I try to take back the phone, but he waves his hand at me and walks away.
Little fucker.
I follow him around the living room as he hums and ah’s while flapping one arm toward me.
“Archie, give me the damn phone.”
He stops what he’s doing and laughs. “Yeah, okay. I need to give the phone back to Nate now; he’s giving me the worst daggers.”
He hands the phone to me, and I throw him another dirty look before saying. “Hi, it’s me again. You okay?”
Hayleigh giggles on the line. “I’m okay. I should be home by lunchtime tomorrow. I can’t wait to see you.”
“I can’t wait to see you, too.” She ends the call, and I whirl on Archie. “You’re a right pain in my backside, you know that?”
He grins. “Sorry, I was worried. Hey, do I smell pie?”
I turn around to my parents, who are watching with amused smiles, and throw my hands up. “Brains of a goldfish, that one. Do you see what I put up with?”
My mum stands and pats my cheek with her hand. “He means well. Come on, and I’ll reheat some pie for you before you go home.”
**********
The next day…
We’re back to pacing again. Only this time, I’m the one doing the majority of the pacing because Hayleigh was supposed to be home an hour ago, exactly when her phone cut off mid-sentence as she was telling us she’d be longer and also when her phone stopped showing up on the tracking app.
I stop what I’m doing and look over at Archie again. “Anything?” He shakes his head in response as a surge of anger flows through me. “Fuck!” I shout out, feeling completely helpless.
“Let’s go to her,” Archie suggests.
I shake my head. “Imagine how fucking stupid we’d look if we set off there as she’s driving back here.”
He shrugs. “We won’t know unless we try. What harm can it do?”
“Fine.” A sigh leaves my lips because I don’t have the energy to argue, and secretly, I’m worried.
Archie opens his phone and types furiously, and when he stops, my phone pings, and I instantly know what he’s done.
I raise my brow. “Really? The group chat?”
He grins at me. “Desperate times, my friend.”
I open my phone and have to stifle a laugh.
Archie
Okay, boys, 911, I repeat 911
It doesn’t take long for those bubbles to appear on the screen.
Rafe
You do realise that we don’t ring 911, don’t you?
Ethan
Note to self, if ever in an emergency, don’t ask Archie for help
