Chapter Four
Archie
The man on the other side looked like he had stepped out of some stylish magazine spread.
Well-groomed beard, sharp chestnut brown hair, and a green button-up that radiated both sophistication and ease.
His watch gleamed, its green face catching the light, perfectly matching the rest of his look.
Archie had never been good at accessorizing, but this guy.
He had it down to an art. At least his suitcase wasn’t green.
Brogan hadn’t rented a room for this guy.
Last night, he’d clarified the situation, his words precise and measured. Were they all lies?
The stranger’s green eyes flickered over Archie. Not in a rude way, but definitely assessing. Then a slight crease formed between his brows. “Who are you?” His words, thick with the same swingy Irish brogue as Brogan’s.
Archie stiffened. He wasn’t sure what answer he was expected to give when Brogan wasn’t around, and definitely not under the scrutiny of someone who seemed to belong here more than he did. “Uh, Archie,” he said, shifting his weight awkwardly. “I’m renting a room from Brogan.”
Something changed in the man’s expression. Familiarity, maybe? Understanding? He nodded, flashing a quick smile. “Ah. I’m Jade O’Connor.” He hesitated only a moment before adding, “Brogan’s boyfriend. From Dublin.”
Archie felt his stomach drop.
Boyfriend?
Brogan had a boyfriend?
The revelation hit hard, knocking his thoughts into chaos.
Brogan had mentioned nothing about a current boyfriend, much less someone waiting for him across the ocean.
Archie had gotten the impression Brogan was unattached.
The way he talked about moving, traveling, uprooting his life so easily, so how did he still have someone in Dublin?
Wasn’t that a part of the life he had left behind?
And worse, why hadn’t Brogan said anything?
“He’s not home. He’s working.”
“I came all the way from Dublin to see Brogan. I’m not leaving here.”
Archie realized he had been standing there too long, staring, his mouth slightly open like an idiot. He quickly stepped aside. “Right. Uh, come in.”
Jade entered like he was walking into a place he already knew well. Archie suddenly felt out of place, like a guest in his own rented space. As Jade looked around, taking in the home, Archie swallowed against the knot tightening in his throat. He didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to act.
“You said Brogan’s at work. Don’t you mean he’s teaching?” Jade asked, turning back toward him. He sat in the brown leather recliner like he owned it.
Archie nodded, folding his arms across his chest. “Yeah. Left a little bit ago. You just missed him.”
Jade hummed, gaze flickering toward the couch like he was considering settling in. Meanwhile, Archie’s nerves had kicked into high gear. He was alone here with Brogan’s boyfriend. A boyfriend he hadn’t even known existed. A boyfriend who, presumably, Brogan hadn’t been expecting today.
He didn’t have Brogan’s number to check, and even if he did, calling him at work seemed out of the question.
Now Archie was stuck between politeness and the unnerving realization that he wasn’t sure he trusted leaving this stranger alone in the house. Not because Jade seemed suspicious. No, he seemed perfectly nice, charming even, but because Archie suddenly felt so incredibly out of the loop.
Brogan hadn’t told him. And that hurt more than he wanted to admit.
Archie had convinced himself he understood Brogan at least as much as anyone could, after last night’s brief but meaningful interactions.
He had traveled all over. He had uprooted his life and moved to the United States.
It had felt like an unmoored existence, untethered by commitments that could keep him from going where he wanted, when he wanted.
So how did he still have someone waiting for him in Dublin?
Why hadn’t he mentioned he still had a current guy waiting for him?
Jade’s sparkly green eyes were like the color of the river, but Archie still felt himself tense as he stepped aside and let the man in, his heart hammering against his ribs.
The stranger displayed an ease of someone who belonged, someone who had been here before.
Archie felt suddenly displaced, his role in this house shifting uncomfortably.
“You said you’re renting a room from Brogan?” Jade’s voice was warm, his accent thick and familiar, yet Archie barely heard him past the static in his own head.
“Yeah,” Archie replied, swallowing against the tightness in his throat. “He, uh—needed someone to help with rent, I guess.”
“No, Brogan doesn’t need your money. He must want something else from you. So, what’s going on here?”
“I moved in last night, so not a fucking thing,” Archie said, ready to kick Jade out.
Jade nodded, glancing around the room like he was reacquainting himself with it.
Archie’s stomach twisted at the thought that Jade knew this space had been part of Brogan’s world before Archie had even arrived.
And yet, Archie had never heard his name.
Had never sensed Brogan belonged to someone else.
The conversation drifted through casual pleasantries, but Archie could hardly focus. A nervous energy had settled in his limbs, making his fingers twitch at his sides. He didn’t know this man, didn’t know if Brogan had even expected him here.
And now Archie was alone with him.
His breath came a little quicker, his pulse picking up as his gaze flickered toward the door. Brogan wasn’t here
And yet, Jade’s presence, his familiarity, and his comfort in the space spoke of history or of belonging.
Archie wasn’t sure where that left him.
“Would you like coffee?” Archie asked, to break away.
Jade nodded his head. “Black only.” He reclined in the chair, looking even more comfortable and at home.
Archie shuffled out of the couch and made his way to the kitchen.
