Page 44 of A Million To Fall

“Alright, I just sent you a text so you have my number… again,” Jake says, his voice thick.

“I never forgot your number,” Boston says quietly.

My heart squeezes at the sadness in his eyes.

Archer scoffs, his arm like a bag of cement on my shoulders. “Could’ve called your so-called best friend.”

Boston doesn’t take the bait. “I gotta get back to work.” He looks around the table, then right at me again. A second too long, yet not long enough.

“It’s good to see you,” he says.

And then he’s gone. Back into the noise. To work.

But I don’t stop watching him.

eighteen

Boston

I’m standing at the check-in counter, fighting my own thoughts during the mid-morning lull at the gym.

The place smells exactly like I remember—rubber mats, sweat, and citrus cleaner. It’s under new ownership, though. All new staff. No one here knows that I used to work this counter at seventeen.

My fingers drum against the surface. Stop. Then start again. Exactly like my brain keeps replaying last night.

I knew it was only a matter of time before I’d run into them. I just didn’t expect it to feel so surreal.

They were all there. Jake, Jonathan, Pacey, Lily.

Skye.

It was like the entire room went blurry except for her. I had thought maybe two years was enough to take the edge off a little.

Nope.

I swear, I forgot how to breathe when I saw her.

And, man, her face when she saw me? Her expression? It was there for only a moment before she blinked and it was gone, but, fuck, it did a number on me.

And then there was Archer. Same punchable face. Same inflated ego.

A loud slap on the counter startles me.

“Are you falling asleep?” Pacey asks, smirking. He’s clearly ready to hit the weights.

Jake and Jonathan are right behind him, smiling widely. I chuckle, but the sound dies when I spot Archer trailing behind them.

That guy’s like a tumor.

“You didn’t text me last night,” Jake says, the complaint tempered down by his grin.

“Yeah, sorry. I was beat. Just ended up crashing,” I lie.

Truth is, I was avoiding him and the questions he was bound to ask. I know I’m only delaying the inevitable.

“It’s all good, man. I’m just so fucking glad you’re back.”

The air is suddenly thick with emotion.