Page 34

My heart thudded in my chest as I stared back at my dad.

His mask of shock was slowly changing. His neck flushed red and his lips were pushed tightly into a line.

His narrowed eyes were aimed directly at Archer who still stood next to me.

By instinct, I sunk closer into Archer's side.

Partially from nerves and partially to protect him from the death-glare my dad sent his way.

My movement caught my dad's eye and his gaze flicked to me. His eyes softened slightly but then he shook his head and slipped into the crowd.

Mrs. Johnson and my mom finally came to life from their frozen states and rushed forward. Both had huge smiles on their faces as they attacked us with hugs. I stepped aside to let Archer have a moment of celebration with his tearful mother and over-exuberant sister.

"Really Lotty," my mom chided as she wrapped me in a hug. "I've been trying to slowly peel the bandaid off with your father that you are growing up. But you just ripped it right off."

"He's mad at me isn't he?" I worried.

Mom gave me a thoughtful smile and swiped her thumb across my cheek. "Not mad, I don't think. He's just not good with change. Especially when it comes to you. Now Oliver on the other hand—"

The mention of my brother made the blood drop from my face.

I searched the cheerful crowd for him, frantic to apologize.

I found him a few yards away standing with some of Archer's teammates.

He hugged James and congratulated him while patting his back.

James was still wearing his same bright smile as usual while he shouted over the crowd into Oliver's ear.

I slowly made my way over and tugged on Ollie's shirt. "Hey big brother," I said softly as he turned to look down at me.

"How long." Oliver's face was flat. It was so different than his normally over-dramatic emotions.

"We've only been dating since New Years," I rushed out. "And we were going to tell you right away but then everything happened with his dad and then we had to go back to school—"

"You guys are actually dating?" Oliver interrupted. I nodded weakly, unsure of his reaction. "Are you just assuming or did Archer actually put a label on it?" His voice was hard and determined. I didn't understand what he was getting at.

"Yes,"-I scrunched my eyebrows-"He asked me to be his girlfriend and I said yes."

Oliver let out a whoosh of air from his cheeks.

His eyes flitted around as though he were doing math in his head.

"This is a lot Charlotte." I tried not to take it personally that he used my full name, but it stung.

"It was already weird when you guys became friends.

Now you're dating? He's been my best friend since I was five. "

Oliver's dejected voice broke my heart. He wasn't getting angry at me, he just seemed confused and sad. "I'm so sorry," I pleaded. "What do I do? Tell me Ollie how do I make this better?"

A sad smile touched his lips as he dropped a hand on my shoulder. "I'm the one who has to figure things out. Not you. This is just... classic."

I wanted to ask Oliver what he meant by that. I wanted to push him to forgive me and go back to normal. But I'd been selfish in how I handled my relationship with Archer, and I needed to give Ollie space. I gave him a quick hug around the stomach that he didn't return and I walked away.

The crowd was still riled up from our win and I had to snake my way through the jumping fans as I looked for my dad.

I saw him standing on the sidelines with my mother.

Mom was speed-talking as she waved her hands around dramatically.

Dad stood at his full height with his shoulder's set back as he listened, shaking his head occasionally and rolling his eyes.

"Dad," I said as I approached them. His head snapped in my direction and he grimaced. I am really on a roll with the men in my family today.

"Good luck," my mom whispered as she snuck past me, leaving the two of us alone.

"I don't like it," Dad said firmly. "I don't think you've thought this through."

"I really care about him, Dad." My face melted into a puppy-dog face. The rounded eyes and wobbly lip usually softened my father.

"Do you have any idea what kind of guy he is? God. The stories Bryan has told me." My dad shook his head and raised his eyes to the sky.

"Why would you believe anything Archer's dad says about him? You saw him at New Years he's disgusting." I tried to remain respectful to my father but my voice was raised in frustration.

"Bryan was wrong for that and your mom and I have completely cut him out.

But he is still Archer's father and he knows more about him than we do.

Did you know Archer almost failed out of school?

He probably would have if they hadn't wanted to keep their football star.

And he gets into fights all the time! New Years was just the tipping point. He can't control his anger, Charlotte."

"Well from what I've heard you weren't much different!" I snapped.

My dad's eyes widened at my outburst then he let out a resigned sigh. "He's already changing you." He shook his head. "You would never have been disrespectful to me before."

Shame and defiance battled for dominance in my heart.

I didn't like disappointing my dad, and I definitely never wanted to disrespect him.

But He was being unfair to Archer and I felt protective of his character.

Archer wasn't the person my dad was describing.

He may not be perfect, but he was good.

