Page 111 of Terms Of Un-Endearment
“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.”
I look between him and the rain. I can’t decide which is worse: staying in a hotel I can’t afford or taking Archie’s offer. Both will get me out of the rain and give me a place to sleep, but both come with a high price tag.
“Piper, come on. You said you don’t have anywhere else to go.” The impatience in his voice sends needles up my spine. It’s the same one he used with me the—thankfully—few times wewere forced to spend time together as a “family.” It reminds me that even when he’s being nice, he’s still Archie Forsythe.
My pride kicks back in—I am all over the place. “Anywhere is better than staying here with you.”
Archie sighs. “That may be true, but I reckon you don’t have a lot of options, since you’ve said as much. Come back inside. I think we’ve both had a long day.”
His voice is actually gentle. I’m wet, hungry, and tired. Plus, it’s late.
I give up the fight, drop my phone in my purse, and force out a polite, “Thank you,” as I go back out for my wet suitcases.
I roll them inside in front of me, and Archie takes the oversized one. “Sorry, I wasn’t all warm and fuzzy. Been a bit of a train wreck of a week, and I’m running low on charm.”
His apology lowers the temperature between us. For someone who’s been raised to believe the world revolves around him, acknowledging he’s been rude is a pretty big deal. And, as much as I hate to admit it, the idea of staying makes me want to cry with gratitude.
Tomorrow, after I’ve had a good night’s sleep, I can figure out where to stay until the house is officially Mom’s. Maybe a single room Airbnb, or maybe I’ll be up to calling those friends I haven’t seen in four years and beg a favor. I’m so tired.
The idealist in me wants to believe Archie is being sincere and wants to help. I’ve seen it in him before, once or twice. But my realist self suspects that trusting him will only lead to getting hurt, so I best not forget who he is, even when he’s on his better behavior.
“Thank you,” I say flatly, mistrustingly. I feel like I need to hide my gratitude, but I am really grateful not to have to leave. Yet.
“You’re welcome,” he says equally flatly, keeping me in my place, I suspect.
I take a breath and remind myself that even though he’s come to my rescue this one time, I’m as disposable as everything else in Archie’s life.
I won’t forget it.
Chapter 6
Archie
Idon’t bother with the pull-up handle on Piper’s big bag. I’ve already embarrassed myself once in front of her today, and I was witness to the karmic powers of that handle. Piper got her reward for laughing at me, but who knows what I have in store for the many wrongs I’ve done to her?
And now I’ve got the scene of Piper tripping over her skirt replaying in my head, along with the part where I got a brief glimpse of her leopard-print undies. I try to push it away, but nope, that image is burned into my brain. Not because I got a thrill from it or anything. She’s my annoying stepsister—ex-stepsister,anyway.
Well, almost. We’ve never really been family to each other, but I still couldn’t look at her that way.
I just like animal prints. That’s it.
“I’ll show you where you can stay.” My eyes volley around the room out of fear that my face will give away what I’m thinking. My focus lands on the big suitcase I’m helping with, but when I lift it, an “oof” escapes. How can someone so little own anything this heavy?
