Page 28 of Best Wrong Thing

“It means a lot to Molly that you and Archer get along.”

“Why? It’s not like we live together, Dad. Archer and I will barely see each other. Besides, he’s a lot younger than me. We havenothingin common.” Except for fancying each other.

“It would mean a lot to me too.”

Here we go. Dad should teach a course in Emotional Blackmail 101.

“I don’t want you to bicker with each other. What can I do to encourage you to get along?”

I squeak my finger along the edge of the balloon. “Nothing. I promise I won’t rub him up the wrong way.” I want to rub him off, though.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I have got to get Archer Marshall out of my head. Is it too late to use my hook-up app to find someone to sleep with tonight? Probably. Plus, I don’t want to. Not really.

“Good. I know you don’t entirely approve of Molly and me, but I love her, and we’re married now, so I want you to be more than civil to her. It would mean a lot to me if you got along. It would be even better if you could make friends with Archer too.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Hopefully, your best will be good enough. I don’t want you to upset her.”

I bite my tongue so I don’t say something I’ll regret later. Where was his concern over upsetting Mum when he screwed his secretary?

“It’s a shame you couldn’t bring yourself to do a best man’s speech. It would have made us both happy.”

Him staying faithful to Mum would have made me happy, but we don’t always get what we want, do we?

“My taxi’s here.”

He frowns. “You should have booked a room.”

“Well, I didn’t. Night, Dad.”

“You should say goodnight to Molly before you leave.”

I wave my phone at him. “I don’t want the driver to leave without me.”

Dad huffs out a sigh.

“Congratulations. I hope you and Molly are happy together.”

“Do you?”

I give him a tight smile and leave.

The taxi isn’t waiting, so I stand outside, Archer’s balloon sword swaying in the wind. Why the fuck did I bring it with me? Now it’s dark, it’s considerably colder. I shiver, even though I’m wearing a jacket. I glance up at the third floor. Which one is Archer’s room? Is he lying in bed? Is he naked?

I need to get home, have a cold shower, and put distance and time between Archer and me. I’m in lust, and lust never lasts.

Chapter 8

Archer

Mum: I’ve got a surprise for you.

Why does that instantly make me suspicious?

Archer: What surprise?

My phone rings. Mum, which isn’t a shocker. She prefers to talk rather than text.