Page 27 of My Darling Mayhem

"Well, it seems unnecessary for you to ride the bus and your mom to get a ride from someone when I could just as easily take you both. That is if your mom is okay with it."

Our eyes locked. Maybe I could silently tell him to fuck off, and he'd get it.

"She is!" Cruz beamed while walking toward Archer's truck.

"Cruz, wait…" I started, but my son was already at the back passenger door, where Archer had met him. He pulled on the handle, helped my son inside, and then turned toward me.

"You sure you're okay with me taking you?"

I hobbled toward the passenger side of his truck, biting back a bitchy response, and instead just smiled at him.

"More than sure. Thank you so much for the offer."

Asshole. Asshole. Asshole.

Archer walked with me, slow and measured, and then opened my door for me. I slid the crutch in first, then grabbed onto the door to pull myself up, but Archer sighed from behind me.

"You already assume the worst about me, so I might as well prove you right." His hand went under my ass, and he pushed me up.

I let out a slight sound of surprise while glaring over my shoulder at him. He smirked, then shut the door in my face.

Once I was buckled, I realized that Cruz was in the back seat alone, buckled into the booster Kane had used the day before.

Archer slid into his truck and placed the gear into drive.

"Kane isn't with you?"

My neighbor gave me a bored look before driving down the street.

"No, remember he doesn't live with me."

It was a dig at what I'd said to him, and while I knew I had delivered that barb, it seemed to cut coming from him.

"I just mean, why offer us a ride if you weren't even going to the school?"

"Because riding the bus sucks," Archer replied as if I were a total moron.

Cruz laughed in agreement from the back seat.

I decided it was time to disengage from current company and stared out the window. The town passed by with a myriad of red brick buildings, fresh signage, and new display windows boasting of autumn. The newer and certainly more popular coffee shop was packed to the brim and even had people waiting outside, and I smirked at their ignorance.

The good coffee was served in a spot only locals knew about. Curious how busy it would be, I shifted my head until I could see the gas station over on Larch, and sure enough, only a few cars were parked in front, and even fewer were primed to get gas. Orlo's wasn't a big enough name for any of the newer transplants to visit. Not for gas or coffee, but several people were moving about inside.

Best coffee in town.

"Do you need me to stop and get you anything?" Archer suddenly asked from beside me. "Maybe coffee?"

I turned away from the window. "No, my coworker is planning to stop and get me some."

Archer scoffed, then flexed his jaw.

I ignored him until we pulled in front of Cruz's school. Once I said my goodbyes, Archer exited the truck just like the last time he’d driven us and walked my son to the crossing guard to ensure he could cross safely. And just like the last time, my heart felt like a balloon had been inserted into my chest, and something was now about to pop. Why did he insist on being so kind?

Why did he look like the typical bad boy I should avoid at all costs but act better than any man I'd ever met?

Archer slid back into his seat, steering us away from the school. I forced my face forward, so it didn't seem like I had been staring.

"Where are we going?"

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