Page 141 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
He’s taking a shower? It was six p.m. their time. He usually showered in the morning, and they’d usually be having dinner now.
“It’s me,” I said. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“I ordered all the decorations for your birthday party.”
“Is it still going to be a cowgirl party with horses and pink hats and boots?”
“Of course it is. We’re going to make it so cute,” I said with a chuckle as the car pulled in front of my hotel.
“I can’t wait, Winnie. Justine told everyone that since you were gone, my party is going to be canceled.” Her big brown eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed.
I thanked the driver and got out of the car, then stepped toward the hotel and entered the lobby. “Well, that is not true. This party is going to be the best party ever.”
“Yes!” She pumped her fist at the ceiling, just as I heard her father’s deep voice in the background.
I didn’t step on the elevator because I knew I’d drop the call.
“What did I tell you about answering my phone when I’m not in the room, angel face?” he said before he glanced at the screen to see my face. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey.” I took him in. His hair was wet and clean, and he was wearing a black sweater and looked like he was ready to go out. I could practically smell his cologne through the phone. “You look nice. I thought I’d catch you guys having dinner?”
“I’m having dinner at Mimi and Pops’s,” Melody shouted, and I didn’t miss the look that Archer gave her.
Was she not supposed to tell me?
“Oh, that’ll be fun. And where are you off to on a school night?” I asked, trying not to sound annoyed, though that was how I felt at the moment. We’d barely spoken on the phone this week. It had mostly been texts, and he’d call and leave messageswhen he knew I was at the signing, and then he wouldn’t pick up when I’d call back.
“I’m, uh, I’m going out for a bit.”
“I’ll go get my sleepover bag, Daddy,” Melody said, and I didn’t miss the way he winced. She leaned over the phone and waved. “I love you, my Winnie.”
“I love you, too,” I said, a lump forming in my throat as my gaze locked with his. “Sounds like a big night out for you.”
He nodded and ignored the comment. “How was the signing?”
“It was good. Jaden stopped by.”
“Your ex-husband stopped by? Doesn’t he live in Chicago?”
“Yes. Apparently, he’s here for a bachelor party and saw that I was doing a signing, so he came by at the end.”
“How was it?”
“Fine. He has a girlfriend, and I signed a book for her,” I said, my voice flat because my mind was reeling.
Why was Archer being so mysterious?
“I appreciate you telling me that he came to see you,” he said.
“You appreciate me telling you that he came to see me?” I repeated his words, the sarcasm impossible to miss.
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m not the secretive one, Archer.” I purposely called him Archer instead of Archie, and his lips twitched the slightest bit as if he was trying to cover a smile. Was this funny to him? “I’m the one who’s been open and honest this whole time. And you know what?”
I started walking toward the elevator because I was frustrated and hurt, and I wasn’t even sure why.