"I can tell you're disappointed in me Dad," I sighed. "I'm so sorry for lying to you, but I'm not sorry for being with Archer. And honestly? I'm a little disappointed too. I never thought you'd be this judgemental. Especially to someone you've known for so long."

I walked away after that. It didn't feel like there was anything left to be said. My droopy mood was a stark contrast to the excited fans and players swarming the field. I jumped when long arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me back.

"Well, that was pretty pain-free hey?" Archer laughed in my ear.

"Pain-free?" I repeated in shock.

"Yeah I mean I talked to Ollie and he seems cool? What about your dad I haven't seen him. But at least everyone knows now." As if to demonstrate that we were no longer a secret he bent his neck to kiss my cheek.

"You talked to Ollie?" I asked as I leant my head back against his chest.

"Yeah, he said he already talked to you. We shook hands it seems all good."

My heart squeezed at Archer's words. Oliver hadn't seemed fine with me.

Why would he forgive Archer so fast but not me?

I hated the jealousy that nagged in the back of my mind.

I was Ollie's sister. We'd almost never fought before.

Why had he been so cold towards me but with Archer it was all handshakes and bro-hugs.

"So how was your dad?" Archer asked. Any negative thoughts I'd had towards him fled away as I turned to look at his face. He was so happy, so care-free for once. Today was supposed to be a celebration and I couldn't let my family drama ruin that for him.

"He was... well, he'll get used to it," I said with a small smile.

Archer pressed his lips to my forehead as he squeezed me tightly. "See? Everything is good now." Gosh, how I wished he was right.

A few hours later, I was tucked under Archer's arm at the after-party.

Music boomed out of the speakers and vibrated my bones as I hid from the large crowd.

The sea of people dressed in yellow and red was overwhelming.

Especially when they all wanted to come to congratulate Archer.

It was a true testament to how happy Archer was that he tolerated them.

Sure, he didn't really talk to any of them.

But he smiled as they yelled their praise and he didn't say anything snarky—so I considered that a win.

There had been no more drama at the field as my parents had left quickly after our talk. Oliver stayed for the party but so far we hadn't been alone together. I couldn't help but feel like that was intentional on his part.

Every time I saw Oliver he was laughing and drinking with the football team.

But the second I got close to him his mood would shift and he'd get quiet.

Then suddenly there'd be some reason he had to walk away without talking to me.

It stung even more when I watched him hug Archer like there were no issues between them.

Archer could tell I wasn't feeling my best. He kept rubbing my back and asking me if I was okay. It just made me feel worse though that I sucked at hiding my emotions. I told him over and over again that I was fine but he could tell I was lying.

"Hey bro? I think Oliver needs a nap, he's pretty out of it." Tyler laughed as he approached Archer and I. Concern furrowed my brows as I searched the room for my brother. "He's on the back porch," Tyler added.

"Sweetheart, maybe you should stay here," Archer yelled in my ear.

"Not a chance." I raised my brows waiting to see if he was going to be hard-headed or not. Archer let out a sigh of resignation and my lips quirked. I stuck my finger through the belt loop of his jeans so we wouldn't get separated and took off towards the back porch.

"Oliver?" I asked frantically when I saw the state he was in.

My brother was crumpled on the ground with a bottle of tequila in his hand. He appeared as though he'd just fallen down and decided to stay there as he laughed at god-knows-what.

"I'm sorry man," James grimaced from his place next to Oliver. "I tried to get him to slow down."

"Hey! Arch is here!" Oliver slurred as he swung his head in our direction.

My hand found Archer's for comfort as I moved towards Oliver.

It really scared me to see my brother like this.

He was barely coherent and didn't seem to have a clue what was happening around him.

Deep red stained his face and his eyes were unfocused and glazed.

"Ollie..." I said softly as I knelt in front of him.

"Not you," Oliver groaned and dropped his head back. "Go away Charlotte."

I stumbled back as though he had slapped me. Archer's large hands grabbed under my arms and pulled me back up. "What the fuck Ollie. Don't talk to her like that," Archer snapped as he set me back on my feet.

"Oh great. Yeah just start fucking taking her side then." Oliver shouted. He tried to stand up but stumbled and sunk back to the ground.

Archer tensed next to me but I pushed him back slightly. I tried to silently communicate for him not to get involved. I didn't need to be the reason that two best friends fought.

"Oliver I am so sorry... If you just told me why you're upset then I could fix it."

"Because you get everything you want!" Oliver's face twisted into an ugly scowl.

Tears burned my eyes he continued. "You get everything Charlotte.

It's all so easy for you! You want something?

It's yours! Mom and Dad gave you everything growing up, you never had to work for anything.

