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“And what were they?” The words come out breathy.
“I know that we haven’t discussed what this is but—”
“Archer Copeland, are you trying to stake your claim?” I use an earlier phrase I think I heard from Enzo, or maybe it was Alina. Hell, I can’t even remember at this point. I’m totally kidding. Or at least I was...
“Maybe.” He gives me a sly grin. “It is so bad that I want people to know that we’re an item now?”
“Are we?” I swallow hard. “An item, I mean. Because as you said, we haven’t really discussed what this is.” I take a small step back, feeling like I need a little space to breathe.
“I want to be.”
He seems equal parts confident and unsure, wrapped up into one. Like maybe, like me, he feels like he’s on a roller coaster spiraling out of control and has no idea how to stop it.
“You do?” I can’t help but ask. I mean, come on, thisisArcher freaking Copeland we’re talking about. Like, is this really real life?
“You don’t?”
“I mean, I don’tnotwant to be. I guess I’m just having a hard time catching up. I didn’t even like you last week.”
“Did you not like me or did you not like how much you had to try to convince yourself you didn’t?” He doesn’t miss a beat.
“Because you think it’s impossible for someone to dislike you?”
“Because I think it’s impossible for someone who looks at me the way you do to dislike me.” He grins.
“And how do I look at you?”
“The same way I look at you. Like you want to strip my clothes off and have me for breakfast. Which, for the record, I am totally okay with.”
“You are something else.” Laughter laces my words.
“Thank you.” He smiles wider. “Look, we don’t have to put some label on it, but let’s agree that until we decide otherwise, you are not to see anyone else and I won’t either. Can we at least agree on that?”
“Okay,” I say, barely able to push the word past the thick knot in my throat.
It’s like I stepped on a train that shot out of the gate going eighty miles an hour and now there’s no way to get off until it reaches the next tracks and who the hell knows when that will be. I guess the only thing I can do now is sit back and enjoy the trip while it lasts. Because if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s only a matter of time before the train reaches its destination and I find myself on the other end of whatever the hell this is that’s happening.
I know I said I didn’t want any distractions, but maybe Archer is exactly the kind of distraction I need. Someone who’s sexy and fun and most importantly, not looking for anything serious.
I want to be that person. I want to be someone who can just enjoy a good time while it lasts and not lose her heart somewhere in the mix. And maybe I can. Maybe I fell for Conner the way I did because of who he was and not because of who I am.
But despite how much I try to convince myself that I have it in me to have a fling and not get attached, I’m not sure I’m built that way, no matter how much I wish I were.
And even still, when Archer takes my hand, the last thing I want to do is pull away.
“Good, now come.” He bumps his shoulder into mine, effectively pulling me out of my mental battle with myself. “I have a shit ton of people I want to show you off to.”
“I’m not sure I like the sound of that,” I murmur under my breath, quickly checking my phone for the hundredth time since we left the restaurant. I texted Alina to see if she was here, but to this point, she has yet to text me back.
I mean, I assume she’s here. I know she usually goes to these things with Enzo. I’ve been to a couple with them myself. Never here, obviously. Usually, I stick to the parties close enough to campus that I can walk home.
We’re not even fully up the driveway when we get stopped the first time. I vaguely recognize the guy—someone on the team, I know that much—but can’t say I’ve ever seen the woman he’s with before.
“What’s up, Arch?” Seems to be the universal greeting for QB one.
“Miles.” Archer tips his chin. “Jen.”
“Hey, Arch,” she coos, eyeing him up and down even though she’s hanging on the arm of one of his teammates. Gross. “It’s about time you got here.”
