and grabs my hand, yanking me into the apartment and against him. “Don’t be an idiot.”
“I’m normally the one saying that to you.”
He leads me up into his apartment, where he has a table set with candles alight. “I was prepared since I hadn’t heard of any murders on campus.” There is a bottle of champagne on ice and three pizza boxes on the table.
“Principal Byrne told you, didn’t he?”
He shrugs. “Perhaps.” Pulling out my seat, he gestures for me to sit down. “How did your meeting with your father go?”
“Well.” I shuffle a little in my seat. “It had nothing to do with my betrayal, although I am in the shit.”
“I heard about Hernandez.”
My brow furrows. “From who?”
“Luca Sidorov.”
“Of course, it affects the Sidorov family.” I nod. “Well, it means my deal with him is off.”
“Yeah, I figured that. Does it mean you can’t go through with your plan?”
I don’t really feel comfortable discussing it with him, but I realize that there’s no reason for me not to trust Archer. He wouldn’t gain anything by ratting me out. “No.”
“That’s good then.” He nods at the boxes next to us. “Help yourself to pizza.”
I open the nearest box and grab a slice, shoving it into my mouth. As always, I’m starving. It helped that I spent two hours in the pool this afternoon, trying to blow off steam after the encounter with my father.
“I really have missed this,” Archer says.
I swallow hard. “Me too.”
His smile is heartbreaking and I hate I can’t open up to him. Even though he was an asshole for blackmailing me, which he admits, there’s this part of me that wants to embrace the feelings I have for him.
“I love Fratelli’s,” I say, grabbing a second slice. My attempt to direct conversation elsewhere.
Archer nods. “It’s good, for sure. What’s your favorite food?”
“There are way too many to decide.”
“Okay, what about a favorite type of food, like Italian or Asian?”
“Mexican hands down.” I shrug. “I maybe Mexican and that makes me biased, but I love a good tamale or burrito. Italian is close second, though.”
Archer smiles. “I’m like you. I love all foods, but for me you can’t beat a well-cooked rack of ribs. What did you think of the ribs at the diner?”
“Delicious,” I reply.
He looks at me then in a way that makes my heart rate speed up. I don’t like the sensation, as it makes me feel odd. “Back to the fact I’ve missed you. When I say that, I don’t just mean the sex.”
“Archer,” I say his name in warning.
He holds his hands up in surrender. “I know. I won’t start that argument again. I’m just saying I enjoy spending time with you, even out of the sack.”
I sense he will not let this go in the long term. “Fine.”
His eyes narrow, as I know he was hoping I’d reciprocate the feeling.
I take another slice of pizza, needing to distract myself from this odd sense of dread sweeping over me. I don’t have any control over what’s happening now. It’s the first time I’ve felt like this and I don’t like it.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I nod. “Yeah, I just feel a little woozy.”
“The champagne maybe?” he asks.
I nod, but I know it’s not that. It’s this sickening feeling that I actually have feelings for Archer. No matter how much I try to push them away, the more time I spend with him, the stronger they return.
“Why don’t we sit on the sofa?” he suggests.
The half-eaten piece of pizza sits on my plate and for the first time in a long time, I don’t think I can eat it. “Sure.”
I stand and walk over to the sofa, slumping down on it. The dread still lingering over me like a dark rain cloud threatening to break open and drown me.
“Are you sure you are okay?” Archer asks.
I shake my head. “I’ve got a bit of a headache, to be honest.”
His brow furrows. “You didn’t drink that much champagne.”
“Maybe I’m getting sick.”
He sits next to me and places a hand against my forehead. “You don’t feel warm.” He pats his lap. “Come here.”
I do as he says, even though a part of me wants to resist.
Archer’s powerful arms wrap around me and he just holds me, his lips nuzzled against my neck softly.
I hate that him being like this only makes that sensation worse. “You know, I really don’t feel great. I think I should go back to my room and sleep.”
“No way am I letting you go anywhere if you are sick.” He shifts me off his lap and stands. “I’ll look after you here. Come on.”
I swallow hard as he holds a hand out to me. And yet I take it despite everything.
He leads me into the bedroom and gently undresses me. Normally, things would take a sexual turn right about now, but I can tell every touch isn’t intended to arouse but soothe instead.
It makes my chest ache as he pulls back the sheets. “Get in.”
I climb into the bed, snuggle beneath the warm comforter.
“Is there anything you need?”
“Maybe some water?” I suggest.
He nods. “Of course.”
I place a hand against my head as he walks out, leaving me alone. For a while, I’ve known that my plan to get him to fall for me has gone wrong. Because I’ve been falling for him too, despite everything.
He returns with the water and places it on the nightstand. “Anything else?”
I shake my head. “No, thank you.”
Archer strips off and I hate the way I instantly heat at the sight of him half naked, as if I don’t have control of my urges. He gets into the bed and pulls me against him so that my head is on his chest. “I’ll look after you, baby girl, don’t worry.”
I swallow hard, as the fact he’s being so caring is what’s worrying me. He needs to return to being that arrogant asshole who won’t accept no for an answer.
“Thanks,” I murmur.
He pulls my chin up and then kisses me. A kiss that is soft and gentle, but sets my world ablaze. I am stuck in my head. “I’m sorry. I really don’t feel like it right now.”
He shakes his head. “I know. Just because I kiss you it doesn’t mean I expect sex.”
I nod in reply and go to turn over when he grabs my hand and squeezes. “Adrianna.” He looks into my eyes with such meaning it only makes more dread tighten around my heart. “I love you.”
Those three words hit me hard. The moment I hear them, I tense. No one has said those words to me before, not even my family. And instantly, I feel my shields locking into place as I clench my jaw. “Are you insane?”
My response wounds him. I see it in his eyes.
“No, I care about you. Don’t pretend this means nothing to you.”
It doesn’t mean nothing to me, but I don’t have space for anyone else. I’ve always been alone in this world, and that’s how it has to stay. I shake my head. “I can’t do this right now, Archer. I thought I was clear about what this was.” Quickly, I lie down and turn over so that he doesn’t see the tears building in my eyes. There is no way to break the steel around my heart. I’m a lost cause and I don’t deserve his love, even if actions at the start of our relationship were questionable.
I love him too. I think that is the sickening feeling in my stomach. I just can’t admit it, not to him or anyone.