The Best Mistake - Cookie O'Gorman Page 0,22

sad thing is he really believes that,” Chase said, looking after his twin.

“I know,” I said back. “I worry about him, probably more than I should.”

“You’re not the only one.” Chase started to turn away but then stopped. “And hey, Arch?”

I met his gaze as he looked over his shoulder. It was crazy how much he looked like Baylor, I thought. It came with the territory of being twins, but we all had our father’s gray eyes.

“About the girl?” he said. “Don’t feel bad about going after what you want. Like Dad used to say, tenacity is a great trait to have.”

Chase nodded then walked away after delivering that bombshell. He’d always been the most introspective of all of us. I think it had something to do with all the reading he did.

“Hey,” a new voice said, and I turned to find the girl Honor had been with at the party staring at me, seemingly sizing me up. “I’m Charlie, Honor’s best friend and your sister’s new roommate.”

I nodded. “I’m Archer.”

She bit back a smile. “Oh, I know. Honor’s told me a lot about you already.”

“She has?” I said. So Honor had talked to her best friend about me? That had to be good, right? “All good things, I hope.”

“Uh uh,” she said, waving a finger at me. “Don’t try that charming act on me, oldest O’Brien. It won’t work. I’m not telling you anything unless I think it would benefit my best friend.”

“I can respect that.”

After giving me a quick look up and down, she nodded. “Lucky for you, I think you may be just what she needs. Honor’s special, you see. She’s not like other girls.”

This was so surreal. I felt like this was some kind of test.

“I agree,” I said. “That’s why I’m so interested in her.”

Charlie nodded again. “Well, it was a good try with the book. She loves those things. Smart move on your part.”

“Thank you?” I really didn’t know what to say to this girl Charlie. “So, you think I have a shot? With Honor, I mean?”

“Yeah,” Charlie said and flipped her hair over her shoulder, “you may have one—if you’re lucky.”

“Any advice?” I said.

“Hmm,” she said. “Just keep trying.”

With that, she turned on her heel and left.

I’d never been one to give up. Like Chase said, quitting didn’t really run in the O’Brien DNA. I was stubborn, and I had a feeling that would serve me well where Honor was concerned. If I needed the green light to pursue something with her, I’d just gotten it from Charlie, her best friend.

I just hoped Honor was ready.

Because I was more than ready for her.

As soon as the door closed, I leaned my head against it.

My eyes fell shut as I listened to the conversation on the other side. The sound was muffled, hard to understand the words. The voices were deep, clearly masculine, and I knew for a fact there had never been this much testosterone in Magnolia House since I’d moved in. That was thanks in large part to Charlie’s rule (one we’d all agreed to without objection) about not letting men into our space.

But despite the distortion the door created and how similar the brothers’ voices sounded, I could’ve sworn I knew which one belonged to Archer.

“So not a good idea,” I mumbled.

As if I needed the reminder.

Opening my eyes, I made my way over to my bed and plopped down. I remembered the first time I’d laid eyes on Archer O’Brien with perfect clarity. Even though I hadn’t known his name at the time, one of my first thoughts still rang true.

This guy could ruin me.

Would if I let him.

Luckily, my hang-ups wouldn’t allow me to throw my heart out there so carelessly no matter how sweet, clever, and irresistibly attractive he was. I knew what he felt for me was just a passing curiosity. He would get bored the second he realized I wasn’t actually as confident and bold as I was in our first meeting. Even with the awkwardness, something must’ve tripped his guy switch. But I wasn’t like Charlie, who could entrance men at a glance. No way would I be able to hold his attention. And when he decided to throw me away, I was sure I’d be crushed. I was just cutting it off before it could get that far.

I sighed, wishing things were different—that I was different—so we could have had a shot.

But like I’d told Archer, I was just me.

And despite my answer to