Archer sighs. “I’m not talking about business. Everything is running smoothly here. Well, as smoothly as any construction project can go. You could come just to hang out.”
I frown, baffled. “I don’t hang out.”
“Maybe you should try it. Stay a few days. You know, it’s this thing people do. It’s called taking a break.”
“Why?”
“Why not?”
Is he an idiot? “Because I have other obligations, for one.”
Archer chuckles. “You have assistants for your assistants.”
“I do not.”
“I’d like one of those, actually,” Carson calls out.
Archer continues. “You of all people could use a few days off. Besides, Jake is home now, and we’re trying to keep him occupied and distracted.”
Jake is the only Fox brother out of all of the siblings. Poor bastard is surrounded by sisters. Unsurprisingly, he’s had some personal issues—drinking himself to oblivion, generally being a nuisance—and he was in a car accident back during the winter. He broke his femur and did a stint in rehab. All of which has nothing to do with me.
“This sounds like a you problem,” I say.
His voice lowers. “I’m trying to come up with ways he can contribute to the camp, but it’s not enough. We need to keep him busy, active, keep his mind off drinking, you know?”
My frown turns into a scowl. It’s like he’s not even listening to my rude remarks. “And you think I’m the person to ask for advice?”
“I thought you at least might know how to distract someone. Piss them off so they don’t think about anything but how to maim you. Or maybe you have people who could come up with ideas on, I don’t know, activities?”
I tug at my tie, the normally comforting weight of my suit suddenly restrictive. What’s with today? First Guy wants me in his wedding, and now Archer is coming to me for help with his surrogate family. I might as well toss him a bone, if only to get rid of him.
“Carson!” I call. “What’s that thing you do on Tuesdays and Thursdays?”
He calls out something, but his voice cuts off at the end, and he starts coughing.
I frown. “Cross-stitch?”
“Huh,” Archer says, surprised. “I guess that’s worth looking into. Thanks. Listen, think about coming up for a visit, okay? No work, just fun. Talk later.” The line goes dead.
Carson appears in the doorway, drinking from a bottle of water. “I said CrossFit. Not cross-stitch.”
I wave him off. Whatever.
He mutters something under his breath before saying, “You got a delivery. One of those edible arrangements, a bunch of fruit shaped like flowers.”
“From whom?”
He shrugs. “No card. Delivery guy wasn’t one of our regulars.”
I frown. “Toss it. Anything else?”
“Also, Arnold called while you were on the phone. He said Ben is here in the city.”
“Does he know when he arrived?”
“Flight records show about two weeks ago.”
An irritating mixture of emotions roll through me. I’m angry at Ben. I’m worried for Piper. The fear feeds the anger, growing into a flaming beast in my chest. This is why I don’t do feelings.