Stomach twisting with nerves, I descend to it slowly. I’m nearly there when the passenger door swings open. Archer practically falls out onto the pea stone. It seems, in the time it took to travel from the front gates, he’s slipped even further into the clutches of inebriation.
“Fuck!” he exclaims as he falls.
I react instinctually — darting forward to catch him before he can face-plant. I grunt as we collide, struggling to hold his not-insignificant weight upright. His arm slings heavily across my shoulders. His head lolls toward the crook of my neck.
“Hi, Jo.”
“Jesus, you’re heavy,” I rasp.
“You’reheavy.”
“Good comeback.”
His whole body starts shaking with laughter. “I personally thought so.”
“I’m glad you find this so amusing.” Despite my best intentions, my lips twist. I’ve never seen him this hammered before. “Come on, big boy. Let’s try to walk. That’s it. Nice and easy. Lift your feet.”
Blessedly, Justin materializes at my side and takes half of Archer’s weight. Just in time, too — Archer is fading fast, his arms hanging limply at his sides, his eyelids fluttering closed.
Together, we manage to get him up the steps, onto the terrace. I’m panting by the time we maneuver his prone body onto one of the chaise loungers in the nook that overlooks the side garden.
My features twist into a scowl as I examine him. “How much did you drink?”
“Half a keg,” Archer mumbles. “Give or take.”
“Great.”
“Is it okay that he sleeps here?” Justin asks, wringing his hands. “You won’t get in trouble with your parents or anything, right?”
“They aren’t home.”
“Oh.” His cheeks are red. He can’t quite meet my eyes. “I’m really sorry about this. You probably think I’m an idiot for bringing him here, but I didn’t know what else to do and—”
“The only idiot here is Archer Reyes. Don’t worry about it.” My brows lift. “Let me guess — they all got blasted after the big win and made you JV guys their personal chauffeurs for the evening?”
“I don’t mind, honestly! It was cool to hang out with him, even for a little while.” There’s hero worship in his eyes as he stares at Archer — splayed out on the lounger in his grass-stained uniform, hair sticking six directions, mouth slack with sleep. “He’s an incredible player. I’ll miss watching him pitch. But I’m sure in a few years I’ll seen him again… probably on the big screen at Fenway.” His mouth tugs up at one corner. “And someday, when he’s really famous, I’ll be able to tell my kids about the night I drove Archer Reyes home, back in high school.”
My heart gives a little pang. I press a hand to my chest, trying to subdue it. “Well. I appreciate you getting him here safely.”
“It’s the least I could do. Really.” Justin’s expression grows sheepish as his gaze darts up to mine. “I didn’t know you two were dating.”
“We aren’t.”
“Really?” His brow furrows. “He talked about you the whole way home.”
I suck in a sharp breath. “He did?”
“Yeah. He was pretty worked up that you weren’t at the game, to be honest.” His lips flatten into a frown. “He said a State Championship title didn’t mean anything without you there to celebrate with. And that…”
My heart is pounding. “Andwhat?”
“Oh. Um.” His cheeks flush even redder. “You know what? I probably shouldn’t have said anything. It’s not my business.”
“But—”
“I should get going.” He starts jogging down the steps. Halfway to the driveway, he turns back. His voice carries up to me. “Don’t be too mad at him, when he wakes up. You may not be his girlfriend, but the way he talks about you…” He shrugs again, avoiding my eyes. “Maybe you should be.”
With that, he hurries down the rest of the steps, slides into the front seat, and speeds off. I watch his taillights disappear before I pivot around toward the idiot passed out on my terrace. His handsome face is slack with sleep — thick eyelashes fanned out against his cheeks. His chest rises and falls in a steady rhythm.