The Best Mistake - Cookie O'Gorman Page 0,84

to call first,” she said, squeezing him tight.

Archer’s voice was muffled. “I tried to, but you didn’t answer.”

“That’s because I’m so mad. You have to leave now. If Honor sees you, she’s going to cry again, and I don’t want that.”

“Gah, Emmy,” he said, “I’m here to make things right.”

“I’m serious. You need to go before she sees you.”

Charlie spoke then. “Well, too late for that.”

Realizing there were other people in the room, Emmy backed off, and Archer straightened to his full height. He looked at her, frowning and rubbing his neck—until his eyes snagged on me.

“Hi,” he said.

I nodded. “Hi.”

We stood like that, quietly staring at each other, with so much unspoken between us.

“Screw this,” Charlie said a moment later and planted herself directly in front of Archer. “What are you even doing here?”

“I tried to get him to go,” Emmy said, “but he refused. He says he’s here to apologize to Honor.”

“Then I better hear some groveling in the next five seconds, or I’ll throw you out myself.”

“I’m good with groveling,” Archer said.

Charlie scoffed. “It’s your choice, Honor. Do you want to hear what he has to say? Because you really don’t have to listen. After disappearing on you, it’s not like he’s earned the right to be heard.”

“I deserve that and worse.” Archer looked over to meet my eyes, sounding pained. “But I just had to see you.”

I held out my hands, self-conscious yet knowing there was nothing I could do about how I looked. “Well, here I am,” I said.

His eyes were sad. “Yeah, and you’re just as beautiful as ever.”

“Maybe we should give them a minute,” Rose commented.

“Okay,” Charlie said, begrudgingly. “But if he hurts her again Emmy, you’ll be minus one brother.”

Emmy said nothing to that, but before the three of them left, I thought I heard her lean up to Archer and say, “Good luck.”

They disappeared into one of the rooms. I thought it was Charlie’s, but to be honest, I wasn’t paying that much attention. Archer’s eyes were on mine, and now it was just me and him in the living room.

Just me and the man I was in love with.

Me…and the man who had broken my heart through a text.

Sighing, I sat down on the couch and gestured for him to do the same. “What do you want, Archer? Is everything okay with Chase?”

“It is,” he said but opted to stay standing. The rejection stung but not half as much as his other one had, so I let it go. “But I’m not here for that. I came because I have to tell you something.”

“What?” I asked.

He began pacing back and forth, and it was only then that I noticed how tired he looked. His clothes were disheveled, the dark circles under his eyes more pronounced, his hair messy as if he’d run his fingers through it one too many times. Archer looked almost as haggard as I felt inside.

“I know you probably don’t want to see me,” he said then stopped to meet my eyes.

He was so very wrong about that.

I’d wanted nothing more than to see him for the last three weeks.

But I didn’t correct him.

“You have every right to be mad and probably never wanted to hear from me again.”

Wrong again, I thought. I’d tried to be mad at Archer, on multiple occasions, but I’d failed every single time.

“I know I have no right whatsoever to be here right now, especially considering how I left.” Archer stopped pacing and sat down next to me. “But I had to come see you. I had to tell you the truth even if you don’t want to hear it.”

“Oh?” I asked. “And what’s that?”

“I love you,” he said, and my breath caught in my chest. “I love you, Honor. I love how you read books, real books, and even carry them to parties. Sometimes leaving them behind by accident.”

My eyes filled, but he kept going.

“I love the quirky clothes you wear, even when I don’t know what they’re about. I love the way you just blurt out exactly what you’re feeling. I love how beautiful you are, inside and out.”

His hand went to my cheek then slowly moved into my hair.

“I love your writing, too. The article you did about me was way too flattering by the way. You made me sound far more perfect than I am.”

A small laugh escaped. “I wrote it before you sent me that text,” I choked.

“I hate myself for sending that to you, for hurting you like that.”

“S’okay. Your family needed you.”

“No, it’s not,” he said, staring into my eyes. “And they do need me, but you needed me, too. I didn’t think I could be there for everyone, just thought I’d let you down over and over, but now, I know I was just being an idiot. I’ll never forgive myself, Honor. But if you’d let me, I’ll do my best to make it up to you. Every day from here on out. Please, will you give me a second chance?”

Archer’s words were so sincere. The way he was looking at me as he waited for an answer made my whole body come alive. Still, it took me a minute to believe this was real. Before I could respond, he spoke again.

“Oh, I almost forgot. Before you answer,” he said, looking a bit nervous, “I brought you something.”

It was a testament to how distracting he was that I hadn’t noticed the books. Archer lifted them, three in total, before gently placing the stack into my lap. My eyes moved over the hardbacks. I could tell they were old just from the look and heft of them. Opening the top one, I read the title page…and stared.

“Jane Eyre,” I murmured, “An Autobiography edited by Currer Bell…”

Out of my peripheral vision, I saw Archer nod, could feel his eyes on my face. “It was Charlotte Brontë’s pen name. The book was originally published in three volumes.”

I swallowed. “I know.”

“It’s a first edition,” he added. “I thought you might like it.”

My eyes met his then. “Like it? Archer, I love it. But this is way too much. I can’t possibly accept.”

“Yes, you can,” he said simply.

“But…I…How did you even manage to get these?”

“My Aunt Genevieve collects rare books.” He shrugged as if he hadn’t just handed me a priceless piece of British literature. “She also lives about thirty minutes away and is a total romantic. When I told her how badly I’d messed up, that I needed them to try and get the girl I love back, she handed them over, kissed me on the cheek and wished me good luck.”

The girl I love.

My heart felt too full to speak, but I forced out the words.

“So, she just gave them to you…to give to me?”

Seeing my expression, he nodded. “I’ve always been her favorite. At least that’s what she says—though I think she says that to all of us, loves me and my siblings equally.”

I closed the book as carefully as possible, cleared my throat. “Are you trying to bribe me with books?”

“I would never.”

“Because that would be kind of unfair. You know how much I love them, especially Jane.”

“I do.” His eyes were cautious, but I could hear the smile in his voice. “That book brought us together. I was hoping it might do it again. So, will you give me another chance?”

After giving myself a moment, taking in a much-needed inhale and exhale, I gave him the only response in my heart.

“Of course, I will,” I said. “How could I not?”

Archer closed his eyes in what looked like relief.

“Thank God,” he said and pulled me to him for a long breathless kiss. His eyes searched mine as he leaned back a bit. “Not that I’m questioning it, and I probably shouldn’t press my luck. But why? Why are you giving me a second chance? Was it my awesome groveling or the books?”

“Neither. It’s just…” I shook my head. “I’d rather be with you, just breathing the same air as you, than anywhere with anyone else.”

I heard his breath catch this time, but I’d only spoken the truth.

“And because I love you, too.”

The smile that filled his usually frowning face was a stunner. Archer O’Brien was a lot of things: Captain to the Wolves baseball team, the oldest of six siblings, one of five brothers, a man who hardly ever smiled, a superstar athlete, the only person who made my heart feel like it was about to beat right out of my chest.

We may have started out as a mistake.

But he was the best mistake I’d ever made.