liked him, and Archer hadn’t quite been able to figure out why. He assumed for a long time that it was because Shen was a little flamboyant and very into fashion, and always had a critical remark or two for Rex’s choice in wardrobe. Shen, otherwise, was the perfect friend.
His parents were well off—he was third generation Chinese-American and his mother had served as District Attorney for years before leaving politics to write romance novels as CS Grace while his father held the university President office for most of Shen’s childhood. He was everything Rex should have hoped for in a best friend for Archer—someone to keep him grounded, someone who understood the lifestyle Rex was trying to live. He was one of the few people who hadn’t let Archer disappear into a void when he left for Paris.
They couldn’t have been more different, but they found support in each other that Archer wasn’t about to squander. Shen went in to fashion—going viral with his unique color patterns and lines, and though it never quite made sense to Archer how his best friend found such peace in design, he was proud of him for it.
“Please don’t start with me tonight,” Archer said with a quiet sigh. “I’m not fifteen, and neither is he.”
His brother had believed in him, and supported him, but sometimes he knew it was easy for Rex to forget that he was a grown adult. He was in his mid-twenties, he was a damn doctor, and he had been making his way by himself for years. Shen was much the same—he was wealthy still, and ran a design studio and a small brick and mortar store, and he was a far cry from the teenager getting kicked out of class for talking back to their teachers.
Rex hummed softly but said nothing more as salads were delivered. It had everything on it Archer hated, so he picked around the pine nuts, red onions, and olives, and he ignored his brother’s pointed stare again.
“What are your plans now that you’re back?” Rex asked after his first bite.
Archer blinked at his brother, then glanced around and realized the journalists had wandered off to another table and it had turned into more of an intimate family lunch. “Um. You tell me. You dragged me back here to help you out.”
“That’s not,” Rex started, and he stuffed his mouth full of food to stop the words. It was one of his oldest evasion tactics, but Archer just waited until he swallowed and sighed. “I just missed you. I thought maybe you could consider one of the programs here. I could get you in anywhere. I heard Harvard has a great program that…”
Archer held up his hand. “I was happy in Paris. I know the people there, I know the labs. I know who I want to work with. I can’t just up and abandon all my work there, Rex.”
“But,” Rex started, though when he saw the look on Archer’s face, the words died, and he shook his head. “I’m sorry. I’m being selfish.”
“I love you. I’m really proud of you, and I miss you like crazy. But this life isn’t for me. I don’t want to get a position at an Ivy League school because my brother’s a governor. I want to earn every single one of my steps.”
Rex set his fork down and dragged both hands down his face. “Thank you for reminding me when I’m being an ass.”
Archer shook his head. “I know that’s not what it is. I don’t mind taking a short break, and I don’t mind that you need me from time to time. I just…I know what I’m doing.”
Bowing his head, Rex let out a slow breath, then reached over and closed his hand over Archer’s wrist. “I know you do. And I’m proud of you too. I can’t stop bragging about your work.”
Archer lifted a brow. “Do you even know what it is?”
“No,” Rex answered with a laugh. “But maybe we can actually spend real time together and you can explain it to me. You know, like Space for Dummies.”
Archer couldn’t help his laugh. “Yeah. Okay. And I’ll try to do better about showing up for things like this. Just…just tell Katerina…”
“She knows,” Rex said quietly. “Your private life is off limits. For good.” He worried his bottom lip, then glanced over at the fuller table, and Archer had a feeling his brother’s obligations were weighing on him.