Page 81 of Comeback
“That sucks, but of course. I will do my best to always be considerate.”
“I know and I didn’t want to say anything, but I thought I should tell you because he won’t. He hates the idea of needing special treatment or being a burden.”
“I don’t think of him like that.”
“I know, but there might come a point where he feels like he’s holding you back in some way or you might do something that makes it harder on him and he won’t tell you.” He chuckles softly. “When we were kids, he’d only turn the subtitles on the TV when he was watching it by himself. For like three years he did this. None of us even knew or thought about how much easier that’d make it for him, and he was just dealing with it because he didn’t want to draw more attention to the fact he was different.”
I swallow thickly, nodding. I can picture Archer doing something like that. I haven’t known him long, but it fits with what I’ve learned about him. He’s selfless to a fault. Even hatingme wasn’t really about him not liking me. He did it because he was protecting Brogan.
“Thank you for telling me. I promise I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I know you will. And truth be told, I think it’ll be good for him to date someone that is more considerate. The last girl basically just didn’t acknowledge he’s deaf.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, she wasn’t great to him and that’s just what he’s told me. I’m sure she did worse things that he’d never tell me about.”
I don’t know if I’m angrier that he dated other people, which is ridiculous—of course he did, probably lots of them, or that some bitch made him feel less than. Yes, she’s a bitch and I don’t use that term lightly.
“He’s lucky to have you,” I say to my brother.
“He saved my life. If it weren’t for him and his family, I don’t know where I would have ended up. They took me in when I had nothing. I’d do anything for him.”
I smile. I think they have the sweetest friendship of any two people I’ve ever known. It says a lot about them both.
“So, what are you doing tonight?” he asks.
“I have to work for a few hours at the club. I’m covering a shift. Why?”
“I was hoping the four of us could hang out so I could fuck with him some more. I was thinking every time he touched you, I’d growl. Or maybe I could walk around with a kitchen knife. The ideas are infinite.”
Poor Archer. “Another time.”
His grin softens. “For real though, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather date you or him.”
“That’s sweet…I think.”
He stands and clears his throat. “One last thing. I know Archer isn’t my brother the same way you’re my sister, but he’s still family, so… If you hurt him, I will have to kick your ass, orat least give you the silent treatment or something. I won’t like it, and I’ll still love you and care for you, but it will be necessary.”
God, I love him. I love how deeply he cares for his people and how ridiculous he is about showing it.
“Fair enough.” I stand and he steps over to me, throwing one arm around my shoulders.
“Now, let’s get out of here and head home. Your boyfriend was pissed I wouldn’t let him come with me.”
My stomach flutters at Archer being referred to as my boyfriend and at the idea that he wanted to come. I missed him all day, which feels incredibly too fast for the small amount of time we’ve been hanging out. Twenty-four hours ago he was determined to never kiss me again.
“He is not my boyfriend,” I say, feeling my face heat.
“Not yet.”
24
ARCHER
“Did you see Sabrina last night?” Brogan asks with a big smirk Tuesday morning when I come out of my room for breakfast.
“No. She probably got in late.”
