Toe the Line(30)

At one point, James asked if I wanted to take a walk. We were just starting down the beach when Archie’s voice came from behind us.

“Noelle, I need to talk to you for a minute.”

I turned and cleared my throat. “I was just taking a walk with James.”

“I get that. But I need to talk to you first.”

“Okay.” I shrugged and looked at James. “Do you mind?”

“No.” James turned to Archie and lifted a brow. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I just need to talk to her about something. In private,” he added.

“Okay, man.” James turned to me. “I’ll be over by the clam shack when you’re done.”

I smiled. “I’ll come find you.”

As Archie and I took off down the beach, he was silent. The soothing sound of the ocean waves massaged some of the tension in the air.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“What are you doing?” he demanded. “You’re not even into him, and you know it.”

Surprised by his tone, I said, “How do you know that?”

“Because you’re into me right now. You’re throwing yourself at him to spite me because I shot you down.”

“Mighty confident in ourselves, are we?”

He shut his eyes. “Alright, look, that wasn’t the way I wanted to approach things. Even if it’s fucking true.” Archie sighed. “That came out all cocky, and that wasn’t my intent.”

“Oh really? Because I’m pretty sure you’re a cocky fucking bastard when you want to be,” I quipped.

He ran his hand through his hair. “Noelle…”

I tilted my head. “What did you need to speak to me about?”

“I have a preposition for you…”

“A preposition? Like in or under…or over?”

He shook his head and gritted his teeth. “Fuck. I’m nervous, alright? I obviously meant proposition.”

He’s nervous? “Oh.” I laughed. “That’s definitely more exciting than a preposition.”

Archie rolled his eyes. “I’ve been thinking about our talk this morning.”

I got goose bumps. “Okay…”

“You’ve done so much for me this summer. I want to pay you back in probably the only way I know how. I’m not good for much. But I’m definitely good for what you need.”

“This is the spin you’re putting on things now? I don’t want to be a mercy fuck, Archie. Jesus!”

“You wouldn’t be.” He placed his palm on my shoulder, causing my nipples to stiffen. “It’s a two-way street, Noelle.” Archie removed his hand. “Look, I’ve been turned on thinking about showing you things. I don’t know that taking your virginity is a good idea, but I’d love to at least…explore things with you. Even if we don’t have sex.”

My heartbeat accelerated as I swallowed hard. “What does that mean?”

“It means we see where things go, but we have to set some ground rules.”

“Like…”

“Anything sexual that might happen between us ends after this summer. Sex complicates shit. I don’t want to lose you as a friend just because we…experimented a little. It has to be over when we go back to school.”

I nodded. “That makes sense.” That makes no sense. But I’m going with it.

“Also…” He pointed in the direction James had gone. “You don’t mess around with that dude over there or anyone else as long as we’re experimenting.”

“You’re making me sound like a science project, Archie.”

“I’m trying to be more dignified than calling it hooking up.”

“Okay. Understood.” I licked my lips. “What else?”

“I guess I have to understand what I’m dealing with. So I need to ask you some questions.”

Trying not to let my excitement show, I straightened my posture. “Okay.”

“I need you to be completely honest with me.”

“Alright.”

“You’ve kissed guys, I assume, but what else have you done?”

I wracked my brain, although there wasn’t a whole lot to remember. “My high school boyfriend felt me up and down.”

“So you’ve been fingered.”

“Yes.”

“No one’s ever gone down on you?”

A shiver traced my spine. “No.”

“Okay.” He let out a shaky breath. “Have you ever given head?”

“Never.”

“Given a hand job?”

I’d forgotten that. “Yes.”

“So, just those three things?”

“Yes. That’s what I’ve done. But that’s it.” Bracing for his answer, I asked, “Is it worse than you thought?”

He scratched his chin. “I didn’t know what to expect, but you’re definitely inexperienced.”

“Does watching porn count?”

“Not really. No.”

“Well, I’m well-versed in all types of porn. I’ve watched a lot of weird shit—like bookookie. So nothing will surprise me.”