Brazen and Breathless (Untouchable #6) - Heather Long Page 0,43

for many years. You. Ms. Muriel. Mr. Edward. My position has always been clear. I worked for a short time for Mr. Ted, before Mr. Edward married Ms. Muriel. I moved to working for Mr. Edward because you were coming along.”

Yeah, I really should have known this. “Okay, but I’m not seeing the similarity.”

“My job is to look after all three of you, to see that your needs are met and that you want for nothing. I am not, nor have I ever tried to be, your father. That wasn’t my place. Nor have I tried to be Mr. Edward’s friend or Ms. Muriel’s confidant.”

But he…he had been all of those things.

“When you were younger, you desperately wanted Mr. Edward’s approval. It’s a natural thing. But his distance and his traveling, they often resulted in you coming to me. I did my best by you, but I admit, I preferred it when I was the one who made you smile or could give you that bit of encouragement you needed. That said…I wish Mr. Edward had done more. You deserved more. So while I might have been…envious of his relationship, should he have taken advantage of it, I would have been far happier that you were happy.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, a little touched by the confession, and at the same time… “So me being aware of how it makes me feel sometimes is okay? Me wanting to be a little selfish sometimes is okay?”

“Mr. Archie, you are easily one of the most selfless young men I have had the privilege to know, particularly with the people you care about. So yes, it is quite all right for you to be a little jealous sometimes and a little selfish. However, I would recommend that you continue to be honest with Miss Frankie. I’ve noticed, and rightly so, that the majority of your issues with her stemmed with keeping certain pieces of information to yourself. She cares about you, I dare say almost as much as you care for her. She would want to know.”

Heat crept up the back of my neck. We didn’t really do the touchy feely, Jeremy and I. This was a pretty damn big declaration. “Have I thanked you for always looking out for her?”

“Actually,” Jeremy said, wearing the faintest of smiles, “you have. Many times. Particularly when you trust me to look after her.”

I really did trust him to look after her. He made me feel a bit better.

It helped.

It all helped.

“So,” I said, trying to give us both a breath from too much emotion. “Do you have any cat videos you didn’t send her?”

“She does have a birthday coming…”

That she did. “And you have some ideas.”

“Well, if one were inclined to hearing a few suggestions?”

I grinned. “I’m listening.”

True Colors

“So, it’s been how many weeks since you spoke to your mother?”

“Not since before Thanksgiving,” I told Erin. This was our first real session since I’d gotten back from Colorado. She’d been on vacation the first week. “I actually can’t really recall the last time we spoke. We argued…that day at the park, and then she moved in with Mr. Standish and we changed the locks on my place… Okay, Archie changed the locks on the apartment so they couldn’t get back in, and that was that. I haven’t spoken to her directly.”

“How do you feel about that?”

“Is it wrong to say I feel relieved?” I’d been turning this one over in my head for the last few weeks. “When we were in Colorado, it was…” I licked my lips. How did I say this without sounding like a complete lunatic? Talking to Erin had grown easier, but she was still a therapist and it was still weird to tell her things like, Oh, yeah, I’m definitely dating four guys, and they are all okay with it. More than okay. We’re practically living together.

She didn’t push me or supply any words to finish the thought, just sat there and waited me out as I wrestled with the verbiage. You know, fuck it.

“It was freedom. I didn’t have to be on my guard. I don’t think I’ve ever realized how much time I spent waiting for her to get mad at me or to react to something. Like I wanted her to notice me and what was going on. Not just ask, but see me, and even if she did, I don’t feel like she ever cared except in how it reflected on her. And when