52

Archer
Spring Break is going far better than I expected now that Adrianna is staying here for it.
Oak assured her father that he’d keep an eye on her, even though he’s not even going to be here for the first week. Instead, he put me in charge of watching her for the week, despite knowing how much I’ve wanted her all year. He doesn’t realize that Adrianna finally submitted because of a bit of blackmailing on my end. If he did, he’d probably kill me.
Adrianna insists she can’t see me much since she’s spending time with Eva while Oak is away. Apparently Eva would get suspicious if they’re not together during the week twenty-four-seven. I find it hard to believe that she won’t be able to get away.
Bly is in his cabin outside, chopping wood with an axe like some cave dweller. I approach, a shudder racing down my spine at the look of him with an axe like that. He may be my friend, but I’ve always thought he’s got murderous vibes.
“Bly!” I shout his name.
He doesn’t seem to hear me as I get closer, and that’s when I realize he’s got wireless in-ear headphones in.
I won’t risk approaching him from behind while he’s wielding that fucking axe, so instead I walk around the front and wave my arms to get his attention.
As he swings for the next chop, he stops mid-swing when he sees me and drops the axe into the log he was splitting. He reaches up and pulls out his headphones. “How long have you been standing there?”
“About two seconds. I realized you couldn’t hear me and thought it wise not to approach you from behind when you have an axe in your hand.”
He smirks. “Of course. You may have lost your head.”
I shudder, as I’m pretty sure that’s not a joke.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing much.” I shrug. “Just wondered if you wanted to grab some food and beer at the diner for lunch?”
He tilts his head. “Bored already, Arch?”
Three days into the break, and the fact is, when I’m not with Adrianna, all I can fucking do is think about her. And right now she’s spending the day with Eva in Winby. Apparently they’re getting their hair done, followed by lunch, and then an afternoon movie. “Maybe,” I admit.
Going to the diner will keep my mind off of her until I can see her tonight for dinner. Apparently, Eva is going out with some people she met at the high school tonight, where she took her SATS for some drinks. Eva invited Adrianna, but she didn’t want to tag along. It leaves her free to spend the night with me, thankfully.
I can’t wait for Oak to return, so that I have Adrianna all to myself for a week.
“Sure. Might as well, since I’ve got to go out of town in a couple of days.”
My brow furrows as Bly never goes out of town. “What for?”
He picks the axe up and swings it against his shoulder, turning around. “Mind your own fucking business.”
I shake my head and follow him into the cabin where he lives. It’s bare and hardly decorated, a stark contrast to the colonial apartment I live in, adjoining the main building. But this is what Bly wanted. To be honest, it suits him better. There’s no way I could imagine him living in my apartment.
“Help yourself to a beer and take a seat. I need to take a shower.”
I nod as he pulls off his plaid shirt and throws it onto the washing machine, before walking into his bedroom and slamming the door. It’s weird to be hanging out with him without Oak, as we’re always together, the three of us.
I grab a beer out of his fridge and sit down on the sofa, which isn’t exactly comfortable. Bly is all about living with the bare minimum. If the apocalypse struck, I’d want to be with him as he’s got excellent survival skills.
Within five minutes, he’s showered and out in a pair of beige pants and a casual dress shirt. “Ready to go?”
I nod. “Uber?”
“Already booked it.” As he says that, a car horn honks outside of the cabin.
“Perfect, let’s go.” I tip the rest of the beer down, chugging it and then throw it in the container where Bly puts his recycling. “I’m starving.”
“Tell me something new,” he grunts.
A part of me wants to confide in him about Adrianna, but it’s just not what we do. He doesn’t talk to me about anything and I’m the same way. If I want to talk to someone, I normally talk to Oak as he’s a good listener. However, this year he’s been distracted by Eva from the get go.
Once we get to the diner, an awkward silence falls between us. “So, not going to tell me where you are going?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Nope.”
“Still fucking Adrianna Vasquez?” he asks, shaking his head. “Never pinned her as your type.”
I swallow hard. “Yes, I’m still fucking her. She stayed behind for Spring Break.”
