Page 39

She smirked. “Not only do you have a favorite, but you’re a snob about it.”

Archer leaned over and bumped her with his shoulder, his pinky finger brushing against hers with the motion. His close proximity made her dizzy.

Since their conversation at the bar, Archer had unlocked an old part of himself, allowing Tea to get to know him again. They spent their evenings after work like this, finishing a bottle of wine as they rattled off endless questions to one another. Favorite class in college? Where did you spend your twenty-first birthday? What are you listening to right now? Do you still hate hot dogs? (Archer to Tea.) Do you still hate scary movies? (Tea to Archer.) They sat there on the dock, two empty jars and half a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. It was nice to have him so close again, to hear him joke and laugh and relax. Even if conversation remained friendly and they skated around anything too deep. She wondered if Archer would always hold himself at a distance.

She pulled her feet close and itched the tops of them. “Your turn.”

“Hmmmm.” Archer scanned the lake, the orange glow of the sunset gleaming off the silvery, sleek water. “Have you water skied since you were last here?”

She frowned. “No, unfortunately.”

“Do you want to?”

Her feet throbbed. She scratched them again, her nails leaving red streaks. God, they’re itchy. “It’s been so long, I probably won’t be able to get up.”

His eyes blew wide. “Shall we test that theory?”

“Right now?”

He motioned a hand across the lake. “It’s glass out there. No better time than the present.”

“God, I don’t—”

Archer hopped up. “Go get your suit on, and grab a life jacket.”

Her chest flared with panic. “Arch, wait—”

“One ski, or two?” He walked away from her. “Who am I kidding? One.”

“I really, really don’t think—”

“Ten minutes!” he shouted, jogging his way to Rhonda’s cabin.

Tea looked out at the lake, a deep frown settled on her mouth. The last time she water skied, her father was the one pulling her from Pop’s boat. Archer sat at the rear, keeping an eye on her as she glided across the lake, cheering her on.

She gripped the end of the dock as she observed the water. It was like glass. She could practically hear her father shouting from the cabin, telling her to get her suit on already.

She turned her head, realizing it was actually Archer bellowing at her. She rubbed at her feet once more, then stood up slowly, eyes scanning the golden sky sprinkled with tall pine trees.

“I miss you,” she whispered, then made her way down the dock.

Rhonda cut the engine of her boat as Archer tossed the water ski into the water. “Now remember, grip the handle hard and lean back, then—”

“Archer, please shut up. It may have been eight years, but I haven’t forgotten what to do.”

He held up his hands. “All right, all right, just helping you out.”

She grumbled as she eyed the water. Since arriving at Silver Falls, Tea hadn’t allowed herself to go in the water beyond getting her feet wet. Jumping in felt like a commitment. It meant finally facing the inevitable.

“Don’t make me push you.”

She whipped her head around and glared at him. “Don’t make me push you.”

“I’m ready to push both of you in if one of you doesn’t shut up and get in the water,” Rhonda chimed in.

Archer raised a brow. “Let’s go, Tea bag.”

She squinted her eyes. “Still not the nickname.”