Mine for a Moment

The butterflies in my stomach go wild as Archer and I step into the elevator, our hands entwined and identical smiles on our faces. “We need to find a way to tell Ezra,” he says, squeezing my hand.

I look up at him, hesitating for a moment. “I think we should take some time to ease him into it, and I honestly don’t want anyone to know at work. I worked so hard to earn a spot on the team and prove myself, and finding out that I’m your girlfriend will just undo so much of my hard work. It’ll be even worse when people eventually realize that I’m Ezra’s sister on top of that.”

Archer pulls me closer, his free hand cupping my face. “Say that again,” he whispers.

I grin, instantly knowing what he’s referring to. “Your girlfriend,” I murmur, my heart racing as pure giddiness rushes through me.

He dips his head and kisses me, stepping forward until he’s got me pressed against the elevator wall, his knee pushing between my legs to part them.

I groan and wrap my arms around his neck, loving the feel of his body against mine.

“Fuck,” he whispers against my mouth, his forehead dropping to mine. “I can’t believe you’re mine.” He pulls away a little to look at me, his gaze roaming over my face like he can’t quite believe this is real and we’re officially together now. “Sera,” he whispers. “I’ll respect your decision with regard to your family and your career, but I need you to answer this one question for me.” I nod, and a hint of discomfort crosses his face. “Are you going to tell Theo about us?”

My heart skips a beat when realization sinks in, and I recognize the uncertainty in his eyes. “I will,” I tell him instantly. “I’ll tell him this week.”

Archer’s shoulders relax, and I smile as I rise to my tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his lips. “I have no intention of hiding my boyfriend away unnecessarily. All I’m saying is that we need to be cautious and think things through. We should control how and when people find out about us.”

His hands wrap around my waist, and he pulls me flush against him. “I need to tell Zane I have a girlfriend now,” he says, his eyes twinkling. My heart skips a beat at the sound of it, and we just grin at each other like two lovesick fools. “I never told you, but he made me a bet.”

I raise a brow. “What did you bet?”

He parts his lips, only to shake his head, his expression shuttering. “It’s nothing, really. I’ll tell you all about it someday. As it stands, I suspect he’ll win that bet, but honestly, if and when he does, the real winner will be me.”

My heart begins to beat a little faster as I try to figure out what he’s talking about, but just as I want to start questioning him about it further, the elevator doors open. We step out together, only to be met by a police officer standing in front of the door.

“Mr. Harrison?”

Archer steps in front of me and nods. The police officer shakes his hand, her expression grave. “I’m Officer Stelter. Mind if we step inside? My partner is already in there with Mr. Sterling.”

Archer looks back at me as he opens the door and holds it open for the police officer. My heart tightens painfully when he turns away from me to walk in, every instinct in me telling me to be cautious, that something is wrong. I watch as Archer freezes halfway into the living room, his breath hitching.

“Tyra?”

I follow his gaze, pure shock coursing through me when I find her sitting on the sofa, Ezra and another female police officer by her side. It’s almost like she stepped right out of my painting, and for a few moments, I just stare at her in disbelief. She’s thinner now, her skin an unnatural pale shade that only accentuates the dark circles under her eyes and the bruises on her skin. But even so, her natural beauty shines through—it’s unmistakably her.

“Ty,” I whisper, my heart breaking at the sight of her. Seeing a woman I’ve mourned the loss of is jarring to say the least. I didn’t think we’d ever see her again, didn’t think she truly could still be alive given everything the police told us, and happiness slowly begins to overtake my shock as I stand there, realizing that this is really happening, and she’s really here with us, safe and sound.

I take a step forward, only to pause in my tracks when she rises to her feet, tears filling her eyes as she walks up to Archer. Her arms wrap around his waist, and he freezes for a moment before he hugs her back, his hand holding the back of her head, pure agony lighting up his eyes before he closes them, resting his chin on top of her head as he holds her tightly, the way he used to.

My stomach turns, a new kind of despair overtaking me as I watch the two of them together, relief at seeing her only just about outweighing my jealousy. Tyra bursts into tears, harsh sobs wracking her small body, and Archer buries one hand in her hair, the other roaming over her back. “Don’t cry, darling,” he says, his voice breaking. “I’ve got you. Everything is okay now. You’re home, baby.”

My chest begins to ache as he holds her, calling her every term of endearment I thought was mine. I don’t even notice when Ezra wraps his arm around my shoulders, nor do I notice the conversations going around me. All I can focus on is Archer and the way everything and everyone else ceased to exist to him the moment he saw her.

“I w-was held captive,” she tells him, before her breathing becomes choppy and panic clouds her beautiful blue eyes. She tries her hardest to inhale, only to choke on her sobs, her anxiety building with each attempt to breathe.

Guilt instantly settles deep in my stomach, making me feel like a horrible person for being even remotely jealous when I should be grateful that she’s home, though clearly not unharmed.

“Look at me,” Archer says, his tone calm and placating. “I’m here with you, Tyra. You’re home with me, and you’re safe now, darling.” He grabs her hand and places it on his chest, the paintbrush charm I’d been playing with in the car grazing her fingers. “Breathe with me,” he tells her, his voice so soft and kind that it hurts. “Can you do that for me, sweetheart?”

She nods and follows his instructions, letting him guide her breathing, until she calms down enough to speak. Her attempts to explain what happened just make her sob all over again, and Archer pulls her back into his arms as both officers step forward, explaining that she was taken and held captive by a stalker for nearly two years. I begin to feel sick as they tell us everything Tyra can’t manage to say, and all the while, guilt unlike anything I’ve ever felt before builds deep in my chest until it overflows and turns to shame. While Tyra was held captive and tried her best to survive, Archer and I betrayed her in the worst way. She’d been holding on to hope and memories of us, and we’d been trying to forget her.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Archer looks up, our eyes locking, and I stare at my boyfriend, his ex in his arms and silent apologies written all over his face. He doesn’t need to say the words for me to know we’re over.