Page 9 of A Million To Fall

“I didn’t trip her on purpose.”

“Uh-huh, sure,” he says dryly. “But you do know she’s got a thing for you, right?”

“Who has a thing for Boss?” Jonathan sidles up with a red plastic cup in hand. It’s filled to the brim with some red-brownish soup. I bet it’s Jake’s special “punch”—cherry Kool-Aid mixed with every kind of booze in his parents’ liquor cabinet. It tastes like cough syrup, but it gets the job done. Fast. Maybe I should have a couple of sips before I try to find Skye.

Jake gives Jonathan a one-shouldered shrug. “Your cousin.”

Jonathan groans. “Oh god, yeah. Boss, do me a favor and just let her ride your cock tonight. She needs to get you out of her system. She seriously doesn’t shut up about you. It’s annoying.”

I groan. “Dude. Stop.”

“I’m serious.” He turns, then shouts: “Skye, back me up!”

I follow his gaze and, shit, everything zooms in on her. Skye’s standing in the living room, chatting with… Archer. Archer, whose hand is on her lower back.

Are they here together?

Something shifts in my chest like a string being pulled too taut, too fast. Maybe he just touched her to get her attention. It’s nothing, probably.

Except he doesn’t move his hand and she doesn’t step away.

I shake my head, clearing it.

Skye looks over, and her eyes widen briefly when they land on me.

“Hey, come here!” Jonathan calls to her.

Skye smiles at Archer before crossing the room. He falls into step beside her, sliding his fingers through hers almost as if to make sure she doesn’t get too far ahead.

That’s not nothing. That’s very much something.

“Hey, guys,” Skye chirps.

“Hey, Stormy.” My voice comes out low, but the tug of her lips tells me she heard me.

“Can you or can you not confirm that my cousin has the hots for Boston?” Jonathan asks.

“Oh, uh,” Skye stammers, cheeks turning pink. Her eyes move to mine, and this time, they linger.

I manage a smile. She’s fucking gorgeous tonight—short skirt, black boots, white turtleneck that hugs her in all the right places. She’s completely covered but still somehow devastating.

“Uh, yeah, obviously,” Archer grunts before Skye can answer. “Not sure why, but Lily definitely wants you to bone her.”

“Arch,” Skye mutters, elbowing him gently.

“What, it’s the truth, isn’t it?” His tone’s softer now that he’s speaking to her.

I swallow as my chest hollows with the realization that my noble intentions, my dad’s old suit, and any courage Jake’s special punch might lend me don’t change the math.

And the math is that guys like me don’t end up with girls like Skye.

Guys like Archer do.

Skye turns back to me. “Okay, yeah, maybe Lily said something about liking you.”

I exhale deeply. Of course I knew this. Lily hasn’t made any obvious moves, but I’ve picked up on her signals. Still, part of me hoped I was mistaken. She’s sweet and easy to be around, but the problem is that my head and heart have already chosen someone else.

And asking Lily out just because I know she’d say yes feels wrong.