“Unfortunately,” Archer replied.
Kimiko cleared her throat as she watched our interaction. We looked over to see her giving us a look of disapproval.
“I still think this isn’t a good idea,” she said.
Archer went to speak, but I placed a finger over his mouth and shook my head.
“You know she’s not entirely wrong. Now go. I’ll see you later,” I said, and he sighed as he placed a kiss on my forehead before leaving, not sparing the others a look.
I looked over to Kimiko, who seemed like she was about to erupt.
“Reynolds. Leave me alone,” she said menacingly, and Sterling chuckled.
“Admit that you had a good time and that my suggestion to the dean turned out to be a success.”
She sighed and crossed her arms as she glared daggers at him while he held the biggest smirk on his face.
“I did not have a good time. Your suggestion only turned out to be a success because of how close you are to the dean. It was careless and spontaneous, and you still were able to pull a victory over me… You win this round, Reynolds. Next time, I won’t be so tolerant of your idiotic behavior.” She walked away from him as she went towards the terminal, and Avery followed suit.
Sterling placed his hand over his heart, and I watched in confusion as Archer came back to where we had been standing.
“Sterling, you’re lucky I didn’t leave you—what are you doing?” he asked, and Sterling looked over his shoulder in a daze.
“I’ve been lovestruck, Archer, by a five-foot-two little Asian tiger in heels.”
I looked at him in disbelief. “You do know she’s planning on murdering you, right?” I asked in all seriousness, and henodded, turning his head back to watch Kimiko as she sauntered away, annoyed.
“And if that shall be my fate, then so be it; at least I will die at the hands of such a powerful woman.”
Archer nodded and grabbed Sterling’s arm as he bid me one last goodbye.
Nathan stood a few feet away from me, and I walked over to him so we could make our way to our terminal to find Kimiko, Avery, and Benjamin, who had made his way over earlier as well.
Eventually, as we boarded the plane, I got lost in my thoughts. Benjamin, Nathan, Kimi, Avery, Sterling, Reginald... Six people that I know of are aware of Archer and I being in a relationship.
This number was far too large. We were supposed to be a secret, remain hidden for as long as we could. But the cat was out of the bag, no matter how much I wanted to force it back in.
I sat in my seat and looked out the plane’s window as we finished boarding.Maybe this isn’t a good idea... Maybe I should end it now before we get too deep... before things get out of control and out of hand. Two people went to six in a day. Imagine what will happen when we get back. It’s not too late to back out—
My thoughts wandered like crazy when I felt something pull me out of my trance.
I gazed down at my phone to see it had buzzed. I rolled my eyes, seeing the message from the one and only person who was the source of my stress lately.
Archer: Tomorrow we’re spending the day together.
You seem to think my life revolves around you, Lockwood.
It doesn’t?
I could imagine the arrogant smirk he most definitely had on his face.
Getting a bit of déjà vu from the last time you forced me to spend time with you, but… I’ll think about it.
We’re meeting at the local coffee shop by the academy.
The pilot asked us to fasten our seatbelts to get ready to take flight, so I sent Archer one last message as the smile never left my face.
Stop texting me before you take down my plane.