Page 126 of Your Side of the Offense

Fuck. Panic sets in when I see a flash of his rage. But he quickly collects himself.

"He didn't hurt me, Arch," I say quickly.

"I didn't say he did," he says smoothly and way too chill.

"Don't get involved. Don't confront him, please. Just let it go," I say, trying to reason with a madman. With Arch, it can go either way. Actually with all of them.

"How can I when he's making you shake with fear in the middle of the night, baby?" His hand moves to my bare back going up and down my spine and the sensation is tingling and relaxing. But I know better than to be lulled. I need to make sure this doesn't turn to more.

"I am asking you. I am begging you." I hold his gaze that is a blue hue this morning. He looks so innocent and…sane. What false advertising. Archer should look like a Viking for how brutal he can be when he loses his mind.

I've only ever seen him almost pummel someone to death once. It was a guy in a neighboring high school who called me a whore because I refused to go out with him for months when he heard news of me and the guys being together.

I told Arch thinking he was the calm one. Arch knew the guy and the very next Thursday we went to the movies, and ran into the guy with his friends at the mall. Archer went from laughing with me to a demon in a blink of an eye.

The guy’s three friends couldn't stop Arch. That was a difficult ride home after he got held at the police station for a few hours.

Arch pulls me closer in an affectionate gesture with all his tenderness for me. He kisses my eyelids before covering me with his body. And I stay in his embrace, body tense because I don't know what he will say. I wait for him even as I feel his body vibrate slightly.

"I won't hurt him…" he says before pulling back to look me in the eye. "…yet. But he came here to harass you and it's going to take a lot for me to chill. If he lets it go, I'll hold it. But if he tries anything else." He brushes my cheek lovingly, but I see his deranged inner demon. "I will fuck him up, Peach. And I won't give a fuck. Nobody fucking touches you."

I can’t do anything but nod knowing he means every word. As scary as that is, it also gives me some peace reminding me more of why I love this boy so much. Arch chooses me above everything, every time.

He sits on my bed, watching me get ready for the library. He won't be joining me because I don't need more temptation, and I really need to study. Much to his disappointment. But I am not going to drop the academic ball just because my personal life is a mess.

"I want to take you on a date," he says, eyeing me like I am a popsicle he wants to lick so bad.

"When?" I adjust my boobs in the bra.

"As soon as possible."

"Well, that's eager," I joke.

He grins. "Always."

I try to smile but it falters. Memories that not all is perfect, and it can't be at the moment reminds me just how hard I fucked up.

"I don't know, babe. I owe Harv a lot before we go riding into the sunset," I say honestly, taking my white shirt from him.

He doesn't answer immediately. The shit with Harv is a lot. How the fuck did it get this twisted? I just need to set my feelings on the side and grovel. But where I begin is what I don't know.

Would I forgive him if I was in his position? The probable answer is no. If he dumped me after I got sexually assaulted, I'd hate him with every fiber of my being. A part of my brain reminds me he lied about it. But why would he lie? Why did they all lie to me?

"He isn't dating that girl," Arch says.

"What?"

"He isn't dating her," he says again.

"Then why would he…?"

"To make you jealous." He pauses. "He is still hurt about Logan and how everything went down."

I deflate. I knew it, of course, but hearing it also doesn't make me feel less shame as I sit next to Arch on the bed.

"How can I win his forgiveness? What can I do?"

"I don't know…" he says.

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