They ate in silence for a couple of minutes.
Violet spoke up first. “Archer and Paige are comin’ down.”
Spencer held his fork halfway to his mouth as he processed that information. “When?”
Violet shrugged. “Don’t know.”
“You have to introduce me.”
“To which one?”
“Now you’re just bein’ obtuse.”
“Why?”
“Why’re you bein’ obtuse? That’s your specialty.”
Violet laughed. “It kinda is, huh? But seriously. Why?”
That was a damn good question. Spencer had no idea why he wanted to meet Archer Halligan. Truth was, he didn’t listen to the podcast all that much because that sort of thing really didn’tinterest him. Neither did books, for that matter. He preferred music and movies over anything else.
“I wanna see if he’s everything they claim he is.”
Violet grinned. “I’m bettin’ he is.”
Spencer didn’t know about all that. There were stories about Archer Halligan. Stories that intrigued him. Not to mention, the guy could easily qualify for the sexiest man alive. And win every fucking year. Jesus. Almost seven feet tall, built like a brick shithouse, Archer was exactly the sort of man Spencer was looking for. One who would make him feel … small. Maybe that wasn’t the right word. At six-two, Spencer wasn’t small, and most of the guys he’d dated were. He wanted to know what it would be like if the tables were reversed.
Yeah. Spencer was intrigued, all right.
Not that he was looking to hook up with anyone. He talked a good game and made the whole town think he was a manwhore and, yes, a homewrecker. Did it bother him? Damn straight, it did. He was neither of those things. But if he cleared the air and told his brother the truth, he’d see pity in Slade’s eyes rather than disdain. And that was the last fucking thing he wanted. From anyone. Only four people knew the truth about what happened between him and Slade’s now ex-wife ten years ago. Jennifer and him—because they were the only two there at the time—and Violet and Elana— because he’d broken down and told them. He’d had to since the mere thought of the two most important people in his life thinking he could do something so heinous, so unconscionable to his own brother, made his stomach churn.
But over the years, he’d certainly learned how to play the part to perfection. The whole town believed he would sleep withjust about anything with two legs. Everyone mistakenly thought he was bisexual because of that incident, but the truth was Spencer wasn’t into women. He liked them just fine, but he wasn’t attracted to them like that, which made what happened with Jennifer that much worse.
Their minds would really be blown if they knew the truth: that he’d had sex with exactly two people in his entire life.
Technically, the first time only partially counted since it had entailed his crush from high school giving him a blowjob and then Spencer returning the favor. They hadn’t had sex.
The other time was ten years ago with Jennifer.
Spencer shoved the thoughts away.
“You okay?” Violet asked.
“I’m good,” he answered automatically.
He looked up and saw the concern in her eyes. If he’d seen pity, he would’ve regurgitated the salad.
“You know I’m good,” he told her, lowering his voice.
She smiled. “And you know I love you, right?”
“I love you right back, sweet cheeks.”
Chapter Fourteen
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
It took effort not to skip towardthe restaurant when her belly was already doing somersaults from the giddiness that consumed her.
