Page 18 of My Darling Mayhem

Why did he care?

"And you'll answer five?"

His handsome face quickly turned in my direction. "I'm thrilled that you think you'll have five to ask."

I had no idea what that meant, and I didn't have the chance to find out as we pulled into one of the parking spaces in front ofthe medical building. Archer didn't waste any time parking and jumping out. I opened my door and was already prepped to use my good leg to get out, but the man took the decision into his own hands by scooping me up once again.

"You know this isn't necessary, right?"

His lips were near my forehead again, and his strong hands held me tight against his chest. "Yeah, but I do have a job to get to, and waiting for you to limp into the clinic is just going to waste my time."

Asshole.

He made some agonized sound while adjusting me in his arms. "Fuck, that bratty expression will be the end of me."

I was going to tell him something derogatory and clever, but we were already walking into the clinic. The sun had me closing my eyes and almost ducking my head into his chin.

Once we walked through the sliding doors, the room came into focus. On one side, a row of maroon cushioned chairs lined the room, while a wall mural decorated the other section. In the middle, a round registration desk with two receptionists sat.

Archer lowered me to one of the chairs. "Here, let me go check you in." As he turned away from me, someone emerged from the door by the receptionist's desk.

"Wren?"

My gaze caught on brown hair, pink eye shadow, and fake lashes. "Lydia?"

She appraised me, then sank into the chair next to me.

"What the heck happened?"

"I still can't wear heels, apparently." I tried to laugh, but it came out more as a wince.

Lydia chuckled, then moved her head so she had a better look at my ankle. "Well, I can't judge you. I'm here because I slammed my finger in a drawer. Thought I'd actually broke it this time."

She sat back, relaxing in the chair as if she had all day to hang out and talk to me.

"So, you here alone? You have anyone who's gonna take you home?"

I glanced at her wrapped finger as an idea popped into my mind that wouldn't leave me at the mercy of my neighbor or answer any questions. "You aren't busy?"

"I have the whole morning open."

Lydia and I weren't close enough to talk every day or anything, but if we did see each other, we could easily converse. "Would you mind staying with me and giving me a ride home?"

Archer returned to where I was sitting with a tablet in his hand. "She says you need to fill this out." His eyes flicked over to Lydia, and based on how close she was sitting, he likely processed that we were friendly.

"Who's this?" Lydia asked, smiling up at my neighbor.

I gestured with my head while inspecting the tablet. "Archer, my neighbor who found me on the ground this morning. Archer, this is Lydia." I hesitated to define what we were because it wasn't like we were friends, but I'd sound stupid saying we were mere acquaintances. "She's a friend of mine."

Lydia held her good hand out toward Archer and lowered her lashes in an undeniable attempt at flirting.

"Nice to meet you."

Archer shook her hand like he wasn't sure why she was sitting beside me. Tentatively, with a quick glance at me, like he wanted to be sure I was okay with it. A ball of warmth hit my chest. I held his gaze during his entire interaction with Lydia until she reeled back with a laugh.

"Shit, Wren. This is the man who brought you here, and you're asking me to stay with you? Did you hit your head, too?"

My face burned with her insinuation that my neighbor was attractive. It was no secret that he was, but her words made me squirm in my seat.

---