Page 107 of Bittersweet Revenge

“For a sociopath?” I joked.

He gave me a half-grin. “Yeah, and for a rich asshole.”

I took his seat and bowed my head. “Thank you for watching out for her.”

“Always,” he replied, walking into her room.

I settled a bit more in the chair. Grabbing the magazine he'd left behind, I did my best to concentrate on something, anything, other than what was happening on the other side of the wall.

I rolled my eyes. Who even cared about fantasy league? I threw the magazine onto the seat beside me. I looked at my watch. Maybe a coffee would help.

I was about to go down to the hot drinks machine when Archibald stormed up the corridor, half-dressed, his hair in complete disarray.

“Sorry!” He was breathless. “I was sleeping and not sure why I didn't hear your messages.”

“You were exhausted, Archibald; no surprise there. But I told you in the text that she was fine.”

He frowned. “Why are you out here? Did she kick you out already?”

I chuckled, but it lacked humor. “No. Ben Deluca is in there, possibly declaring his flame to her.”

“And you are letting him live?”

“I let her go,” I admitted. “I told her to choose whatever she wants, that I’ll be fine.” I sat back in my seat.

“But I thought you loved her?” he asked with confusion.

“More than anything.”

“Then why?” He shook his head.

I sighed, resting my forearms on my thighs, looking down at the overused linoleum of the corridor. “Love takes so many forms, so many. Did you know the Greeks have four primary words for love?” I nodded as if I was having an actual conversation. “Philia, Storge, Eros and Agape. Agape is the strongest of all. It's showed by actions and Esme did that when she risked her life to save me. And I’ve just done that when I let her go, pretending I'd be okay.” I looked at the door, the pain I was feeling almost visceral. “I used to think she weakened me, but she doesn't. She makes me invincible. I will never be the same without her. She changed me in ways I could never express.” I tapped the center of my chest. “I can’t do it without her.”

Archibald rested his hand on my shoulder. A very small gesture of comfort, but it meant so much for both of us. Could we ever fix what we’d broken?

“Then why say otherwise? Why let her go?”

I turned to look at him, uncaring that he could see the beginning of tears in my eyes. “Because she is the love of my life and I can't settle for less than the same, not with her. It would kill me.”

Deluca exited the room. “I’ll see you soon, man.”

“What did you think he meant?” Archibald asked as we watched him walk down the corridor to the elevator.

“I’m not sure,” I replied. My heart hammering so hard in my chest I felt grateful to be in a hospital because I was sure it would give out.

“I need breakfast,” Archie said. “Go in and speak with her. I’ve got time.” He slapped me on my back.

I realized I must look like shit if he was ready to do that for me, knowing how much he wanted to see his sister.

“Thank you.”

He nodded. “I’ll bring you a coffee.”

“Yeah and some cyanide – it all depends how this conversation goes.”

“Cyanide. Got it.”

I knocked softly and took a deep breath, trying to place my cool mask into position as I walked into the room.

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