And now! Now you even get my best fucking friend. "

The world around me shattered. For my entire life, one constant had always been my brother's love.

I could never count on anything whole-heartedly—but that, I knew I had.

The rug was ripped out from under me as my breathing became ragged.

I avoided the eyes of James and Archer, knowing that they'd be looking at me with pity.

Pity for the girl who just found out her brother resented her.

I spun on my heels and ran around the side of the house.

I squished through party-goers until I got to the street and headed in the direction of my dorm building.

The cold night air prickled my skin as I rubbed my hands along my arms for warmth.

My feet carried me quickly home while my mind raced a mile-a-minute.

What was I going to do? Oliver hated me. Not Archer. Me. Because I had taken something from him, apparently many things.

"Sweetheart, wait!" Archer called to me just as I was unlocking my door. I walked into my dorm, giving Madeline a quick wave then stormed into my room, slamming the door.

My door flew open not even a second later as Archer charged through. "Why did you leave Oliver?" I snapped, unable to deal with the overwhelming wave of emotions that hit me when I saw him. "Is he okay?"

"Ollie's fine. James is looking after him for the night. He gets like that sometimes... when he's drunk." Archer hesitated. "I really don't think he meant it okay? He just gets angry when he's had too much."

The tears that I had tried to hold back broke like a dam and poured down my cheeks. "You h-heard him, Archer! He's felt like this since we were kids. He just never t-told me." My heart pounded in my chest as I considered everything that had happened today. How had it turned out like this?

"Look everything is fine okay?" Archer stepped towards me to wrap me in a hug but I evaded him. He let his arms fall to his side. "When Oliver sobers up he's going to regret everything he did tonight."

"It's not just Oliver!" I cried. I clasped my hands together to make them stop shaking. "It was my dad too Archer. He hates this. Us."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Archer took a step back and ran his hand through his hair.

"Because you just won the freaking championships! Now it's all about my family and the fact that we are hurting them by being together." My body convulsed with hiccups as I struggled to breathe through my tears.

"Don't do that," Archer growled as he walked to the other side of my small room. "Don't talk like we are the problem. We haven't done anything wrong."

"Easy for you to say you didn't just disappoint the two most important men in your life."

"Yeah I just spent my whole damn life disappointing everyone," Archer snapped back.

I recoiled as anger rolled off of Archer's shoulders. Everything was spiralling out of control but I didn't know how to stop it. My dad was mad. Oliver was mad. Now, Archer was mad too. I had done all of this but was lost as to how to fix it.

"Just—please. Please Sweetheart," Archer softened his voice as he stepped back to me. I closed my eyes as he pushed my hair off my shoulder and caressed my collarbone. "I'll fix this okay? Just don't talk like you want to end things. I can't lose you."

I opened my eyes to see Archer staring down at me. Fear swirled in his eyes as he set his jaw. "I don't want to lose you either," I whispered softly. "But I really don't want to lose my family either."

Archer pulled me into a tight hug against his chest. This time I let him as I found solace in his warmth.

My ear was pressed against his heart as it pounded rapidly.

He dropped kisses into my hair as his large hands brushed softly through my curls and down my back.

"I'm going to fix this, I promise," he said as he dropped his cheek to the top of my head.

"How?" I asked meekly.

Archer paused. "I don't know yet. But I will."

He laid down on my bed then pulled me on top of him.

His large frame took up most of the mattress when he was on his back so I stayed there, resting my head in the crook of his neck.

We didn't talk anymore as we held each other.

Archer ran his hands in circles over my back, occasionally pressing his lips to my hair.

My breathing calmed eventually, and my tears dried up.

But no matter how long I laid there, my brain never shut off.

My feelings for Archer were so intense. When I was a child, I had thought I loved him but I knew now that I hadn't.

What I had felt then was trivial and shallow.

I had barely even known who he truly was yet I had dared to label it love.

But what about now?

I knew Archer carried an immense amount of guilt in his heart for how he'd treated his mom. I knew that he felt like he could never repair that relationship, even though he was already.

I knew Archer refused to acknowledge how deeply he cared for his friends. But whether he called them so or not, they were his brothers.

I knew Archer believed he was a screw-up, that he couldn't do anything right. But yet he was constantly stepping up to be a leader. People listened to him without a second thought because he projected confidence and a steady mind.

I knew Archer pretended he didn't care about school—that football was all that mattered. But I also knew that he wanted to make his family proud on graduation day.

I knew all of this and more about Archer. Each new thing I learned made him more precious and irreplaceable in my heart. Could I call it love now? And if I did, was it then worth losing my family for?