Archer's Voice (A Sign of Love Novel)(89)

Archer: The smell of the earth after it rains, the feeling of falling asleep, the small freckle on the inside of your right thigh. What's on your happy list?

I smiled and leaned my head back on the seat.

Me: Summer evenings, when the clouds part and a ray of golden light suddenly breaks through, knowing you're mine.

Archer: Always.

I leaned back on the seat again, a small dreamy smile on my face. After a minute or two, my phone dinged again.

Archer: When do you think you'll get to Ohio?

Me: Probably about 8 am. I'm up next to drive so I better try to get some rest. I'll text you constantly to let you know what's going on, okay?

Archer: Okay. Will you tell Jordan I said thanks for the phone? I'd like to pay him for it. I didn't think to offer when he came over.

Me: I doubt if he'd take it anyway. But I'll tell him. I love you.

Archer: I love you too.


**********


Me: Slept for a couple hours. Dreamed about you. Stopping for dinner and then I'm going to drive for the next five hrs or so.

Archer: Dream? What kind of dream?

I laughed.

Me: A really, really good dream. ;) Remember that time on the lake shore?

Archer: I'll never forget. I was washing sand out of places sand should never be for a week.

Me: Lol. It was worth it though, right? I miss you.

Archer: Very worth it. I miss you too. Guess what? I went into town for a few things and now I'm walking down the street texting you. I think Mrs. Grady almost had a heart attack. I heard her refer to me as the Unibomber, Jr. once when she passed me in the grocery store. I had to look up who that was at the library. I realized that it hadn't been a compliment.

I groaned, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Some people could be so ignorant. I pictured that isolated teenager bravely fighting his way up to the gate where he would walk out into the world for the first time since he was a small child, and then getting a reception like that. I cringed. Every cell in my body screamed out to protect him, but I couldn't. It had already happened. I didn't even know him then–but the fact that I hadn't been there, shot through my body as guilt and grief anyway. It wasn't rational. It was love.

Me: I'd read your manifesto, Archer Hale. Every word. I bet it'd be beautiful.

Archer: Lol. Which, incidentally, in my case should actually be los (laugh out silently).

Me: :D You being funny? :D

Archer: Yes. What's on your funny list?

I grinned, thinking for a second before typing.

Me: Watching the puppies waddle because their tummies are so fat, hearing other people laugh (it's contagious), funny fail moments. What's on your funny list?

Archer: Mr. Bivens in his crooked hairpiece, the look on a dog's face as it rides by with its head out the window of a car, people who snort when they laugh.

Me: I'm laughing now (maybe snorting) as I'm walking in to the restaurant. :D I'll text in the morning. Ilu.

Archer: Okay. Goodnight, Ilu too.

"Geez, Bree, you're not supposed to be writing novels on text. Both of your fingers are going to be too tired for anything good when you get back," Natalie joked.
I laughed and sighed–it might have been slightly swoony. Natalie rolled her eyes. "I love it. I feel like I'm getting to know him even better this way."
Natalie wrapped her arm around my shoulder and pulled me into her, and we walked in to the restaurant smiling.


**********


Me: Morning. You up? We only have another hour on the road. Nat's driving now.

Archer: Yeah, I'm up. Walking on the shore with the dogs. Hawk just ate a dead fish. He won't be coming inside today.

I laughed, still sleepy. I sat up and moved my neck from side to side. Sleeping in the front seat of a car was not comfortable. Natalie was at the wheel, sipping a cup of McDonalds coffee, and Jordan was snoring softly in the back seat.

Me: Eww! Hawk! What's on your gross-out list?

Archer: Really long, curved fingernails, barnacles, mushrooms. What's on your gross-out list?

Me: Wait – you don't like mushrooms? I'm going to cook something that will change your mind when I get back.

Archer: No, thanks.

I laughed.

Me: Cigarette breath, maggots, gas station bathrooms.

Archer: I'll be right back. I need to go take a shower.

Me: Lol.

I laughed, but then I paused before typing.

Me: Thank you, I needed that. I'm a little nervous about today.