Page 10 of Terms Of Un-Endearment
“I don't have anywhere to go!” I yell.
Archie’s eyes widen, and he loosens his grip on the handle. I yank it from him, open the front door long enough to roll the bag outside, then go back to take the larger one from him. I don’tbother with the handle this time, just push it toward the door. When Archie reaches out to help me, I stop him with a glare. He steps back to let me by, and I slam the door shut behind me.
On the porch, I stare at the empty street in front of me and face the reality of my situation. I reallydon’thave anywhere to go. Even if there was a hotel close enough for me to drag my luggage, I’ve got a grand total of one hundred dollars in my bank account until my internship starts. Mom paid for my ticket here, but I told her I didn’t need any more help. And now she’s unreachable in the middle of the ocean with the next guy who’s bound to eventually toss her aside.
I have a few friends in LA from before I moved to New York. I could probably crash with one of them, but the thought of making those calls overwhelms me. I’ve been out of touch with most of these people for years if you don’t count occasionally liking their Instagram posts. My day has been humiliating enough.
I squeeze my eyes shut, holding back the tears welling there.
But it’s not tears that wet my cheeks. The clouds open and a drop of rain hits me. Then another. And another. I turn my palm to the sky and let my eyes follow as the drops grow heavier. Perfect.
With a huff, I move back under the awning over the front door and take out my phone. I can’t call an Uber until I have a destination.
I try Mom, in case she still has reception. When she doesn’t answer, I send her a text instead. She’s always better about answering those, anyway.
SOS. Archie is still here. He says the house is his for another two weeks.
Despite the covered porch, a drop of rain finds its way to my glasses. I wipe it away, leaving a smudge behind, and lean my back against the door. When I look at my phone again, dots appear beneath my message. Then Mom’s answer.
Sybil said everything was settled. I’ll call her tomorrow morning. Grab a hotel for tonight. Joe says it’s on him.
Not a minute later, five hundred dollars appears in my Venmo. I sigh. This day is officially the most aggravating on record.
I don’t want to take money from Joe. I swore when I found out Malcolm cheated on Mom that I’d never take money from another man in her life, or mine. But what else can I do besides be grateful Mom had service and take the money?
Five minutes pass while I search for the cheapest hotel close to Valente headquarters. I can’t find anything for less than three hundred dollars a night, which means I can’t afford even two nights.
The door I’m braced against opens behind me and I stumble backwards with a squeak of alarm. Archie catches me. In the instant he rescues me, I’m so relieved I relax into his arms before he helps me stand upright again.
“Thanks,” I mutter, stepping back and straightening my skirt.
“You’re welcome,” he answers with a reluctant smile.
An awkward beat passes, and I let my eyes go to my phone, hoping a new, affordable hotel has miraculously appeared in the past thirty seconds.
“Your mom is giving you the house she’s getting in the settlement?” Archie asks, not unkindly.
A quick glance tells me he’s asking a serious question.
“No,” I scoff. “In my world, people don’t give each other twelve-million-dollar beach houses.” He winces, and I soften my tone to explain. He’s trying. I can try too. “Mom is letting me stay here while I intern at Valente.”
“Valente?”
I can’t tell if that’s doubt or respect I hear in his voice. Does he know who Valente is?Silly question.Of course he does. Archie’s in workout clothes, but they’re all name brands. He’s always worn designer everything.
A wet strand of hair falls across my face, and I push it away. “Yeah, Valente. I start Monday.”
“That’s a prestigious place to work. Didn’t you just graduate?”
“Yeah, a couple months ago. They recruited me.” I shrug like it’s not a big deal, but I love that he’s familiar enough with the brand to recognize what a big deal my internship actually is.
Archie huffs a laugh. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. You always were into that stuff.”
I blink. “I’m surprised you remember thestuffI was into. I thought the only thing you noticed about me was that I annoyed you.”
Archie chews the corner of his lip. That was his signature move on “Surf City High.” Girls loved it, but it’s just hit me that maybe he wasn’t doing it for the camera. It’s part of who he is.
“Come in.” He nods toward the door, then opens it wider. “You can stay here tonight.”
