Read Online That One Night (That One Series Book 1) by Josie Wright - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Josie Wright
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ever by this cryptic answer. Why would it be better for Archer and me if he left? I look into his eyes, tempted to ask more but I can tell by the distant look he has on his face that he will not elaborate.
I decide I don’t want to know. If I ask, if I start getting interested in him and his feelings, I’ll end up forgiving him and then I’ll just open myself up for more pain. I can’t get caught up in hopes, dreams, or feelings for him—not again. Last time I did it left me heart-broken. This time, I have Archer to think about.
Chapter 7
Playing Games
On the way back to my parents’ house, we agree that he will soon come to Northampton for a few weeks to get to know Archer and spend more time with him.
“Maybe if you come out in a week or two…”
“Why not now? That way you wouldn’t have to travel alone.” I can feel his gaze boring into me.
“I need a week or two to digest all of this, Ben. I can’t think when I’m constantly confronted with all these feelings, with you. And I need to figure out where you can stay while you’re there.”
I don’t know if it’s a smart idea to even consider letting him stay in what’s supposed to be Archer’s room at some point. All this closeness, him being in my personal space all the time—this might be counter-productive to not letting him get under my skin again. I need to leave what I felt for him behind and finally convince myself that it was just a teenage crush. I ignore the stabbing pain in my chest when I speak next.
“Ben, before we decide to tell my parents, or before you come to Northampton, I need to make one thing clear. You are Archer’s father and you’ll always have a place in his life and therefore automatically in mine. But you are nothing more than Archer’s father to me. And that will not change, ever.” I emphasize every single word. Maybe I’ll believe it myself too.
“ I don’t know if it even matters to you but I need to make this clear, there will never be an us.”
I’m doing a shitty job at convincing myself, but it seems to work better on him if his eyebrows knitting together and his jaw twitching is an indication. I can feel him staring at me when I look back to the road and continue driving. He doesn’t say anything and it drives me mad.
“Did you understand what I said?”
“Yeah, I heard and understood what you said.” His words come out clipped. They feel like little paper cuts on my skin. “Are you seeing someone?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” I glance over at him, surprised by his question.
He looks at me for a moment. “Well, I’m Archer’s father, so I think I have a right to know if there is some random guy around my son.”
Seriously, after twelve hours he feels entitled to have a say about my or Archer’s life. If I weren’t driving, I would punch him in the throat.
Instead, I grit out between my teeth, “Whom I fuck or do not fuck, you don’t get to decide. You’ve been in Archer’s life all of twelve hours and you are trying to tell me how to raise him? Indicating I would put him in any kind of harm’s way? You’re an asshole. Everything I do is based on Archer’s wellbeing, or do you think I come for the happy visits with my parents because I have some kind of masochistic tendency? Do you think I allow you back into my life because I relish in the pain of seeing you again? I don’t just bring people into Archer’s life without being sure they are worth it. Every single thing I do is for Archer.”
I’m basically fuming at this point, my grip on the steering wheel so tight I’m afraid I might leave imprints. I’m fully aware of the fact that I might be overreacting, but I don’t give a damn. Instead, I mutter an “asshole” again under my breath.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have made any assumptions.”
“No, you shouldn’t have,” I say, forcing my voice to be calmer.
We stay quiet for a few moments, before he breaks the silence.
“So, are you
I decide I don’t want to know. If I ask, if I start getting interested in him and his feelings, I’ll end up forgiving him and then I’ll just open myself up for more pain. I can’t get caught up in hopes, dreams, or feelings for him—not again. Last time I did it left me heart-broken. This time, I have Archer to think about.
Chapter 7
Playing Games
On the way back to my parents’ house, we agree that he will soon come to Northampton for a few weeks to get to know Archer and spend more time with him.
“Maybe if you come out in a week or two…”
“Why not now? That way you wouldn’t have to travel alone.” I can feel his gaze boring into me.
“I need a week or two to digest all of this, Ben. I can’t think when I’m constantly confronted with all these feelings, with you. And I need to figure out where you can stay while you’re there.”
I don’t know if it’s a smart idea to even consider letting him stay in what’s supposed to be Archer’s room at some point. All this closeness, him being in my personal space all the time—this might be counter-productive to not letting him get under my skin again. I need to leave what I felt for him behind and finally convince myself that it was just a teenage crush. I ignore the stabbing pain in my chest when I speak next.
“Ben, before we decide to tell my parents, or before you come to Northampton, I need to make one thing clear. You are Archer’s father and you’ll always have a place in his life and therefore automatically in mine. But you are nothing more than Archer’s father to me. And that will not change, ever.” I emphasize every single word. Maybe I’ll believe it myself too.
“ I don’t know if it even matters to you but I need to make this clear, there will never be an us.”
I’m doing a shitty job at convincing myself, but it seems to work better on him if his eyebrows knitting together and his jaw twitching is an indication. I can feel him staring at me when I look back to the road and continue driving. He doesn’t say anything and it drives me mad.
“Did you understand what I said?”
“Yeah, I heard and understood what you said.” His words come out clipped. They feel like little paper cuts on my skin. “Are you seeing someone?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” I glance over at him, surprised by his question.
He looks at me for a moment. “Well, I’m Archer’s father, so I think I have a right to know if there is some random guy around my son.”
Seriously, after twelve hours he feels entitled to have a say about my or Archer’s life. If I weren’t driving, I would punch him in the throat.
Instead, I grit out between my teeth, “Whom I fuck or do not fuck, you don’t get to decide. You’ve been in Archer’s life all of twelve hours and you are trying to tell me how to raise him? Indicating I would put him in any kind of harm’s way? You’re an asshole. Everything I do is based on Archer’s wellbeing, or do you think I come for the happy visits with my parents because I have some kind of masochistic tendency? Do you think I allow you back into my life because I relish in the pain of seeing you again? I don’t just bring people into Archer’s life without being sure they are worth it. Every single thing I do is for Archer.”
I’m basically fuming at this point, my grip on the steering wheel so tight I’m afraid I might leave imprints. I’m fully aware of the fact that I might be overreacting, but I don’t give a damn. Instead, I mutter an “asshole” again under my breath.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have made any assumptions.”
“No, you shouldn’t have,” I say, forcing my voice to be calmer.
We stay quiet for a few moments, before he breaks the silence.
“So, are you
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