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You and Archer are opposites. Fluffer and fluffee. It works, like yin and yang. But Tim and I are two yins, no yangs. And this particular yin won’t even discuss what the hell is going on, which only throws our balance further out of alignment. Yin and yang are supposed to create the perfect pairing of dark and light. We’re supposed to be equal opposites. But now we’re just… we’re both yangs. And two yangs can’t make a yin.”
“So this man, who was born and raised to be the epitome of dark, wants you, the hippie’s apprentice, whose entire existence is light and rainbows and good feelings. And despite all that, you don’t think together, you create balance?” “He wants to fluff me!” “So let him! It’s a burger, Emeri. It’s his way of seeing you before you head home,
He’s not screwing with your yin or your yang by wanting to cook a meal for you. He’s just doing what he can to save his mental health because he loves you and wants to be near you. It’s not fluffing like how you fluff. It’s his only option, unless he wants to sell his bar and enjoy early retirement. Which,” I grumble, now that money is back in the forefront of my mind, “he could afford to do,
could I have possibly said or done to make you doubt my love?” Unimpressed, he firms his lips. “I’m routinely accused of obsession. So maybe you could clear the confusion between us.”
“Which is typically what happens when men move an unconscious woman from one sleeping place to another.” “Most men.” I start toward the shower. “Not you. You like to make me naked, and you like to snuggle up to my skin like a creep. But you didn’t undress me last night. Which can only lead me to the conclusion that you no longer love me.” He grabs my hand and yanks me into the shower, catching me before I ram headfirst against the tile. Then he dips me, practically fucking waterboarding me,
“Your next husband won’t undress you either.” He wraps his palm around the back of my neck and feasts on my lips, as though desperate to taste them after a lifetime apart. “He won’t have hands to use after I cut them off and feed them back to him.” “You threaten my future soulmate so easily?” He grins, dragging my bottom lip between his teeth and sliding his hand down to cup the globe of my ass.
I’d rather your body keep me warm. Not yoga pants and loneliness.” “You’re always extra bossy the morning
the detective answers, even when he’s busy.” “Because he’s dedicated to the ‘let’s annoy Minka’ cause you’re so set on leading. I haven’t come into real estate, by the way. My husband has real estate. There’s a difference.” “The fact that you’re married makes it yours, too.” “Only when I divorce him! At which point, I’ll take half of everything he inherited and spend it on something that would aggravate him almost as much as Operation: Coddle Minka aggravates me.
I lower my coffee and gesture toward the door. “But there’s a whole other apartment, just a few blocks down, where you can stay, free of charge. You might feel safer there?” “I’m not leaving.” He brings his feet onto the couch and stares at the TV. “A guy could feel a little unloved though, with the number of times you ask him to leave.”
“I’m glad you’re here.” He tenses and spins, searching her eyes as distrust simmers in his. “What?” “You annoy the crap out of me. And you were not raised amongst decent civilization. It’s like we’re trying to humanize Tarzan. I never agreed to that kind of responsibility. But the fact that Felix Malone raised you is hardly your own fault.” She brings a hand up and cups his cheek. “I would miss you if you left.”
Stop going to those psych classes, Cato. But definitely go to psych appointments. Your childhood trauma and codependence are showing.” The playfulness he wore a moment ago turns into a scowl now that she’s back to picking on him. “She’s mean. Do you ever feel secure in her affections for you?” “No.” I bring my coffee up and grin behind the lip. Because the answer is yes, absolutely, without a doubt yes, because I know she would kill for me. She would step into danger for me.
