Page 31 of Our Secret Moments

For me, that means uninterrupted training sessions, and I don’t have to listen to him yap on. For Archer, it means he can also tell Wes to fuck off when he’s in the dorm also pestering him for something stupid.

So Archer is dressed in an Olaf costume, looking as stupid as ever while I get to look somewhat normal dressed as Kristoff. I just hope to God that the rewards of this costume pay off in the end.

Archer takes a seat at the table, picking up one of the beers I just set out for us. “So, Connor,” he says, twisting open the can. “What did you get for your birthday?”

“Are you actually going to have a conversation with me, or are you just going to make fun of me?” I ask, curiously. I’m surprised more than anyone that Archer agreed to come to the party. He very rarely comes to the parties we go to, but after I told him who Nora and I invited, he agreed. It’s strange from him, but not as strange as the mysterious way he exits Fired Arts every month when we go in for our monthly painting sessions.He thinks I don’t notice, but I do.

“Just trying to make conversation,” he answers dryly. I raise my eyebrow, but he just rolls his eyes, taking a sip of the beer.

“Got the usual stuff from my parents – money, socks, underwear, you know, the boring stuff. Nora got me a photo album filled with pictures of us when we used to match every day right up until high school,” I say, smiling a little at the gift. I got her a similar present, except it was just a box filled with the things we used to like growing up and pictures of the shows she would drag us to see at the local theatre.

As much as I hated it then, I secretly loved seeing that part of my sister’s life – the flair in her eyes when she saw the lights go down on stage – it was truly insane watching her fall in love with something like that. I always wondered if she saw the same change in me.

“That’s not the only thing he got,” Wes chimes in.That asshole.Archer quirks his head curiously and before I can tell Wes to shut his huge mouth, he continues. “You should have seen what Cat got him. It was a little apron that saidConnieon it with tiny little hearts and matching oven gloves,” he coos, his voiceextrasweet.

“You’re an ass, you know that?” I mumble.

“Whatever,” he retorts, turning back to Archer with the biggest smile on his face. “He was looking at it with fucking tears in his eyes.”

“No, I wasn’t,” I bite out.

Okay, maybe I was atinybit emotional over a stupid gift with a stupid card and stupid oven mitts from the girl I can’t stop thinking about. It’s natural. I know that she was only doing it because she feels bad, and she gets me a gift every year.

“Dude, it’s okay,” Wes says quietly. “With a gift like that, she’s definitely into you.”

“Do you really think so?” I ask, trying to keep my voice as chilled as possible.

“Oh, definitely,” he says, nodding. “Girls only do cute shit like that when they’re thinking about you constantly.”

My chest expands at the sentiment. “You think she thinks about me?”

He shakes his head. “You didn’t hear me,” he replies. “I saidconstantly.”

CAT

If there’s one day of the year I love most of all, it’s Nora and Connor’s birthday.

I love a good party like the next person. I love the loud music, the people, the vibes. It never gets too out of control here at Drayton, which is what makes it more fun. There’s never any crazy drugs, or any spikings. There’s never any violence or bad energy between people, it just feels safe and comfortable. Especially at the Bailey’s estate.

They lucked out with a luxury lake house only a twenty-minute drive away from campus, a few houses down from my dad’s house. We used to spend every one of their birthdays here. We’d get sick on candy and the joy of being in each other’s presence. But now, coming here as adults, our lives and our bond has changed tremendously.

What hasn’t changed is the fact that each year the twins have to have a theme for their birthday and this year it’s very on-brand for Nora.

The only logical answer for my character would be Tiana fromPrincess and the Frogwhich just so happens to be my favourite Disney movie. Elle is dressed as Moana, her tanned skin and curly hair making it a perfect match as Nora is matching with her boyfriend as Rapunzel and Flynn fromTangled.I haven’t seen them together yet as Ryan is late as always, but Wes and Connor are making up for his tardiness.

“He’ll show,” Connor says quietly just to her as he pulls her into his side. Nora shrugs him off, painting on her bestI’m fineface as she smiles.

“I know,” she replies immediately. Wes rolls his eyes at the side of us, not making it discreet as he sips his beer from a red cup.

The party is in full swing now and despite the twins being the birthday people, they’re stuck in a little huddle with us in the backyard next to the raging fire as we try to keep warm. Even as the loud music blares out from the kitchen speakers and people pass by to wish them a happy birthday, both Nora and Connor seem to be more comfortable with our little circle more than the groups of people that came here just for them.

“How’s your birthday so far, Nor?” Wes asks, throwing away his cup into a bin bag. Her face lights up at the question.

In the kindest way possible, Nora loves to talk about herself. I’ve never seen it as a bad thing. I think it’s downright adorable. Her whole face transforms as she talks about the things and people she loves. But as their conversation continues, my gaze snags on Connor as his eyes drop to the ground and then he swiftly turns away, excusing himself.

Weird.

“Your outfit looks really good,” Wes says, and my attention is drawn back to the two of them. Nora holds eye contact with him as Elle bumps her shoulder into mine as if to sayare you seeing this.And the fuck I am. Wes flirts with everyone, but this… This feels different. He seems nervous, which is unusual. “You look, uh, pretty, I meant.”

---