Page 61 of The Tenth Circle

Of course he wouldn’t, it’s why I love him.

“Same here, Andrews.”

The heavy dust settles as we go back to drawing, this time I refuse to let Archer botch Captain America.

“So…?” he muses as I erase another eye from his paper.

“Sooo…”

“Anything you want to tell me?”

“Other than how bad you are at drawing?”

“I’m serious.”

I scrape a hand down my face.

“I thought we moved past talking about Saint.”

“Who said it’s about Saint?”

“Cut the shit, Beaumont. We both know it is.”

“Speak for yourself. I’m referring to Stevenson.”

Archer must be part elephant, because the fucker literally never forgets.

“What about him, man?”

My words are defeated, riddled in equal parts pain and self-loathing.

“Why did you feel the need to defend him?”

“Because...”

Archer purses his lips…making me realize there’s no point in trying to hide the truth from someone who already knows everything about me.

“Because I felt guilty, okay?”

“About which part?”

“All the parts, Arch.” Shrugging, I continue, “Liking Stevenson, getting him hurt, allowing him to stick this out…not wanting to be his girlfriend.”

I’m hit with an accusatory eyebrow.

“Okay,yes, and using him to piss off Saint.”

I focus intently on my hands, pretending Archer isn’t focusing just as intently on my face.

“Are you really trying to piss off Saint?”

“Of course. What the hell else would I be doing?”

Another pesky pointed brow.

“You’re wrong.” I shake my head.

“Am I?”