Toe the Line(11)

When I returned to the house, no one was up yet. I popped one of the coffee pods into the machine and made myself a quick cup before I went upstairs and jumped in the shower.

As I shampooed my hair, a deep voice startled me from behind the shower curtain.

“I overslept.”

My hands froze mid-lather. “You just come in here without knocking?”

He sounded groggy. “I knew you were in the shower. Figured it was safe.” He paused. “But it’s nothing I haven’t seen before anyway, right?”

I rolled my eyes. “You did not just say that.”

“Anyway…I’m sorry I missed our run.”

“It’s not your responsibility to accompany me.” I resumed rubbing the shampoo into my scalp.

“But I meant to.”

“Not sure how you can stay out all night and expect to get up early to run. I heard you come in pretty late.”

“Did I wake you when I came home?”

I rinsed the shampoo out of my hair. “Just for like five minutes when you went to brush your teeth.”

“Sorry.”

A few seconds passed.

“Are you going to stand there while I shower?”

“No. I just wanted to apologize.”

“Apology accepted.” I squirted conditioner into my hand. Then I heard the door close.

As I got dressed in my room, I was painfully aware of Archie’s presence nearby. I was also aware of a weird tension within me. I was bummed he hadn’t joined me this morning, but I was probably more bummed about the reason he was out so late.

A few minutes later, I heard his voice from behind the bathroom door.

“Are you decent?”

I looked down at myself to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. “Yes.”

“Can I come in?”

I swallowed. “Yeah.”

He entered the room and plopped down on my bed. I couldn’t help noticing the way his shirt rode up, displaying sculpted abs. My eyes explored the tattoo on his upper arm as he wrapped his hand around the back of his head. It looked like a wolf’s face. Maybe a school mascot? Archie had played football in high school, but it hadn’t carried over into college.

He let out a deep sigh. “Today’s gonna suck.”

“Why?”

“I have to meet that attorney my father wants me to intern with this summer.”

“Might there be anything good to come of that?”

“Possibly. But…if I know Dad, he’ll find a way to say I’m fucking the whole thing up and embarrassing him.”

“Whatever happened to just enjoying the summer?”

“Right? This final year before law school is going to be hard enough.” He stared up at the ceiling for a bit and then turned to me. “I need to ask you for a favor.”

I blinked. “What is it?”

“I’d like you to change your running time in the morning.”

Tying my hair up into a ponytail, I looked at him through the mirror. “Why would I do that?”

“So I can go with you. Five AM is too fucking early, Noelle. I can’t have a social life at night and get up at five.”

“Well, you snooze you lose,” I teased.

“Seriously, can we just move it to six? I’d like to be able to join you. Six I can handle.”

He seemed serious about this—not even a hint of a smile. How could I say no? I turned to face him. “Are you gonna set your alarm? Because I’m not waiting for you.”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “I’ll do that.”

Secretly thrilled, I pretended to think it over. “Okay, then.”

“Cool.” He hopped up. “I gotta go get dressed for this shit.”

“Archie?”

“Yeah?”

“Good luck today.”

“Thanks.” He let out a long breath. “I’ll need it.”

About ten minutes after Archie left, my phone rang. It was my best friend, Ashley Carrera, from home.

“Hey, you!” I bounced on the mattress.

“How’s it going over there?” she asked.

It was so good to hear her voice; it reminded me there was an entire world outside this little bubble and the intoxicating guy I now lived with.

“Good, actually.”

“Have you run into Asshole Archie?”

I cringed. Before leaving to come here, I’d made it sound like he was the devil. I looked out the window and saw Archie getting into his parents’ Jeep. He wore a collared shirt and dress pants and looked tense as he slammed the door. My chest tightened. I felt bad for ever calling him an asshole. “Actually…he’s nothing like I had him pegged.”

“Really? Do tell.”

“I’ve just realized I never really knew him before.” I sighed. “He and I are getting along. It’s weird.”

“Like…getting along or getting along.”

“No.” I shook my head. “Nothing like that. He doesn’t see me that way. And he has this girl here he hooks up with. But he and I…talk and stuff. He’s gone running with me in the mornings. He’s pretty nice.”

“Wow. I wasn’t expecting you to say that.”

“I know. Me neither.”