Page 46 of Until Now

Just then, I hear my name.

It’s Archer.

He leans out the patio doors.

I stand, but Chase grabs my hand.

‘I know you hate me right now,’ he says. ‘But please, don’t go in there with him. You don’t know what he’s like on coke.’

I give myself a moment to feel his calluses scrape against my skin. I let all my fantasies of him fill my mind, and as I exhale, I let them go.

I lethimgo.

Chapter Nine

I’m Taking you Back to my Place

Archer’s room overlooks the front yard; I can see people milling around and talking about nothing that matters. His room is a mirage of steel grey and navy blue, from the bed cover to the walls to the gaming PC in the corner. He doesn’t have a lot of décor bar a few posters; my eyes snag on a naked woman posing on a beach with a cocktail umbrella in her mouth. Above his TV is a literal samurai sword.

But the room is… filthy.

There’s dust on everything. Dirty clothes are thrown onto the gaming chair, and there’s crisp packets and empty orange juice cartons lying around. A dish with what looks like pasta in it rests just under his bed. It smells in here, too.

There’re even strange stains on the bed, but I don’t look too closely at those.

I don’t want to touch anything, so I just lean against the door and cross my arms. I wish I had my cardigan, but I left it in Demi’s room.

Archer sits on his bed and reaches under it. He produces a plate of, what I assume, cocaine. I look away, but I hear him. I can’t bear to watch him. I don’t know why, but tears sting my eyes. It feels like having your heart set on a dream, only to have it ripped from you without any sort of explanation. And I’m not even drunk anymore; I’m just tipsy. Since seeing him sniff downstairs, I don’t even want to be here. I’m not having a good time. I’m just emotional and tired and hungry and I have a headache, but I’m worried for him, and for Cassie.

What if something happens and I’m not here?

He rubs his nose. ‘Do you want some?’ he asks.

It’s all I can do not to tell him to fuck off. It’s not that I don’t want to try it, it’s more that I’m afraid to. I could die. I could pass out and someone could take advantage of me.

‘I’m alright, thanks,’ I say.

‘Here.’ He shoves the plate back under the bed and stands. ‘Sit.’

I don’t want to, but I recall what Chase said about Archer being entirely different on drugs. I don’t want to piss him off, so I perch on the edge of the bed.

He grabs the TV remote and switches it on. ‘What do you like?’

‘Um, I don’t know.The Vampire Diaries?’

‘I mean porn.’ He connects his phone to the tele.

Did I hear him right?

‘You’re putting on porn?’ I ask.

He sniffles. His nose is running a bit, and he sounds like he has a cold. ‘It’s so intense when I’m off my nut. It feels like you’re right there but you can’t quite reach it. I can fuck for hours, too,’ he adds, with a pointed glance thrown at me.

I jump to my feet. ‘I’m so not having sex with you when you’re like this.’

He drops his phone onto the bed and wraps an arm around my waist. ‘I told you I’d be gentle, but if we fuck now, I wouldn’t trust myself to hold onto that promise. Especially when you’re dressed like a little slut.’

He grabs my backside and pushes his leg between both of mine. He rubs his knee against me, and he’s pulsing solid against my thigh, and it would have turned me into a horny, gooey mess if not for the white around his nostrils, and the smell of his breath, and the glassy, hungry expression in his eyes.

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