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“I’M DRIVING!”
Archer closed his fists, turning toward his brother. “No, you’re not. Also, you and I have beef.”
Austin frowned as he helped Riley into the boat. “Is it a good kind of beef, like Omaha steaks? Or we talking Hy-Vee chuck roast—”
He reached the helm of the boat, grabbing the dangling remote and sinking the boat into the water. “You talked to Dad about the resort.”
“Dude, I thought it was a known fact,” Austin defended himself, looking befuddled as he stepped into the boat. “Why didn’t you tell him anything?”
His eyes were slitted. “Do I really need to spell this out for you? Dad finally retired, I couldn’t just—”
“Archer, it’s your goddamn life. You can’t live it doing something you don’t love.”
“Watch me.”
Archer ignored the way Tea’s eyes went wide at his response, or how she pressed her lips into a thin line and moved to the back, taking a seat next to Riley, who was already pulling on her vape.
“Jesus, Archer. You can’t possibly think I’m going to let you—”
Archer cut him off. “You will. You made your decision, and I made mine.”
The four of them remained silent as Archer backed the boat out of the dock, then turned it to open water.
Austin popped into the passenger seat and crossed his arms, shaking his head.
“You know what, no.” Riley popped up and stepped between the two boys. “If we’re going to act like this all day, we’re turning this boat around and going back. I’m not dealing with this shit.”
Austin sighed, then turned to Archer. “Okay, I’m sorry. It wasn’t my place.”
“It wasn’t.”
“But if this is going to hold you back from actually pursuing your dream, then I will make it my place.”
“What dream?” Tea asked behind him.
Riley’s brows shot skyward as she looked between Tea and Archer. She settled on the latter with a face that clearly stated You haven’t told her yet?
Archer reached for the key to crank up the engine.
Austin grabbed his wrist. “Give me a timeline.”
He glared at him.
“How long do I give you until I make it my place again?”
“Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” Tea pleaded.
He, Austin, and Riley didn’t respond to her, the three of them in a silent war.
He yanked his wrist back. “Five years.”
“Five? That’s—”
“A reasonable amount of time to try to do what I want to.” He reached for the key. “If it doesn’t work out, then so be it.”
Before he could hear what Tea was saying behind him, Archer turned the key and took off, the boat soaring down the lake.
“Fine, fuckface, I’ll leave you alone for five years!” Austin screamed over the motor. He plugged in his phone. “Now for some Dua Lipa!”
