Page 140 of Three Reckless Words

Maybe this is a rebound with teeth and claws.

I wanted validation and affection since I never got any from Holden or Dad, so I picked the first gruff, gorgeous, unavailable older man who came along.

Sigmund Freud, eat your heart out.

“You gonna be okay?” she asks after a long silence. “You know I can come down there. It’s only a couple hours’ drive. Just say the word.”

Tempting.

But if she comes here and sees Archer and the way I feel about him—if she sees I’ve freaking moved in with him even if it wasn’t on a whim—she’ll probably haul me off to therapy the next morning.

“I’ll be okay,” I say. “Don’t worry about me, Lyss.”

“Nope, I’m gonna worry. But I also know that if anyone can look after themselves, it’s you. And you’ve still got your bees, right?”

“Yup. Thank God for one good thing.”

I press the phone tighter against my ear, imagining her here with me. Aside from the whole Archer situation, it would be amazing to pig out on tacos and watch K-dramas and just vibe with her.

“Miss you.”

“Miss you more. Keep the updates coming.”

“I will.” I end the call, tossing my phone aside.

The house seems oddly silent. I kick myself for imagining Archer coming to check up on me.

But why would he? After everything he said to his mom and the abrupt way I ran off the second we got home…

Oh, this is brutal.

Sighing out a long breath, I change into my pajamas, which are deliberately modest so Colt doesn’t suspect anything if I head downstairs for a snack later. I sit on the edge of the bed, marooned in my own thoughts.

Asshole or not, Archer Rory has good reasons to be closed off.

After all, he’s a single dad, and there are clearly big issues with his ex, even if he won’t talk to me about them.

I can’t stay mad, especially when I was eavesdropping on his private conversation.

Not deliberately at first, but when I realized they were talking about me, yes, I may have slowed down. I hung back around the corner for over a minute.

What girl wouldn’t want to know what her—what the guy she’s crushing on says about her?

It’s not his fault I didn’t like the answer.

And I haven’t eventhoughtabout that old-world Kansas City history the Rory family is just marinated in.

It should feel like I’m escaping one powerful aristocratic family just to fall into another, even if the Rorys don’t seem to touch politics.

Groaning, I drop my head in my hands.

Getting involved with a family like his should be at the bottom of my list.

New Winnie, she’s not interested in prestige and politics and names with big reputations.

But the thought doesn’t help.

Even hours later, when I’m yawning and hurting alone, his words still sting.

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