pulls back his hand. Almost like he’s forcing himself to stop when all he wants is exactly the same thing I do. For him to pull me into his arms, tell me he loves me, and that he’s choosing me.
Instead, he takes two steps back, putting the physical distance between us that matches the emotional one I feel weighing on my shoulders. “Sometimes, love isn’t enough, Blaire.”
I should’ve expected it from him, but his words still hit me like a physical blow. The glass drops from my hand and shatters on the expensive marble tile.
Neither of us even glance down at it, our eyes locked on each other.
“That’s really sad, Archie, that you really believe that, especially now,” I wave a hand behind him toward the party, “during the Christmas season when miracles happen.”
He heaves out a heavy sigh, one that matches the burden I see in him. “That’s just it, Blaire. I’ve never believed in miracles.”
With that final hit, he turns and walks away from me without a look back. Each step he takes echoes down to me, and Jessica appears at the end of the hallway and sees him. Her eyes light up, but when he reaches her, her smile falters. She glances down the hallway at me, concern etched on her sweet face. After a moment of examining me, she lifts her arm to his and guides him around the corner and out of view.
Archimedes Warren will never admit what Archie Warren and I have.
And I’m starting to believe miracles don’t happen, either.
Chapter 19
Archimedes
Everything is so fucked up. And Jessica knows something is wrong. Despite my telling her that everything was fine and that Blaire was just upset about something work-related, I don’t think she buys it.
How could she?
I can barely look her in the eye and can’t stop my body from vibrating as we stand here chatting with…
Christ, who are we even talking to?
I scan the faces of the couple in front of us and force a smile. Senator Randall and his wife, Patsy. People I should be schmoozing instead of just standing here, staring at blankly. Jessica carries on the conversation from my side, the shyness I was initially concerned about apparently gone.
Thank God for that.
Right now, I’m utterly useless. I search the room. Thankfully, Father and Grandfather are on the far wall talking with the mayor. If either of them saw me like this, it would invite a lot of questions I don’t have answers to.
“Excuse me?” The familiar voice behind me makes me let out a relieved breath. Athena rounds to my side and flashes a grin at everyone. “Can I borrow my brother for a minute?”
Jessica looks up at me, concern flickering in her gaze, but I offer her what I hope is a reassuring smile.
I lean in and press a kiss to her cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
Athena drags me across the main room, past dignitaries and co-workers, and out onto the balcony. Despite the space heaters out here, the cold, blustery, Christmas Eve air sends a shiver down my spine. In the shiny, strapless dress she’s wearing, she must be freezing.
I shrug out of my jacket and hand it to her.
She flashes me a grin and shoves her arms into it. “Thanks.”
“It’s the least I can do for saving me back there.”
“You looked like you were about ready to throw up. What’s going on? I saw you disappear with Blaire, and when you came back, it looked like the rug had been ripped out from under you.”
I rub my hands over my arms and stomp my feet to keep warm and avoid answering the question. If I tell Athena what’s going on, it will only bring up feelings I need to shut down. Instead, I watch my breath crystallize in the air in front of me to avoid looking at her and then focus on the glittering city lights. “I’m fine. Just needed the fresh air.”
“Oh, no, you don’t. You don’t get to play that game with me, Archie. Jessica Sims may not know you well enough to see what’s going on, but I do. Whatever went down between you and Blaire was personal. You don’t walk away from something looking like that unless you love the person.”
I still and turn to face her, my hands at my sides. With a sigh, I raise them, palms up. “So what if I do love her? I can’t do anything about it.”
Athena scoffs and rolls her eyes in the classic move that