There’s a flash of something in Bly’s eyes, but it’s gone in a millisecond. “Careful that you don’t get too attached. You’ve been obsessing over that girl since the start of the school year.”
“And your point is?”
He shakes his head. “No point. It’s just graduation is fast approaching.”
He’s right, once Spring Break is over, it’s ten weeks until she graduates. That time will fly by far too fast. “Yeah, it is.”
“And if you get too attached, then it will hurt when she’s gone.”
I arch a brow. “That’s sentimental for you, isn’t it, Bly?”
His eyes narrow. “I’m just warning you to keep your guard up.”
Ironically, that ship sailed months ago. Hell, it might have already sailed before I got her in my bed. Adrianna Vasquez is the other half to my whole. A perfect fit, even if she might not see it yet.
“Thanks for the warning.”
Jenny doesn’t seem to be here, so another server I don’t recognize approaches. “What can I get you?”
“I’ll have a beer and burger and fries, thanks.” I hand her the menu.
“Sure, and you?” she asks.
Bly nods at me. “The same.”
“Alright, coming up.”
She walks away and I watch her, and that’s when I see Adrianna enter the diner with Eva.
Fuck.
I was supposed to be here to forget about her, not be reminded of her.
Eva notices us and waves.
“Oh, great.”
Bly smirks. “It’s your girlfriend.”
“Fuck off.”
She approaches, and Adrianna follows her, looking utterly mortified. “Hi Bly and Arch,” she says happily. “I didn’t know you would be here. Oak recommended we come to this place, as they do the best ribs and burgers in town.”
Of course he fucking did.
“You should join us,” Bly says, looking smug.
Adrianna cuts in then. “That’s kind of you, but we wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“You wouldn’t be intruding at all.” Bly smirks at me.
Eva shakes her head. “I appreciate the offer, but we’re here to just eat and go as we’ve got a movie to catch.”
The server returns with our beers.
“Are you two joining?” She glances over at the kitchen. “We can add your orders if you are.”
“Oh what the heck,” Eva says, which results in Adrianna looking mortified. “Yes, I’ll have a burger and fries, please.”
“And for you?” The server asks.
“Same and a side of half a rack of ribs.”
Her eyes widen. “A side of ribs with your burger?”
“Yes,” Adrianna says simply.
She nods. “Okay, I’ll have your food out to you as quick as I can.”
Adrianna sits down next to Bly, much to my irritation. Bly looks amused by that as Eva takes the seat next to me.
“So, what brings you two into town?”
Bly shrugs. “Arch was bored, so we came for food.”
Eva raises a brow. “Bored already? Spring Break has hardly even started.”
I clench my jaw and give Bly a warning glare. “I’m easily bored.” My attention moves to Adrianna, who is sitting in silence, looking like she wants to be anywhere but here right now. “What movie are you going to watch?”
“We’re torn between Uncharted and The Batman,” Eva replies, completely oblivious to the tension between me and Adrianna. She’s the only one in the dark about us. “What would you pick?”
“Uncharted for sure. I’ve never been a superhero fan.”
Bly nods in agreement. “Yeah, same.”
“I think that’s what we’ll watch then, right, Adrianna?”
Adrianna nods. “It’s probably my preferred choice.”
“That’s settled then.”
The server comes over with the food and sets it down in front of us. Adrianna isn’t fazed by the amount of food on her plate, but she has an appetite like no one I’ve ever met, except for myself.
An awkward silence falls over the table as everyone eats, but Eva is the one to break it. “If you guys want, you can tag along for the movie.”
Adrianna glares across the table at Eva, and I’m pretty sure she kicks her under it, too.
Bly chuckles. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got a lot of wood to split this afternoon.”
“Yeah, I’ve got some things to do too,” I say, since Adrianna is coming round this evening and I intend to make her my marinara sauce and pasta.
Adrianna relaxes a little the moment I decline and we have a mundane conversation while finishing the rest of our food. I struggle to keep my eyes off of Adrianna and she struggles to look at me at all. I can’t wait to have her alone in my apartment tonight.