Page 116 of A Million To Fall

Mr. Longfellow’s eyes are sharp, curious. “Depends on the case,” he says carefully. “Why?”

I shrug. “I just read something once about how some policy makers are trying to treat certain offenses more like public health issues. Addiction, trauma… that kind of thing.”

He studies me for a beat, then nods. “That’s the theory. Execution’s another story.”

Archer still hasn’t said a word. He’s stiff beside me, jaw tight, fingers twitching against his leg. Every instinct tells me he’s one bad comment away from another argument.

I decide to continue my line of questioning as the threads of a plan begin to come together. “So the district attorney could, at their discretion, still dismiss the other charges to give the defendant the ability to do this drug diversion program?”

Mr. Longfellow narrows his eyes but nods. “It’s rare but not impossible. Ultimately the charges brought against a defendant are up to the district attorney.” His lips twitch. “You seem very interested, Skye.”

“Yeah, well, I do plan on applying to law school after—”

“Oh my god,” Archer groans beside me, dragging a hand down his face.

And just like that, the moment dies. That’s my cue to stop.

“Honey, you don’t want to waste your time with that,” Mrs. Longfellow says with a girlish little laugh. “You’ll have other things to worry about once you and Archer are married and start a family.”

I blink. Smile. Swallow the impulse to say something I’ll regret.

Instead, I reach for safe and easy.

“So, what time does the musical start tomorrow?” I ask, turning toward her with practiced brightness.

Her face lights up instantly. “Four o’clock. I figured us girls could do a little shopping, then grab a bite to eat before the show. We have great seats. Mezzanine. I hear the set design is absolutely breathtaking.”

I nod along, grateful for something to cling to that isn’t the tense silence radiating off Archer.

Things only improve slightly over the course of the evening, and by the time Archer and I make it back to our hotel and say goodnight to his parents, to slip into our room next to theirs, I’m ready to call it a day.

We undress in silence, sitting on opposite sides of the king-sized bed. It feels like we’re a middle-aged couple who have been married for decades and run out of things to say.

My phone buzzes and I grab it, grateful for the distraction, for the sound dampening the deafening silence. I smile at Lily’s face lighting up my screen.

“Hey Lil!”

“Well, I did it,” she says. She sounds distinctly downtrodden, not her usual bubbly self. “I asked Boston out.”

My heart screeches to a halt while all the saliva in my mouth turns to dust.

“Oh. How… what… how did it go?”

A quiet sigh comes through the phone. “Not good.” Her voice pinches off at the end, cracking.

Am I a horrible person that relief wraps around me like a warm blanket? Probably. “What happened, Lil?”

“I don’t know. I thought I’d finally take my shot with Boss. I mean, I’ve been talking a big game forever, so…”

“Yeah?” I prompt.

“So, I went to AJ’s since Boss usually works Friday nights.”

“Was Boss there?”

“Yeah. They were pretty busy but we… you know, we chatted a little bit and I… I just kind of told him how it was. That I’m attracted to him, that I’ve liked him since high school and stuff.”

“What did he say?”