Chapter 165

Almara’s Pov

I’m worried. I tried calling Arthur last night as soon as I got home. I wanted to explain myself before he sees the picture. It’s now morning and I’ve already tried calling three more times and he hasn’t answered.

I know that he has some big red-carpet event and maybe that ran late, but still he hasn’t missed a phone call once this week which leaves my head spinning was the different possibilities.

Either Arthur got into a horrible accident and is lying in a coma or dead somewhere, or he saw the picture and is infuriated and not speaking to me and I’m never going to see him again. Okay, maybe I’m being dramatic but why won’t he answer?

I’m supposed to meet Cathy for breakfast soon and I really don’t want to have to cancel on her, again. I hurriedly get dressed and go to drop Grace off at the daycare. Though he’s the last person I want to see right now, Archer is the other guy that I need to talk to.

Pulling up to the school, all I can focus on is taking deep breaths. I half expect someone to come out of the blue and start berating me, but so far as I cross the parking lot no one seems to give me a passing glance. Maybe the picture never made it to print.

I open the doors and Grace is itching to get down, she’s come to really love this place. A few other pups stare at her, their smiling widening and it fills my hear with momentary joy seeing that my little girl is making friends.

I set Grace down and immediately she crawls over to her friends on the play mat. I wish I could just watch her play all day and not think about the mess that I have to clean up. Though the moments over too soon as I hear a cough that gets my attention.

Without turning around, I already know it’s Archer. “Hi.” I say sheepishly.

“Hi.” He says back. Dark purple circles rest under his eyes. Part of me feels bad and the mom part of me wonders if he’ll be able to stay awake to watch my daughter. “I guess I should call you Luna.” He adds with a bow and I cringe.

“No.” I shake my head. Archer stifles a yawn and I wonder if his lack of sleep is from the realization that I am the Luna and he had no idea, or if he was up taking care of his father.

“I’m sorry about last night.” I say, getting right to the point. “I should have told you who I was.”

Archer lets out a laugh, which is a relief. “That would’ve been nice to know ahead of our date.” I want to slap my palm over his mouth I was worried he thought it was a date and this just confirmed it, which is going to make this next part really awkward.

“Archer,” I say. “I’m happily married.”

“You don’t sound happy about it.” Archer says plainly. I’m taken back a bit. I am happily married, I only don’t want to tell Archer because I hate letting people down.

“Well, I am.” I say with a bit more power in my tone. Maybe he should refer to me as his Luna.

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” He says, cocking his head to one side. I can’t believe he even has the nerve to say these things. I can’t believe I wasn’t as up front as I needed to be before.

“All I’m saying is, you can’t deny that you had a great time last night.” Archer says as I struggle to find my words that accurately depict my anger.

“Yes, I had a good time but it doesn’t mean that I don’t love my husband.” I tell him. “And just to be clear, it wasn’t a date.” I add. Archer looks as me with a quizzical look.

“The way I see it is it was a date and now you’re feeling guilty, or worried that just because the picture was taken that your husband might somehow see it, so now you’re saying it wasn’t a date.” Archer says crossing his arms as if expecting me to tell him that he’s right, that’s exactly what’s going on.

“You have no idea how I’m feeling.” I tell him. Only Arthur knows my feelings because we’re fated.

“Do you even know how you’re feeling?” Archer says crossing his arms and my mouth falls open. Just then, there’s a loud bang at the front of the room which causes everyone to jump a little.

I turn around and see Arthur as shouldered through the door and he looked pissed. Oh no. His face is red with heat, his hair looks like he’s combed his fingers through it countless times, and the collar of his shirt is undone and his sleeves rolled up, he still looks incredibly handsome even if slightly disheveled.

Archer has since turned to square his body towards the door. I risk a glance at the children over towards the back of the room, luckily they’re too focused on their toys and games to notice the tension happening up front.

“Arthur,” I gasp and take long strides over towards him. I didn’t realize how much I missed him until seeing him right now. Though as soon as I’m standing right in front of him, he doesn’t wrap me into a huge or tell me how much he’s missed me. Instead his eyes bore into mine.

“What is going on, Almara?” He asks his words cutting right to my heart. I know he asked a question, but it feels more like an accusation.

“You can’t talk to her that way.” Archer says from a few feet away and I shut my eyes wishing he hadn’t said anything at all. I don’t need to be looking at Arthur to know the veins in his neck are sticking out.

“What did you say to me?” Arthur says and I really, really hope Archer doesn’t actually answer him. Arthur moves past me and I swear he’s going to punch Archer right in the face. I spin on my heels and hurry to catch up with him.

“Arthur, there’s children.” I tell him and hope that he understands, luckily he does because he doesn’t swing at Archer, but every muscle in his body his is tensing up.

“Who is this guy?” Arthur asks.

“This is Archer. He’s Graces teacher. That’s all.” I say in response to his earlier question.

Archer lets out a laugh and now its me who wants to hit him. “That’s all.” I say again this time to Archer.

“Why did I have to hear from Valerie Gash that you were on a date with this twig.” Arthur growls. I pause on the name Valerie Gash for only a brief second, sometimes I forget the type of people that’s normal for Arthur to be around.

“Because stupid paparazzi took a picture of us getting dinner and twisted this whole story.” I say wanting to throw my hands in the air. “Arthur, it’s me.” I say to him and maybe it’s only wishful thinking but I think I see him relax ever so slightly.

“Why did you get dinner?” Arthur asks. I hesitate to share Archer’s personal problems, but it might be the only thing that clears up this whole mess.

“Maybe she wanted to.” Archer says nonchalantly. Just like that, Arthur’s anger is back full force.

“He was telling me about some personal problems and I felt bad. I invited him to dinner. I never, ever, meant for it to be anything other than that.” I blurt out.

“Well, you heard her.” Arthur says. “She pitied you.” I feel the need to tell Archer that’s not true either, but decide against it.

“We had a great time, didn’t we though Almara?” Archer says and I hate the way he’s implying that anything happened at all. I can tell Arthur doesn’t like my name on Archers lips. Suddenly, Arthur grabs Archer by the collar and brings his face only inches away from Archer’s.

Only for a moment does fear pass over Archer’s face before he controls his emotions once again. He’s probably had a lot of practice masking how he really feels given the home life he has.

“If you want to settle this the good old-fashioned way, I’m not opposed.” Arthur says and reveals a toothy grin showing off his teeth. A few pups have turned around to see what the commotion is. This needs to end now before all these children get scarred.

“Arthur we can’t have any more bad publicity.” I say quickly quietly. Arthur knows it’s true, that’s the one thing we can’t afford. Still he doesn’t let go of Archer’s collar.

“So, I’m supposed to let people think my wife went out on a date and I did nothing about it?” Arthur says.

“If you fight him then people will definitely think we went on a date, but nothing happened so nothing needs to happen.” I can Arthur think about my reasoning as his eyes move over Archer. Finally, he decided to put him down-roughly.

“Get Grace, we’re going home.” Arthur says and turns to walk out the door. I let out a deep breath and begin to feel my legs become steady again.

“You’re welcome.” I say to Archer as I brush past him to get my daughter. He has no idea how much trouble I just saved him from.