Chapter 7 - Laura

[Link to Chapter 1 (Beginning of Book)]

[Link to Chapter 6 (Previous Chapter)]

Shauna’s late. Again. She picked a dingy restaurant that thinks it’s a beer garden. At least it’s close by. But two seconds online would have confirmed it’s not anywhere I’d like to be.

Yet here I am, waiting for this damn woman. Again. Pathetic.

There she is, up front. Wearing her usual panicked look for when she’s late – selling the ‘I literally ran here’ act when running in those heels would be impossible.

“SORRY!” she yells from across the restaurant, drawing annoyed looks from half the room. I don’t even like beer.

I stand up to give her a hug, but she doesn’t throw herself at me like usual. She gives me a stiff sideways half-squeeze, her whole body tense.

Shit. Another one. Maybe there’s at least one passable vodka on this menu.

“Thanks for meeting me here,” she says, still looking vaguely frantic as she quickly takes a seat.

“It’s closer to me than usual. Not a problem,” I say, without looking up from the menu.

“Archer,” she begins, “we should talk.”

I like how she used my name to make what she’s about to say sound connected and personal when she’s feeling anything but. I spare her a glance.

Crap. She looks downright petrified. There are the beginnings of tears in her eyes. She’s really selling it.

I feel something twist in my gut. Not because I care that much about her – God, no – but because endings always feel like failure, even when you see them coming. Every time.