Page 50 of A Million To Fall

I blink. “Oh, uh…”

Lily’s my best friend. Archer’s my boyfriend. The only reasonable response is: hell yes, go for it, girly, you got this. Instead, I picture my nails dragging down her rosy cheek. My hand in her hair. Yanking.

It startles me.

The last time I felt something this dark was when I was sixteen. When she began to bring up Boston more and more. When she openly wondered what he looked like naked. I laughed it off, even encouraged her, though in reality, I never wanted her to want Boston.

“What are you doing?” Lily asks, her voice laced with annoyance.

“Texting Archer,” I mutter.

Me

Sorry Arch, my mom asked us to drop off snack boxes at the Riverfront Sports Complex. We just left. I wasn’t ignoring you. I promise.

Lily rolls her eyes. “You’re always texting Archer.”

“He gets anxious,” I say quietly.

“His last message was like ten minutes ago,” she huffs.

I shrug. “To which I didn’t respond. He just likes knowing where I am, is all.”

“Yeah. All the time.” Lily shoots me a look.

“He loves me.”

“So it’s fine?”

“We’ve been together for a long time. He kind of has a right to know what I’m up to, don’t you think?”

Another message pops up, my phone warm in my hand.

Archer

You were at the rec center?

Me

Yes. And Lily and I ran into Boston and chatted for a minute. Getting back on the road now.

I feel Lily watching me, but she doesn’t push.

We get back in my car, then hit the road for some more sundress shopping.

twenty

Boston

I’m on the edge of sleep, leaning back in the driver’s seat when a knock at the window jolts me upright. I’m fully expecting a cop or random weirdo.

Normally, I’d ignore the person—roll my window down if it’s a uniform—but when I turn my head, it’s Jake standing next to my car, hand still raised.

I motion for him to take a step back, fumble for the door handle and step out of the car, blinking at him in the amber glow of the streetlamp.

He’s holding a takeout bag and staring at me like I’ve grown another head. “You alright?”

“Yeah, perfectly fine,” I say, hands shoved into my pockets.