Chapter 26
Mila's heart pounded in her chest as she heard Archer's persistent knocking on her door. Each thud seemed to echo through her entire being, leaving her feeling a mix of emotions. She didn't want to face him, not after what happened between them. She already knew that seeing him again would only make her emotions more complicated.
"Mila?" Archer's voice called out, tinged with concern. "I know you're in there...open the door."
Mila hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Part of her wanted to open the door and confront him, while the other part wanted to hide away from the situation altogether.
"Mila," Archer tried again, his voice softer this time. "Come on, man. Open the door."
Feeling overwhelmed, Mila decided to escape to the bathroom instead. She turned on the shower and sat down on the closed toilet seat, trying to collect her thoughts. The memories of their night together were still fresh in her mind, making her heart race and her cheeks flush.
Mila knew Archer could hear the water running, but she needed a moment to compose herself. She waited until she thought he had walked away before turning off the shower. Taking a deep breath, she tried to make a decision about what to do next.
Her mind was torn between two options. Part of her wanted to avoid the situation entirely, maybe pretend to be sick and stay in her room. But deep down, she knew that her Nonna would see right through any act. The other option was to face Archer and the reality of what had transpired between them. It was the more mature approach, but she felt hesitant and vulnerable.
Mila groaned inwardly, unsure of which path to take. Her heart wasn't ready to face Archer, especially with the lingering memories of his touch still vivid in her mind. As she sat in the bathroom, she wished she could find the courage to confront her feelings and address the situation head-on. But for now, she needed a little more time to process everything before facing him again.
With a deep breath, Mila decided it was time to be a grown-up. She made her way downstairs and toward the breakfast table, where everyone was already seated. Archer, who was waiting at the entrance, looked up and paused.
"Mila," he said with a sigh of relief. "Thank god-"
"Can we not do this now?" Mila asked.
"What?" Archer's frows furrowed.
"I know we need to talk," Mila rocked on her heel and shifted around her weight. Archer watched her, feeling her awkwardness like a storm wave.
"Can do this later?" Mila asked. "Some place.....not here?"
Archer stared at her, his chest tightening when he noticed she wasn't even looking at him.
"Yeah, that's fine," he managed to say after a short pause.
"Great," Mila nodded. "In the garden? After breakfast?"
"Sure," Archer agreed.
"Should I go in first or should you?" Mila looked at the dining room entrance.
"Don't be ridiculous," Archer rolled his eyes. "They don't know what happened. It's not written on our faces, okay? You don't have a scarlet A on your chest."
"Right...." Mila tucked back her hair. "Fine. Together then."
"Want to hold my hand?"
"What? No!" Mila jumped back.
"I'm kidding," Archer chuckled.
Mila glared at him before marching off, leaving him no choice but to follow. As soon as they walked into the room, everyone stopped and looked up.
