Page 67 of Let Me Love You

Archer turns and looks at me, the corners of his lips tilting up in a cocky grin. “Will you sleep with me tonight?”

I’m still so shaken up that I know I’d feel safer being next to him, even if we’re fighting an internal battle of how close we should be.

But selfishly, I agree.

“Remember, this was your idea,” I tell him as we walk in.

With a smirk, Archer strips down to his boxers and gets under the covers. Then he pats the bed and waits for me to join him. Rolling onto my side, I let out a breath, then close my eyes. Our backs are facing, but within seconds, he turns and blankets me in his warmth.

I softly breathe out, imagining he’s mine, and fall asleep.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

ARCHER

I can’t believe it’s already New Year’s Eve. The first one I’ll celebrate in five years.

The gym’s insanely busy this morning as people start their routine a day early. Since Christmas, people have joined the gym by the handfuls. Tyler has coined it as the Resolution Rush.

After my last client of the day, I go up front and order a smoothie.

Tyler walks up, looking exhausted.

“You okay?” I ask.

“It’s barely three, and I’m ready for bed. I dunno if I’ll make it to midnight this year.”

I chuckle. “Dad life.”

“Exactly. Any big plans tonight?”

I shake my head, grabbing my drink off the counter. “Nope.”

He gives me a weary look. “Everleigh always goes out.”

“I’m not sure what she’s doing. We haven’t really talked about it,” I say truthfully.

Things have been awkward since the night I locked her out of my room and told her my concerns about what Tyler said. Although nothing has changed in our sleeping arrangement, there’s an invisible line we know we can’t cross.

“Well, if you get bored, you can always come hang out with us. But be warned, we’ll probably fall asleep on the couch once Scarlett is in bed. Way before the ball drops.”

“Thanks for the offer. Not sure what I’ll be in the mood for. I’m gonna go home and take a nap since it’s still early, then decide.”

“Sounds like a good idea. Go out and have some fun,” he suggests. “Just responsible fun.”

I laugh at his fatherly tone. “See ya later,” I tell him, then grab my stuff.

After I tell everyone goodbye, I walk home. I’m saving up for a car, but it’s not so bad walking since Everleigh lives less than a mile from the downtown district. Plus, it adds more activity points to my week for the Apple watch challenge we’re doing, and I might actually win for once.

Once I walk in the door, I take Sassy out the back, then jump in the shower. My eyes are so heavy that when I lie down on the couch, I end up falling asleep.

It’s not until a few hours later when Everleigh comes in that I wake up.

I hear a clicking noise and see Everleigh has her Polaroid camera in one hand and a photo in the other. I glance down and see Sassy snuggled in beside me. We’re two peas in a pod.

“Sorry, couldn’t help myself. That was a cute moment to capture.”

I sit up, and Sassy repositions herself. We must’ve slept hard because I feel so disoriented.