Page 138 of The Sounds of Her

“How we fall into this stereotype?” Alessa asks, giving the men a dirty look.

“It’s fine,” Elsa laughs. “It gives me a chance to show you this,” she pulls the photograph we found earlier from her pocket.

Alessa and Jenna gather around, laughing the way we did when they see Nick’s hair.

“Jordan looks same,” Alessa says, peering at the photo.

“I’m going to stick it on our new fridge when we get home,” Elsa grins. “Let’s get this food out. I’m starved after today.”

Jenna grabs the plates while Elsa takes two of the containers we’ve opened. Everyone is going to help themselves. I go to pick up another two when Alessa puts a hand on my arm.

Lots of people struggle with Alessa’s personality, but if you’re around her for any length of time, you realise pretty quick she is not as terrifying as she comes off. I know what’s coming. My eyes flick to the others before looking back at her.

“This thing with Archer. It is serious?”

“Yes.”

“And Ciro?” she asks quietly.

“Would never have worked,” I say tightly.

Jordan knew about me and Ciro. It stands to reason Alessa did, he’s her best friend. I know she is only looking out for him, but I’m sure Ciro will be pissed at her talking to me about it.

“It was over before the wedding.”

“He tell me this.”

“So, do we have a problem?”

“Archer knows?”

Archer runs in the same circles as Ciro, but they don’t talk or hang out. Mostly because Ciro barely tolerates anyone. Out of all the BreakNeck guys, Ciro only ever really talks to Jordan, or Nick, sparingly.

“I told him.”

Her lips part in surprise, but I cut her off.

“Trust me, it wasn’t easy, but I won’t start our relationship by keeping things from him.”

Her eyes narrow. She looks over at the men who are so caught up in the game, there is no way they can hear what we’re talking about.

“He not angry?”

“Of course he was,” I look at Archer, he’s grinning at something Nick is saying but his eyes are still firmly fixed on his beloved soccer game. He looks happy.

Even if he tries to hide it, I know hearing about Ciro bothered him. I’m lucky enough he understands we both had lives before we got together. It’s not like he can judge me for my thing with Ciro when I know he’s spent years sleeping with random women. I will never throw that in his face, Archer is astute enough to figure it out himself.

Still, it was hard telling him the truth. Besides Alessa, Archer hasn’t seen anyone from Red Alert since before the last leg of their tour, and that was only Nash and Dylan. I only ever saw Ciro when we met up for sex, I don’t know the rest of the band.

Archer assures me he won’t bring it up, with me or Ciro. The first time he sees him is going to be awkward as shit though, I’m not looking forward to it, and hope to God I’m not there when it happens.

The last thing I want or intend to do is discuss any of it with Alessa. It’s between Archer and me. I believe him when he tells me he’s a little pissed about who my hook up was, but he can deal with it. He promised he will talk to me if that ever changes.

“He trusts me and believes me when I say it’s over. And it is, Alessa.”

Her piercing eyes stare at me, if she’s trying to intimidate or read me, she’s met with a wall. I’m used to dealing with far worse people than Alessa and her probing stare.

“Ciro is own worst enemy,” she mutters, eyeing me again as if she is measuring up whether we could have worked.

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