After opening a few cabinets, he found the coffee and added it to the coffee machine.
The smell of freshly ground coffee beans filled the air as he made two mugs for himself and Jade.
He hadn’t expected to be entertaining Brogan’s boyfriend at this hour.
He was supposed to see Andrew at the Blue Star Diner later on.
His brother Joe had the day off, but he would get to see him the following day when Joe worked. He handed Jade a mug.
“I remember this mug,” he said.
“You do?”
“I bought this for Brogan for making me feel so good in bed. I always told him he has lips like no other.”
Archie sat on the couch, trying to focus on the coffee cup in his hands, but his mind was spinning with Jade bragging about their sexual adventures.
He hadn’t expected company today, especially not Jade.
And now, Jade was sitting in front of him, looking completely comfortable in Brogan’s home, like he had already claimed the space.
Jade sighed, then folded his arms, watching Archie with a measured look. “I figured we should talk.”
Archie frowned. “About what?”
Jade shifted slightly, glancing at his suitcase. “I’m moving in.”
Archie blinked. “You’re… what?”
Jade smiled, but it didn’t feel warm. “Brogan and I are getting married.”
The words hit Archie like a punch to the ribs. His stomach twisted, and his grip tightened around his cup. “Married?” His voice sounded hollow, like it wasn’t his own.
Jade nodded. “Yeah. I came here to surprise him, but it looks like I surprised you too.”
Archie tried to gather his thoughts, but nothing made sense. Brogan never mentioned a boyfriend, let alone marriage. He had assumed things about Brogan’s life, his choices, his freedom. Clearly, he had been mistaken.
Jade exhaled, shaking his head. “Look, I know you’re renting a room here, but things are going to change. We don’t need a roommate. Brogan and I want our space.”
Archie stared at him, heat creeping up his neck. “So what, you’re just telling me to leave?”
Jade shrugged. “I’m giving you a heads-up. You need to find another place like yesterday.” He stood and moved so close to Archie, he thought he might throw his hot coffee on him.
Archie swallowed hard, anger bubbling beneath his shock. “Brogan didn’t tell me any of this. I had no idea.”
“Well, he’s had a lot on his plate,” Jade said smoothly. “But this is how it is now. We’re together. We’re building a life.”
Archie clenched his jaw, looking away. He didn’t know what hurt more; that Brogan hadn’t told him, or that Jade seemed so confident in pushing him out. Archie pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed his cousin Joe. Joe picked up after a couple of rings.
“Hey, Archie. What’s up?”
Archie exhaled sharply, running a hand over his face. “You got room for me? Just for a little while.”
There was a pause, then Joe said, “Yeah, of course. What happened?”
Archie glanced at Jade, then stood, thinking about what he needed to pack. “It’s a long story. I’ll explain later.”
Joe didn’t push, just said, “Come by whenever. I’ll be home all day.”
Archie nodded, even though Joe couldn’t see him. “Thanks, man.”
He hung up, shoved his phone in his pocket, and stalked toward his room. He could feel Jade’s gaze on his back, but he didn’t care. He grabbed his duffle bag and started stuffing clothes into it, moving fast, fueled by frustration.
Archie rubbed his hand across his sweat-slicked forehead, the throbbing behind his eyes growing stronger.
He had liked Brogan. More than he wanted to admit.
The straightforward conversation last night, the way Brogan always seemed so full of life, the way it had felt just for a little while, like Archie had found something stable in the chaos of moving.
And yet, Brogan had never said a word about Jade.
Never told him that his life wasn’t as free and untethered as it had seemed.
Never warned him that one day, someone would show up and tell him to get out.
Archie clenched his jaw, swallowing against the lump forming in his throat. And Andrew, his own cousin, had told him Brogan was a good guy. Had reassured him that Brogan was solid, trustworthy. That he wouldn’t screw him over.
But what was this, if not getting screwed over?
Had Brogan planned to tell him, eventually? Or had he thought Archie would just quietly disappear when the time came?
He grabbed his phone, scrolling through the messages Andrew had sent during the day.
They were lighthearted, full of encouragement about the move, about settling into town, about how things would work out.
Archie had believed him. He had let himself believe that this time, maybe he was putting his trust in the right people.
He didn’t want to stay with Andrew because of Rafael.
It would just be easier staying with Joe and his wife.
His fingers hovered over the screen, itching to call Andrew to say something, to demand answers. But what would be the point? Andrew couldn’t change what had happened. He couldn’t undo the reality that Brogan had already made his choice and Archie wasn’t part of it.
The pain sat heavy in his chest, slow and suffocating. He had thought just for a moment that maybe he had found something good. That maybe this time, he wouldn’t end up on the outside looking in.
He should have known better.
After a while, he slung the bag over his shoulder, grabbed his keys, and walked out. He didn’t say goodbye. He didn’t look back.
His motorcycle roared to life, and as he sped off into the night, he focused on the road ahead and whatever came next.
Because one thing was certain. He would never speak to Brogan again.
Archie had always been good at keeping himself together. He had learned, through experience, that expectations led to disappointment. He had learned that people didn’t always follow through, and sometimes, the connections he thought he had been as solid as they seemed.
But this was different.