My eyes flick up to Cannon’s bright blue ones. Elliot’s leaning against his arm, their hands intertwined. He only waits a beat before his brows lift, then his eyes scan over to Archer beside me, who is rather intently reading something on his phone. Cannon’s gaze comes back to mine for a moment before he shoots off a few more one-handed texts.
With my heart thundering, I look down again.
He’s been getting messages all night.
Whoever is sending them is relentless.
I’ve been watching him.
Can’t be too sure, but—
I think it’s upsetting him.
Thought maybe you’d better ask.
I draw in a ragged breath because I don’t quite know what to do. I scrape my teeth over my bottom lip as I consider, then quickly tap out a message to Cannon.
I asked him. Blew off my concern.
I watch Archer out of the corner of my eye as his phone buzzes with another incoming text. He pauses a moment, then stabs a few grilled peppers violently with his fork before shoving them into his mouth and chewing slowly as he reluctantly flips his phone over to read again.
There’s a visible stiffening throughout his body.
“Arch,” I say softly, “who’s texting you?”
“No one important enough to disrupt Cannon’s birthday over.”
I hear the determination in his voice, and while I appreciate he’s probably attempting not to ruin the party, I also won’t stand for someone hurting him. Besides, he knows me better than to think that’s enough of an answer for me. I work my jaw back and forth as I consider what I should do, all while watching the way he’s bristling. I don’t like it. Not one fuckin’ bit. “Yeah, so you said earlier. But whoever it is has been non-fucking-stop tonight.”
He draws in one breath, then another. “Drop it.”
The phone vibrates under our hands, and I turn toward him. “If it’s nothing, you’ll let me take a look.” I turn my head, staring at him head-on, my eyes roaming features I know almost as well as my own.
His jaw twitches.
Leaning close so I can whisper in his ear, I squeeze his hand. “Baby, I need to know what’s bothering you.”
Archer’s chest heaves with the effort of each inhaled breath. It takes him a few moments, but I feel the moment he gives in. His finger flicks over the screen, sending the display scrolling, then his hand goes slack under mine, and he slips it away. I grip his phone while he stares stonily down at the table. I glance down, then scroll to where today’s conversation with someone listed simply as D had begun. Swallowing hard, I read.
Archer. Can’t wait to see you.
I heard you’ll be home for fall break.
I’ve got so many things I want to do with you.
I don’t want to spend time with you.
Back off.
My teeth grind at the idea that Archer has been involved with someone I didn’t know about. That he’s hidden this from me. My jaw twitches hard at the next set of texts, the slide of my finger on the screen revealing more and more. Whoever D is, they clearly have a sexual relationship.
When you masturbate, do you think of me?
Leave me the fuck alone.
I’m not responding to anything else.
Can you feel my breath on your neck?
