Toe the Line(22)

I nodded, still trying to absorb everything. “Sorry… I feel like I need a minute.”

“Take your time. I totally threw that on you. Or Fred did.”

“I’m glad he told me.”

He rubbed his eyes. “Okay, I’d like to go back to Archie now. Let’s change the subject. How was your date with James? I didn’t have a chance to talk to you, since he hogged all your attention last night.”

Surprised at his choice of topic, I shrugged. “It was good.”

Archie raised a brow. “Just good?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“Did he kiss you?”

My eyebrows jumped. “I don’t have to answer that, do I?”

“I think you just gave me the answer.”

My face felt hot.

He pointed at me. “Damn, you’re turning red.”

I touched my cheek. “Am I?”

“It’s cute, actually.”

“Why?”

“So few girls—at least the ones I know—get embarrassed about such things. Nothing is new anymore. Everyone’s done everything, tried everything.”

I swallowed, feeling seen yet embarrassed. “How do you know I haven’t done everything?”

“I don’t know for sure. I’m just going off your reactions. I could be totally wrong.” He paused. “But…am I right?”

“I don’t have to answer that.”

“No, you don’t. But then I just make assumptions, which isn’t any better for you.” He stared at me with a mischievous grin. “Alright. I’ll stop pushing.”

The room went quiet for a bit. A part of me wanted him to know the truth so I could get his opinion on my situation. It had been weighing on me. I mean, the guy just told me he’d had cancer, for Christ’s sake.

“I haven’t had sex yet,” I blurted. “Is that what you wanted to know?”

Archie’s expression turned serious. “Okay. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Most everyone I know has,” I added.

He shrugged. “So what?”

“So what? I’m about to start college, and I’m a freaking virgin, that’s what.”

“That doesn’t make you weird. You’re just waiting for the right time.”

“I don’t know why I just admitted that. I think you made me feel like I could tell you anything after the cancer thing.”

“Cancer makes you want to talk about sex?” he teased. “It makes you horny?”

“No. But it makes you seem vulnerable, I guess. Like it’s safe to tell you stuff.”

“Cancer will do that.” He laughed. “You know what sucks? Because I don’t talk about it, I can’t even use the cancer card to my benefit. Do you know how much ass I could get if I went around telling everyone I’m a survivor?”

“More than you get already? I doubt that. You have no trouble getting laid.”

“Whoa. Here comes judgy Noelle again. You think I’m a manwhore or something?”

“Yeah. That’s exactly what I think. But I don’t blame you. Every girl on this island has had her eyes on you from the moment you arrived. Maybe you don’t even notice because you’re glued to Bree.”

“Bree’s just a shield.”

“A shield to what?”

“I don’t want to meet anyone new and invite drama into my life this summer. So Bree is a cover in that sense.”

“Does she know she’s being used?”

“I don’t think she cares. We’re using each other. But I guess that should serve as a lesson to you—if you let a guy walk all over you, use you for meaningless sex, he will.”

I knew they’d been having sex, but this was the first time he’d said it. That burned a little.

“You’re warning me against guys like you…”

He scratched his chin. “I guess I am.”

“But James isn’t like you.”

Archie tightened his jaw. “He’s not. At least I don’t think he is.”

“Maybe I should have sex with him. Get it over with.”

He drew in his brows. “Why would you want to do that?”

“I don’t want my first time to be at BU. I don’t want that complication. The first time isn’t pleasant, from what I hear. It just seems like something I might want to get over with so I can enjoy any sexual experiences I have at school.”

“The first time isn’t pleasant for some girls…but you shouldn’t just waste it, either.”

“When was your first time?”

“It was that girl in high school I told you about who cheated on me. I was sixteen.”

“Was it special?”

“At the time, I thought it was.”

“Until she showed her true colors?”

“Yeah. I mean, the first time is easier for a guy, you know? It certainly didn’t hurt—just the opposite.” He chuckled. “After that, though, she started changing. Then when I found out she’d messed around with my friend, I went balls to the wall—started dating half the girls in school. Kind of never stopped.”