Had she hidden him from me for all these years on purpose?
Why?
Since I said nothing, my mom gave me a smile. She reached for my head, tucking some wavy hair behind my ears before cupping my cheeks. “I’ve done everything for you, Jaz. I really hope you believe that,” she whispered. “I’ve done nothing but my best. I knew the day would come when you’d have to make your own way in this world…I just thought I’d have more time.”
The way my mom was talking, like tonight was goodbye, felt a little silly. I’d see her later, for goodness sakes.
“Mom,” I said, sounding uneasy, “it’s just a party. Cool your jets.” I stepped away from her hands the moment I heard my phone going off, and I walked towards the front door as I answered it. The caller-ID read Archer Vega, so I knew he was here. Beyond the gate, since I never told the guards to be on watch for him.
“I’m outside the gate. The guard’s not letting me in,” Archer said, sounding a bit awkward.
I grinned; I couldn’t help myself. “I’ll be right out.” I hung up and threw a quick glance at my mom, who still looked remarkably depressed as she stood staring off into space. “I’ll see you later, Mom. I’ll be safe, promise.”
Mom gave me a smile, but I could tell it was fake.
With a heavy heart, I left the Fitzpatrick house and began to head down the long driveway, zipping up my leather jacket over my dress. My dress actually had two pockets, and it was those pockets I shoved my phone into. I knew I’d be taking off my coat once we got to the party…I also really hoped I didn’t overdo it by looking so amazing.
The night sky was alight with stars, sparkling and giving light to this otherwise dark night. The moon was a thin crescent, a small sliver of its true self. I folded my arms across my chest as I walked to the gate, calling for the guard. Once the gate opened, I walked to the passenger side of the car, giving the guardsman a smile. It wasn’t Frank, the daytime guard. I liked Frank the most out of all of them; he was nice, and also the one I dealt with the most.
I got into the car and buckled my seatbelt, my face met with a blast of warm air from the vent in the dash. Archer’s blonde head was turned toward me, his eyes wide. “You look…” It would seem he was at a loss for words.
“I’m hoping the word you’re looking for is a synonym of good,” I deadpanned, giving him a smile.
Dimples appeared on his cheeks. “Right, yeah. You look amazing. I just…wow.”
All that with my jacket still on? The boy would be brainless once I took the worn pleather off.
He looked pretty smoking himself, but he always did. A thick blazer sat on top of a collared shirt, dark jeans hugging his legs as he glanced over his shoulder and backed the car up. As we started driving, I kept stealing glances at him, finding he did the same. We’d definitely make pretty babies…not that I was thinking about babies or anything, but his looks plus my looks? That would be downright explosive.
“So how overdressed am I?” I broke the silence of the car, turning my head to stare at him unabashedly.
“Seriously,” Archer said, trying to keep his eyes on the road but failing every few seconds, “you look hot, Jaz. You seriously blow everyone else out of the water. I feel like a troll beside you.”
I laughed. “Oh, come on. That seems a little extreme.” I playfully reached over the center console, giving him a soft shove I hoped was playful and flirty. “You’re a cute troll.”
“I’ll remember that,” he grinned.
Outside, the scenery began to change. The large houses grew far apart, further and further until acres separated them, mansions whose land was too large to be fenced-in. Still in Midpark, but probably on its outer edges.
It definitely wasn’t the way to his house; I remembered it from that time before, when we’d perhaps gone a little bit further than we should’ve with each other. Still, it’d been fun, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly hopeful for more sex tonight. It was truly a stress reliever like no other.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
Archer stunned me by reaching for my hand, moving it to rest on the center dash. His thumb traced my knuckles, and I willed myself not to get lost in the gentle, pleasurable sensation. “You’ll see,” he spoke with a wink. And those dimples…
In another ten minutes, we arrived at what I would describe as a mansion in the middle of the woods. Tall trees, barren of their leaves, looked like skeletons surrounding the house, and as Archer drove us up the winding driveway, I peered around, spotting a whole host of cars parked along the driveway that curved along the house.
Three floors, probably half as big as Ollie’s house—and that was saying something, since the Fitzpatrick house was frigging huge—but still rich all the same. Since it sat so far off the road, and its neighbors weren’t anywhere in sight, I supposed no one would be calling and complaining about the noise.
As we pulled up, I saw that every single window in the house glowed from the lights inside. Based on how many cars were here already, I’d say the party was hopping. There wasn’t such a thing as late, just fashionably on time.
Archer parked his car in an empty space, undoing his seatbelt and opening his door. When he saw that I still stared up at the house, he paused to ask, “You okay, Jaz?”
Did my face give my nervousness away? Remind me to have a little chat with my face later, then. I didn’t want Archer to know how anxious I was about this whole thing, and I certainly didn’t want him to know this was my first party. I knew parties like this were had, but I never thought I’d walk into one, let alone go to one with a handsome guy on my arm.
“I guess I’m a little nervous,” I admitted, giving him a sheepish look as I unbuckled my seatbelt.
Archer’s mouth spread into a dimpled grin, and he leaned over, whispering, “You’re going to be fine.” He ended the appraisal with a soft peck on my cheek, and my skin tingled long after his lips were gone.
I didn’t know why he affected me so much, only that he did. I never thought I would be the kind of girl who was helpless in the face of her crush, but when it came to Archer Vega, somehow, someway, I was just that. Helpless. Weak at the knees. Absolutely smitten like I’d never been smitten before.
Exhaling a shaky breath, I got out of the car and followed Archer to the front door. The closer we got, the more I could hear the thumping of music inside. I felt his hand grab mine, and as we stood before the door, we shared a meaningful look. He gave me another smile, and my stomach was suddenly full of butterflies. And then we walked in.
Chapter Twenty – Archer
I focused on the feeling of her hand in mine as we entered the house. It was a house I’d been to many times before, and it was a house I’d spend more time at after this. It was far from my favorite place to be, but unfortunately, I had no choice.
I didn’t have a choice in any of this.
It wasn’t like I was looking forward to tonight. It wasn’t like I wanted to be a part of this, but you did what you had to in this life, whether you regretted it or not.
Most people would probably jump to my defense. I was a good kid. A great student, a loving son. I was what every mother wanted their son to be…at face value, anyway. When you really dug deep, you didn’t find in me what you’d thought you’d find.