my best to blank my expression. It didn’t work. “I’m fine, and I had just as much fun as you probably did,” I said. “And we’re never talking about this again because it’s weird.”
“Very weird, but I love you anyway. You sure you’re okay?” he asked, leaning against the doorjamb.
“I’m fine. Really. I just didn’t sleep much. It seems you didn’t either.”
“I forgot my hair products at home, and I didn’t spend the night there. Luckily, I had a change of clothes in the car, but I forgot the rest.”
“So, you’re not sharing a drawer then?” I asked, teasing yet wanting to know more about my twin’s happiness.
“I do have a toothbrush at his house,” he said, his smile widening. “I have a toothbrush. At my boyfriend’s house. And he said I could just leave a couple of things over. In my own drawer.”
Archer’s smile became so bright, I thought astronauts in space could probably see it if he stepped outdoors. My heart gave a tug. “Really?” I whispered. “I’m so happy for you. You look happy.”
“I am. Are you happy?” Archer asked. I blinked before putting a smile on my face. As usual, my twin saw right through it.
“Annabelle,” he whispered, and I shook my head, tears threatening. Why was I even crying? Weird feelings. I needed to get over them. Just because I thought maybe I could love Jacob didn’t make it real. He and I had an agreement. I wouldn’t go back on that.
“I’m just tired. And I don’t have the same kind of relationship you do with Marc.”
“Okay, but I’m here if you want to talk.”
“One day. Just not at work.” I only said that because I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep things from Archer for long. He always knew when I needed to talk, and I didn’t know I needed to in the first place.
I knew he’d be there for me.
“Family meeting in the conference room, now.” Dad’s voice echoed from the hallway, and I frowned and met Archer’s gaze.
“Is Clay here?” I whispered.
“He’s off today, doctor’s appointments and physicals for the kids.”
“Good, because this is work. We don’t do family meetings like the one that’s about to happen when Clay is here,” I bit out.
Archer rolled his shoulders back. “Good. It’s about time we stand up to Dad.”
I faltered, though I shouldn’t have. “That’s what we’re doing? Standing up to Dad?”
“I sure as hell hope so. Because I know the strain on your face isn’t just from what we’re not talking about in your personal life.”
I held back a curse, grabbed my tablet, and followed Archer to the conference room. I met Benjamin’s gaze as he exited his office, his eyes stormy. No, today would not be good.
Beckett and Paige followed us into the conference room where my dad paced in front of the large desks, acting as the chairman of the board—or maybe a father ready to discipline his kids. This work environment was not healthy. Something needed to change.
“Sit down,” Dad ordered. None of us sat. “What did I just say?” he asked, and I raised my chin.
“We’re at work,” I said, my voice calm. I felt anything but calm. “You’re going to want to watch how you talk to us in our place of business. Anyone can come in at any moment to discuss plans, building… any number of things. What you’re doing right now is not the face of the company we want to show the world.”
“Don’t act like you’re infallible, Annabelle. You’re one of the reasons we’re in this mess.”
“Excuse me?” I asked, my eyes opening wide. I did my best to ignore the barb slicing through my chest, but it was hard. This was the man who’d put me on his shoulders and handed me ice cream cones that would drip all over us. This was the guy who’d taught me to ride a bike and drive a car. And yet I couldn’t see any of that in the person in front of me.
“No, you’re going to want to step back, Dad,” Beckett growled, moving past me. Suddenly, the five of us were standing shoulder to shoulder, with Beckett slightly in front, facing down our dad.
Hell, this was not how I wanted this conversation to happen, but I didn’t know what else to do. I did not recognize the man in front of me right now, and I didn’t know how to fix it.
But we had to.
Or we would end up losing something far more precious