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No read receipt. No answer.
Hopefully, everything was okay.
Flipping to Instagram, I half-expected to see pictures from the party. The first one—a close up of Ian hitting Archie made me wince. I scrolled past it and then my stomach bottomed out.
It was a black text box with letters in it.
Smart is the new dumb.
It was a story,and it had me tagged. The next image was Ian and Sharon making out at a party. His hands were down her pants, and she was on his lap. All it said in the caption wasBack to school party, 2 weeks ago.The next image was Ian kissing me by my car.Smart?The image after that was Ian with Sharon again, only she was clearly topless, even if there was no boob showing.Probably not.
The next image was Archie and Patty, and based on the image—it was the same location. Archie’s house. The swimming pool was visible. At least she wasn’t in Archie’s lap, though she was wrapped around him from the back with her hand down his swim trunks and his head tilted back to look up at her.2 weeks ago.The next image had to have been taken when me and Archie got to the football game, he had an arm around my shoulders, and he’d been telling me a story, whispering in my ear.A week later.Then another of Patty and Archie, only he had his hands covering her bared boobs, and she was laughing. It was a close up, but there were other people—in the hot tub with them.
The next image was Coop and Laura, Jake and Maria, Ian and Sharon, and finally Archie and Patty.Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
Then a series of photos with just the guys and me flicked past. Then back to Ian hitting Archie.
Smart? Nope. Guess the untouchable princess finally started putting out.
The photos were old but—not that old. And I knew all of it…except for the hot tub. The guys had lives before we talked about dating.
I knew this.
Didn’t mean it didn’t sting.
I didn’t recognize the name who posted it, but they tagged just about everyone and hashtagged the senior class.
The number of likes and comments made me ill, and I scrolled away from it. I wasn’t going to read those.
But I wasn’t ready to see another Jake and Maria photo. They were at the wings place close to the high school, and it was posted only minutes before with the #togetheragain? on it.
The gentle honk of a horn pulled my head up, and I met Archie’s gaze. He frowned, then leaned over and pushed open the passenger door. Feet dragging, I climbed in and he caught my backpack and put it behind the seat.
“Hey,” he said, frowning. “What the hell did she say to you?”
“A lot…and then I saw this.” I turned the phone over to show him.
With a sigh, he said, “That’s not what it looks like.”
When I scrolled up to the story, his expression darkened.
“But that is,” I said, then clicked off the phone and leaned my head back against the seat.
“Buckle up,” he told me, his tone almost brisk. “We’re getting you out of here, and then we talk, okay?”
I nodded. At the moment, I’d do just about anything to make this sick, sinking feeling go away. “I’m sorry, Archie… you didn’t have to come.”
He wrapped a hand around my nape and nudged my head around, then he kissed me. Firm and real, even as he squeezed my nape. With a tug, he sucked on my lower lip, then nibbled another kiss.
“You feel that?” he murmured against my mouth. At my nod, he continued, “Good. I’m right where I want to be. You need me. I’m here. Hang on a little longer for me, babe. Can you do that?”
Licking my lips, I nodded. I had to get this together. I didn’t just fall apart. Dragging the seatbelt on, I clicked it into place and then pulled the door closed. Grasping my hand, Archie gave it a squeeze and rested my hand on his thigh before he shifted gears, but he covered my hand.
“Thank you for coming to get me.” Pathetic as it sounded, I was grateful.
“Always,” he promised. “Now just hang on. We’re going to figure this out.”
I didn’t know whether to believe him or not, but I wanted to.
