Page 15 of My Darling Mayhem

Cruz stood by the door,waiting for me to finish getting ready.

I could tell he was frustrated with me by how his tone hitched while we did our daily checklist.

"Backpack!"

It was my turn to say keys or purse, but I was still mid-curl with the beach waver wand. My shirt was half-buttoned, my skirt didn't feel like I'd pulled it on correctly, and there was already a mascara stain on my eyelid.

Cruz stomped over to the bathroom, clenching his little shoulder straps tight. "Mom, I'm going to be late."

For a five-year-old, he was frustratingly aware of time. If I was smart, I would have had him turn on the television so he'd completely forget about school. But he loved school, and I loved that he did.

I hadn't slept well last night, and there wasn't a decent reason. Other than this situation with Archer. He felt like such a wild card, and I didn't know what to expect. While I wasn't currently speaking to him or anything…there was an attraction that I had fallen victim to.

It was concerning, to say the least, because every time I closed my eyes, my mind would drift to how perfectly shaped his nose was in proportion to his mouth and cheekbones. His wide jaw was deliciously defined, and a thick Adam's apple bobbed when he swallowed. I had kicked at my comforter after that one hit because who the fuck is attracted to the lump in a man's throat?

Me apparently. Fucking me.

"Okay, I'm ready." I wasn't, but I refused to make my poor guy wait any longer.

I tugged the cord from the wall, threw on my leather jacket, and slipped into my high heels. "Keys, purse, phone."

Shit, did I leave any lights on? Did I ever fix my skirt?

"Door…come on, let's go." Cruz tugged my elbow until the door was closed.

I locked it behind me, seeing that he'd already made it to the car and eagerly awaited me to make my way down the steps. I gave him a reassuring smile as I took each step faster than usual, but right as my heel landed on the bottom step, my ankle twisted to the right, making my entire body jolt to the side.

Shiiiiiiit.

I let out a little cry as I went down.

My son jerked forward, staring down at me in shock. "Are you okay?"

No. I wanted to cry and be extremely dramatic about all this. Was it too extreme to call an ambulance?

"I'm fine." My voice was breathy, my pain evident, but holy shit, what was I supposed to do? There was a really good chance I sprained my ankle.

"Mom, can you get up?"

Placing my palms behind me, I lifted my body enough so Cruz knew I hadn't died, but there was no chance I'd be able to get up without crawling back into the house. I ran throughthe very short list of people I could call in my head. Lydia was probably already at work, but maybe if I could get my phone.

Cruz came down and tried to help me up using his little arms. "We have to go. Can you still drive me?"

The pain was intense, but letting him down and knowing I absolutely could not drive and only had one friend I could maybe ask, was a different sort of pain. The kind that dug into my veins and tugged at my heart, mocking my attempts at this life and giving my son something better than what I had.

"Just give me a second, I can maybe?—"

"Hey, you guys okay?" A male voice called from somewhere behind my car.

Cruz turned and lifted his hand in a little wave, his tense shoulders relaxing a fraction. From where I was, I could see the loud, black diesel truck parked at the edge of my driveway. My stomach did a little flip at the fact that I had already begun to recognize the cadence in Archer's voice.

I fell back on my palms and gave up as my neighbor came into view. He stood out against the backdrop of the light indigo sky, still streaked with pink clouds. His eyes were a stark, brilliant blue, too beautiful for such a stern face and an equally hard man. Although I didn't know him, all I knew of him hinted at a roughness as tough as the leather on his back.

Archer's brows dipped in worry. His gaze scanned me from head to toe, homing in on my ankle. I sat forward, trying to prove I was fine, as he knelt beside me and gently cradled my foot in his large palms.

A hiss left my clenched teeth.

"You sprained it. The swelling is already so bad your shoe won't stay on."

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