“Yeah? She might need a check-up.”
“Read my mind, brother.”
“You’re gonna work on getting her to take better care of herself.”
“Even better, I am going to take better care of her myself,” he said.
“What about when you have to leave?” Archer asked.
“Then she’ll be coming with me.”
There was a beat of silence. He expected Archer to start lecturing him about how he couldn’t force her to go with him, which he had no intention of doing, he just wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
Those were two totally different things.
In his eyes, anyway.
“Just remember that she’s still emotionally fragile, Issy. You have to tread carefully when it comes to the loss of her husband. And changes in her life. Just go easy. Promise me?”
“I’ll try.”
“Right. Which is a bit like you trying to be subtle,” Archer muttered.
Yeah. Pretty much.
“I will try to be mindful of Dave and his memory, all right?” He didn’t intend to bad-mouth the guy.
“Okay, when she feels better will you get Caley to call me? Sounds silly, but I kind of miss being with you guys.”
“Hey, that doesn’t sound silly at all. We’re great to be around. Barrels of fun.”
“Caley, maybe. You on the other hand, yeah, not so much.”
Too bad they weren’t FaceTiming. Giving someone the bird just wasn’t as satisfying when they couldn’t see it.
* * *
Archer hung up the call and had to fight against the urge to throw his phone at the wall.
You self-sacrificing idiot.
He heaved in breath after breath, trying to calm himself. He had never felt so out-of-control in his life. Every part of his life was carefully thought out. From what his career would be, to where he lived, to what he wore and who he associated with.
Who he dated.
Caley was a curve ball. The total opposite of who he thought he should want. She wouldn’t fit into his life smoothly. She wouldn’t m
ake things easier.
Is that really what you want? Someone who is easy? Or do you want someone you love? Someone who makes you feel alive?
His world had been gray, now it held color.
Issy loved her. He needed her. He’d be good for her.
You could be good for her too. You could stop her from sinking into her head. You could get her to talk. You could stop them both from hiding away.
He could round them out.