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Tea broke apart from Archer, turning around.

“Jesus,” he whispered. She felt his hand on her collarbone, his thumb dipping into her cleavage. “You are…”

Another buzz. Then another.

“Arch.”

His hand kept exploring her skin.

“Archer.” She popped up and went straight for her phone, fixing her straps on the way.

She fumbled as she swiped it open. “Hello?”

“Tea? I saw you called. Is everything okay?”

It was Mom. “Y-yes.” She shook her head. “Actually, no. Nan says she has to take Pop to urgent care? Apparently he’s having a hard time breathing?”

“Oh honey, he’ll be okay. It’s only…”

She was unable to focus on her mother’s words, the sound of her heart hammering in her ears drowning them out. Tea turned to face Archer, but found an empty seat instead. A full cup of coffee sitting on the end table.

Chapter 18

Archer

Archer abandoned his earbuds in his pursuit to get the fuck out of the cabin. His sneakers slapped against pavement as he increased the pace, the sound of his harsh breathing and the pounding in his chest the only distraction he had on his run. That, and the sound of Tea’s whimpering as he tasted her skin, the feel of her thighs clenching against his.

Fuck.

He slowed and placed his hands on his knees, breathing hard. What the hell was he thinking, kissing her like that? She looked so vulnerable and scared, and his immediate reaction was to protect her, then kiss her senseless? He hadn’t even thought of the repercussions. Seeing her every morning, like a ruffled kitten with that unruly hair and sleep in her eyes, he felt his careful boundaries slowly unfurl at the seams. He didn’t want to wait for her in the kitchen every morning. He wanted to see her first thing when he opened his eyes. Curl his body around hers and bury his face in her hair.

“No,” he reminded himself. “No, no, no.”

He thought about the last time he opened himself up to her, how horrible it was, how she made him feel.

It was the last night of summer, before he was set to leave for the University of Minnesota. They were all gathered in the basement of Cabin F when it was owned by Quentin’s parents, playing truth or dare. He’d sat next to Tea that night, their bodies only a couple of inches apart. They did that a lot—sit close, but never touch. Like they were on the brink of something new, both of them too scared to make the first move.

Riley finished confessing a “truth” about why she liked Austin so much. “His hair,” she confessed. Then she turned to Tea. “Okay, sweetie pie, truth or dare?”

Tea tucked her knees close. “Truth.”

Her lips curled into an evil smile. “Who’s your crush?”

Archer’s chest tightened. He really wanted to look at her, but he didn’t want to be so obvious. Instead, he sat there and held his breath.

“Um, never mind. I choose dare,” Tea replied.

That smile grew bigger. “Great. Kiss your crush.”

Archer glared at Riley, who was no longer being nonchalant about the whole thing. She stared right back at him, like she was doing him a goddamn favor.

It’s not supposed to be like this. He looked in his periphery to see what Tea would do.

She didn’t do anything except stand and run up the stairs.

When the door slammed, Archer stood and pointed at Riley. “Fuck you.”

“Hey, watch your tongue around my girlfriend,” Austin snapped.