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Tonight was his dad’s retirement party and he hadn’t even RSVP’d He hadn’t called He hadn’t anything With guilt and self-loathing rolling over him in waves, he pulled out his phone and accessed his contacts He scrolled to his dad and stared at the nu would be the chicken-shit route He shoved the phone back into his pocket Then he swore and tugged it out again, called, andgot his dad’s voice mail "Dad," he said at the beep "Hey Look, I know it’s lastbefore now and at least RSVP’d to your party tonight" He ran a hand over his face "I’m sorry but I’d like to still come by, if that’s okay with you You can text if you’d rather justLetbeat, not sure what to do with himself Finally he swore so at the base of his neck

Elle was no longer by the fountain She’dhim

"Hey," she said quietly, her expression softer than he was used to seeing when she looked at hi-time "Don’t," he said

"Don’t what?"

Pity o," he said instead and headed to the stairs He had a damn suit in his das that required it He needed to change into it and get to his dad’s retire that late was better than never

"So we’re back to you being silent and brooding because I overheard yourherself in the cold night air "Kinda rude, don’t you think?"

"Go to the pub, Elle" But he should’ve known better Telling her what to do never worked out for him but he just shook his head "It’s wared up the stairs and let hied and was back outside

Elle stood there waiting for hihtened In spite of his being a dick, she cared about hi his daive out the wrong signals, but that was hard when he no longer knerong froht when it caed out of his jacket and wrapped her up in it "I told you to go inside, it’s too cold out here for that dress" Which, just a side note, was hot as hell on her

"You’re not going to your dad’s retirement party alone," she said

"Yes, I am" It was his penance, and besides that, he didn’t want anyone witnessing what promised to be an incredibly aard reunion Archer hated aard Hated an audience to it even more

"I’ve texted Spence," she said "He’s on his way"

Shit "I’ Spence He’ll talk tooso How about Willa?"

"She talks more than Spence"

Elle didn’t look particularly uys Joe or Trev--"

"Read my lips, Elle No"

She crossed her ar to let this go He blew out a breath "Fine If you want someone to come with me so badly, then I vote for you Get in the damn truck"

She arched a brow "Out of all the people you know, you want to take the one person who drives you the most nuts? The one who’s mad at you? Really mad?"