Page 95 of Terms Of Un-Endearment
“Should I drive you or walk you to the bus stop?” he says as he hands me the metal cup with a lid and straw.
Now that Julia won’t be on the bus, I really want Archie to drive me. But he’s taken off the apron, and I’ve boarded the struggle bus, trying to keep my eyes on his face instead of his chest. So, the actual bus seems like my safest option.
“Let’s walk.” I sling my bag over my shoulder and head for the front door.
Archie grabs a sweatshirt and, disappointingly, puts it on as we walk out the door.
“A hoodie, but no shoes?” I ask as he closes the door behind us.
“I haven’t caught you staring at my feet.” He raises an accusing eyebrow.
I take a sip of my smoothie. “Let me guess. You don’t intentionally go shirtless? It’s an accident; like your messes in the kitchen?”
“Exactly. So, stop retaliating by objectifying me.”
“Hmm… How about the girls in your fan club? Should they quit objectifying you, too?”
Archie laughs. Our shoulders brush, then our fingers, and he hooks his pinkie around mine. We stay like this all the way to the bus stop, and I avoid asking him too many questions about his plans.Ourplans. We’ll talk after work, because he’s not going back to Australia.
The day passes in slow motion. Now that I know what Valente has done to me, Anna, Julia, and who knows how many other people, all I can focus on is beating them at their own game. The boring tasks I’m assigned today are pure torture.
By the end of the day, I’m ready to climb out of my skin to escape the pent-up energy that’s built up all day. The bus ride only adds to the day’s torture, and I wish I would have called Archie to pick me up. I’m at the door ready to jump out before the bus rolls to a stop, and I run-walk home.
I burst through the front door and call Archie’s name.
Then I see the packed suitcases and stacked boxes in the foyer.
Chapter 35
Archie
Ihear Piper call my name and run downstairs, thinking there’s something wrong. When I reach her, she’s staring at my bags.
“You said you were staying.” Her eyes meet mine, and the disappointment there makes me want to undo all the packing I’ve spent the day doing.
But leaving is the right thing.
“I never said I was staying in this house.” I try not to smile at her confused expression. “But I’m staying in LA—with Dex and Britta until I find my own place.”
“So, you’re not going back to Australia?”
“Yeah, nah.”
“Butthisis your house.”
I shake my head. “I signed the deed.”
She blinks at me, and her mouth opens, but she doesn’t say anything.
“It’s your mum’s house as soon as the divorce is final. Which should be soon.” I hope. Not for Cynthia’s sake alone, but for mine. I’m keen to kiss her daughter once she’s not my stepsister.
“What?” Piper blinks again. “Did Malcolm change his mind about your trust fund?”
“No.” I’m not ready to talk about Dad cutting me off. I want to focus on the good stuff.
“How are you going to fund Bombora without the house?”
I shrug. “I reckon we’ll figure that out together, won’t we?”
