Page 87 of Pretty Heartache

“My sister is right,” he says to me. “If something is going on, I should know about it.”

Adeline half turns my way, her arms still crossed over her chest. Suddenly, this conversation is no longer about the secrets Archer is hiding. It’s about the ones Adeline and I are keeping from him.

Both of which I’m keeping from the other.

“Archer.,” I say, sitting forward, resting my forearms on my knees. I lift my gaze to Adeline, watching the panicked expression on her face.

“Fuck you!” Archer yells, standing from the couch. He bounces off and charges toward me. I straighten my back and look up at him towering over me. “Are you fucking my little sister?”

“Archer,” Adeline cuts in behind him. “Stop it.” She places her hand around his arm, but he isn’t having any of it. He jerks away from Adeline’s touch and keeps his attention on me.

“I fucking asked you to take care of her and protect her,” he spits with venom. “And this is how you fucking repay me?By fucking her in the shower?” He spins around, looking at his sister. “How long has this been going on?”

I ball my hands into fists, fury building within me. I’ve stayed silent for far too long. When I look at Adeline and see the fear in her eye, I see the little girl who used to hide from her father. The one who never felt seen or heard or loved. Her relationship with Archer is delicate, sure, but I see the pain inside her soul. Pain for hurting someone she loves despite how he’s kept her at a distance.

I also can’t help fixating on one single word that fell from Archer’s mouth. All the pent-up frustration of the past ten years ignites like a powder keg. The rope is lit, the fire climbing up its length, ready to explode.

“Repay you?” I look up at my best friend with more anger than I’ve felt in my entire life. My vision turns red. “What exactly do I owe you, Arch? Because I think you might have forgotten what I did for you. How I ruined my entire fuckinglifeforyou.”

“What do you mean?” Adeline asks, wide-eyed. She turns to her brother. “What does he mean he ruined his life for you, Archer?”

“It doesn’t matter,” he answers. “He’s twelve years older than you, Adeline.” He looks at me, curling his hand into a tight fist. “She’s my baby sister, you fucking asshole. I trusted you.”

Adeline screams, and stars fill my eyes when Archer’s fist connects with my face. I fall to my right, on my side, and lift my hand to my face. Radiating pain shoots across my cheek, and I let out a groan, blinking away the ache.

“Archer, what is wrong with you?” Adeline yells, falling to her knees in front of me. She wraps her hand around my arm. “Micah,” she cries. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” I nod, taking a second to gather my bearings.

“So, it’s true, then?” he asks. “You’re fucking her?”

“Shut up, Archer!” Adeline yells. “You have no idea what’s going on, and it’s none of your business. My relationship with Micah has nothing to do with you.”

“The hell it does!” he yells. “He’s supposed to be my best friend.”

“I am.” I grind my teeth together, massaging my jaw, and when I finally look up and find Adeline looking into my eyes, I decide it’s time for her to know the truth. She deserves it. Regardless of what she might think of me or Archer afterward.

I sit up and remove the mask I’ve used to conceal the truth for so long.

“You talk about protecting family, but you’ve done nothing but constantly put them in danger. Why don’t you tell your sister the truth, then?” I ask him. “She deserves to know.”

“What are you talking about?” Adeline asks, frustration bubbling in her expression. She stands and turns to her brother. “Stop with all the fucking secrets, Archer. What is Micah talking about?”

The silence drags on far too long before Archer finally gathers the courage to declare his confession. His eyes don’t move from his sister.

“It was me.” Plain and simple. His voice is deep and straight to the point. My jaw echoes with the pain inflicted by Archer, but the real pain is inside. I can feel the safe cracking and unlocking, allowing air into my soul that’s felt crushed by secrets for far too long.

“What was you?” Adeline’s voice trembles.

“I was the one selling and distributing illegal drugs.” He swallows and takes a deep breath, knowing the truth will add fuel to the fire. I see the fear in his eyes. Fear for losing his sister… or at least what little remains of the relationship they do have.

“Wait.” She lifts her hands in the air, her mind working around the truth Archer is telling her. “From what I read all the drugs were found in Micah’s bag. They found a trail leading back to him.”

Archer shakes his head. “When Micah and his family’s company invested in my tech company, we made incredible amounts of profit, exceeding expectations. I was able to pay back the loan they’d given me to startup within months. But after a couple years, profits started to dwindle, and I couldn’t understand why. I’d gone to Dad for help, and he’d introduced me to some associates of his. At that time, Soren wasn’t involved. It was someone else running their ring. They told me if I’d help them move some inventory, I’d be able to keep my business afloat, and it worked. Then, once I’d helped and seen what money could be made, I wasn’t able to stop. I just went in deeper and deeper until I couldn’t see a way out.”

“But that doesn’t explain how Micah took the fall for you and Dad,” Adeline points out in a tight voice.

“When I’d introduced myself to them, I gave them Micah’s name.”

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