“Yes. I love you too. I’ll see you when I get back.”
As he hung up, he heard a soft chuckle, and the bench shook as Bryce rested his weight at the very edge. “Hey, I’m not here to judge.”
Archer’s jaw tightened. “Is there something you need?”
“I’m just saying I get it. I mean, I’ve been there, you know?”
Archer rubbed at his temple with two fingers. “I’m sorry?”
“I fucked one of the bellboys on our honeymoon just so I had something to think about when I was with him. I mean, he’s not completely hideous, but…well. You get it.”
Archer blinked, then realized what Bryce was talking about. “Jesus Christ, I was talking to my best friend, not…” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know why anything you say surprises me. Julian warned me.”
Bryce shrugged, unapologetic and easy. “He knew what he was getting into.”
“Did he?” Archer challenged, pushing himself to stand. He wasn’t taller than Bryce, but he was more reckless. Bryce seemed to take notice, because even though he stood, he shifted back. “Did he know that, or did you stroke his ego just enough that he thought he was lucky?”
“I was not responsible for his self-esteem,” Bryce defended. “It was not my job to…”
“Keep it in your fucking pants?” Archer demanded. He took a step forward and Bryce paled again. “If I didn’t care about him as much as I do, I would ruin your pretty face for all those wedding pictures.”
Bryce’s eyes widened and apart from fear, there was rage. “You…are a guest here.”
“Yes, I am,” Archer agreed. “I have literally nothing to lose. Believe me when I say you have no power over me.”
“You have no idea what kind of connections I have in this state,” Bryce spat, and it was just the sheer irony that sent Archer into a fit of laughter. It was enough to send Bryce storming off, and through his heaving breath, Archer had a feeling he’d be walking home.
Julian had gone half an hour before, promising to meet with him later, and Archer was foolish enough to think he could last through the entire morning without threatening to beat the man until he was nothing more than blood and shattered bone.
“That was impressive.” Archer turned to find Julian’s sister watching him with her arms crossed. “He’s not going to forget it.”
Archer swiped his hand down his face, then shrugged. “Believe me, I’m not afraid of him.”
“Is it because your brother’s the governor?” she asked.
A vicious chill ran up his spine, and his eyes widened. “I…what…”
She waved her hand. “Katerina and I were sorority sisters. She recognized you last night on a photo I posted in my group chat.”
Archer’s throat was so tight, he thought he might suffocate. It was up, the lie was up, and he could feel the truth clawing at his throat. It was going to ruin Julian in the worst way, and all because he’d been stupid enough to think no one would know. “I…did you…”
“Relax.” She approached and laid a hand on his arm. “I didn’t tell anyone, Will. But believe me when I say my brother needed to try a little harder with the whole fake name thing. There’s no way that the biggest Shakespeare fan-boy was going to end up with a William.”
Archer bit the inside of his cheek until the pain dragged him back down from a panic spiral. “He doesn’t know,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Julian doesn’t know I’m Archer Dawson.”
Corinne’s eyes went wide, then she reached out and grabbed his arm. “The nearest drive-thru coffee is about forty minutes away in St. Augustine. You’re coming with me. Send Julian a text and let him know you’re going to be late.”
It sounded like a threat—like blackmail—and he couldn’t say no. He sent off the text before they reached her car, then he put his phone on silent and willed himself not to look at it. He buckled in and tried not to hyperventilate at the way Corinne was glancing at him as she pulled out onto the main road.
“Can I ask you something?” Her voice was tense, and he didn’t blame her.
“I don’t think I have much choice, do I?”
She laughed at that, but the sound wasn’t very kind. “I think you do. Your brother is fucking Governor Dawson. I’d say that you could probably get away with a lot.”
Archer bit down on his top lip, feeling the stretch along his nose before he let go. “You