“I just hope I find love like that one day.” I look around the table. “Well, like all of you lovebirds.” I playfully pout and pick up my spoon.
“Honey, you will. You might already have,” she says, giving me a knowing look, and for a brief second, I wonder if she can read my mind. “Y’all need anything else over here?”
“No, ma’am,” Katie tells her, and Belinda leaves.
I look at what they got and chuckle. “Tomato soup and grilled cheese for everyone, huh?”
Katie snorts. “It took everything inside of me not to burst out laughing when you ordered the same as us.”
“I love you two. I seriously dunno what I’d do without you,” I admit because they’re more like my sisters than friends.
“We love you too,” Katie says.
“Wouldn’t want to live this crazy life without anyone else by my side than you two,” Gemma adds.
We eat in silence for a minute.
“Other than the detectives, have you noticed anything else weird going on?” Gemma asks.
I swallow hard, feeling the lump form in my throat as I think about the past few weeks. Deciding to tell them, I exhale. “Well, I have seen this all-black Escalade around town. I’ve felt like someone’s following me, but I don’t know if I’m just being paranoid after what happened to Tyler and Noah. It could’ve been those detectives, but I have no idea. It’s just been odd.”
Katie drops her fork. “I’ve seen that vehicle around too.”
“The first time, I saw it parked on the street outside of my house. Then the second time was in front of my shop after our photo shoot.”
“That wasn’t that long ago.” Gemma’s brows furrow.
“I know. I wonder if the psycho wife is having me followed. Would make sense as to why those detectives showed up today. Either she killed him and she wants to kill me next or she’s trying to find a way to plant evidence to get me in trouble.”
“It could be nothing,” Gemma encourages, but I notice the worry in her eyes.
When we’re halfway through our soups and sandwiches, Katie softly clears her throat. “So, you gonna tell us what’s really going on with you and Archer?”
I shrug, but my adrenaline rushes. “Oh, not much.”
Gemma narrows her eyes. “Lies from the pits of hell.”
Katie laughs, and I join her.
“He’s hot,” I admit, but God knows it’s much deeper than that.
When I think about Archer, my whole body heats, just like it is right now. The way he looks at me is hypnotizing. Not to mention how good it feels sleeping next to him every night, but that’s another thing I’ll keep buried deep inside.
“You know I’m not the type of girl who kisses and tells,” I state matter-of-factly.
“Bullshit,” Katie hisses.
At the same time, Gemma asks, “Wait, so you’ve kissed?”
“Yes…or no.” I make a zipper motion over my mouth and throw away the key.
“Oh, come on,” Gemma nearly begs, but I keep my lips sealed tight.
While we haven’t kissed, there have been many almost kisses.
Right now, I’d love to tell my two best friends every little detail, but I can’t risk Tyler finding out that I’ve caught feelings.
My heart knows who it wants in ways I’ve never felt before, regardless of how wrong it is.
Chapter Thirteen
ARCHER
“Avocado toast?” Everleigh asks when I come into view. She’s trying to tease the hell out of me in that white shirt that’s as thin as paper, and fuck, it’s working.
“No thanks,” I say, grabbing a protein shake from the fridge. “I have a client at seven and can’t be late,” I admit, checking the time on my phone.
“Do you want me to drive you?” Everleigh asks.
“Nah. I’m gonna walk and drink this at the same time,” I say. “Kill two birds or whatever.”
“I insist,” she tells me. “I haven’t started breakfast and could go for a donut before I need to get dressed for work. I can drop you off on the way.”
I smile, knowing she’s not going to give me a choice. “Okay, but only because you insisted.”
Everleigh grabs her keys and slides on her slippers. After she remote starts her car, she grabs a jacket and gives me the perfect view of her hard nipples.
As she’s driving out of her neighborhood, she turns to me. “Before you crack open that nasty shake, can I tempt you with a glazed donut? There’s nothing like having sugar for breakfast.”
I snort. “Well, when you put it like that...”
She grins wide and parks in front of the bakery. We walk in, and the woman at the cash register smiles when she sees Everleigh. “Oh my God, do you just wake up looking cute?”
Yep, I want to say but keep it to myself.
“Thanks, Lori, you’re too sweet.” Everleigh dips down and looks at all the pastries in the case. “I’ll have a chocolate-covered donut and a chocolate-filled one. He’ll have…” She looks at me, tapping her finger across her plump, kissable lips. “A blueberry cake and a raspberry-filled one. I know how he likes to taste sweet things.”