Chapter Nine
Brogan
They stood outside together in front of the motel, was only two doors away from Jade’s room, but Archie had no idea. Brogan couldn’t get Archie out of there fast enough.
“I’ll meet you in front of Joe’s. I’ll go inside with you. Then we’ll go home,” Brogan said.
“I think it would be better if I went in alone. He’ll probably have some nasty words for you.” Archie stood in front of the door to his room.
“I’m not worried. I’m not letting you go in there alone. Let’s go in my van. I’ll ask one of my friends to collect the bike and ride it home if you’re okay with that.”
“Thanks. I’m so tired right now. I have little energy left to argue.”
Before Archie swiped the card in the door, Jade opened his door and stood there watching them. He didn’t move, and Archie noticed him right away. Not something Brogan wanted to deal with.
“Open the door,” Brogan ordered.
Archie moved away from the door, and in seconds, he stood in front of Jade. Brogan ran over to them, not wanting a fight.
“You’re a liar, Jade!” Archie’s voice was sharp enough to cut glass, raw and ragged. A few doors opened to watch what was going down.
Brogan barely had time to react before Archie lunged toward Jade, fury crackling in every muscle.
Jade didn’t flinch. He tilted his head, a smirk curling at the edges of his lips. “So dramatic. You’re acting like I betrayed you, Archie. I can’t help that you’re so gullible and stupid.”
Archie took another step forward, fists clenched tight. “You did betray me! You twisted everything, made sure I had to leave all based on your lies, and then pretended you were doing me a favor.”
Jade chuckled, slowly and deliberately, the kind of laugh that made Brogan’s stomach turn. He wanted nothing to happen to Archie and wished Jade would leave on the next flight to Dublin.
“Every word I told you was true,” Jade said. “No lies.”
Archie’s breathing was heavy, his chest rising and falling as he fought to keep his anger from boiling over. “Just stop! You kicked me out of Brogan’s home with lies.”
Jade’s smirk faltered for a second. “No, Archie. You did that all on your own. I never forced you to move out.”
Brogan had seen enough. Saw the exhaustion behind Archie’s anger, the hurt beneath the fire. He stepped forward, pressing a firm hand against Archie’s arm. “Enough. We’re done here.”
Archie hesitated, glaring daggers at Jade, who merely lifted his chin in defiance. The tension was suffocating, the weight of everything unsaid pressing down.
Brogan tightened his grip. “Now, Archie.”
“We’re not over, Brogan,” Jade promised.
Archie shook his head once, exhaling hard before stepping back. He swiped his card, pushed the door open, and disappeared inside. Brogan gave Jade one last sharp look before walking inside as well. Ignoring him drove Jade crazy, and that was what he would do from now on.
Jade stood there, unmoving, watching them go. He didn’t say another word—but the smirk was gone. Brogan closed the door softly behind him. Archie was pacing, his movements sharp, tense—like a caged animal trying to shake off the weight of everything Jade had said and done.
The anger rolled off him in waves, but beneath it, Brogan saw the hurt. Archie wasn’t only furious—he felt betrayed. And that was a wound that cut deeper than anything Jade could throw at him.
“I was such an idiot,” Archie spat, running both hands through his hair, pulling at the strands like he wanted to rip out the frustration. “I believed every single lie he fed me. Every. Single. One.”
Brogan leaned against the small table by the window, watching Archie’s restless movements. He knew better than to jump in too soon—Archie needed to let the fire burn before he could hear reason.
But seeing him like this stung.
“You weren’t an idiot,” Brogan said. “You trusted someone who didn’t deserve it. That’s on him, not on you.”
Archie let out a bitter laugh. “Trust. That’s a joke. He knew exactly what he was doing. He made sure I had to move out, made sure I wanted to leave right then.” He turned on his heel, facing Brogan now, eyes wild with frustration and something dangerously close to regret. “And I fell for it.”
Brogan held his gaze, offering nothing but calm. “Because you heard his Irish accent, making his story believable, and he brought that fucking suitcase. You did what you thought was right. That’s not a weakness.”
Archie shook his head. “It sure as hell feels like one.”
Brogan pushed off the table and took a few steps closer, careful not to crowd, but close enough for Archie to feel the warmth of something steady. “I get it. I do. But Jade’s done. You don’t have to waste another second on him. I’m certainly not. Hopefully, he’ll be on the next plane to Dublin.”
Archie swallowed hard, his chest rising and falling like he was trying to wrestle himself back under control. Brogan could see the battle being waged in his mind—the fury, the humiliation, the ache of knowing he had been used.
Brogan softened his voice. “You don’t have to carry the anger anymore.”
Archie’s jaw clenched. His eyes darted away, staring at some distant point like he was searching for something. And then—slowly—his shoulders dropped. The fight wasn’t gone, not yet, but something inside him had shifted.
“I just—” Archie blew out a breath, shaking his head. “I hate that it still gets to me.”
Brogan nodded. “I know.”
The room was quiet except for the hum of the old fan in the corner. Archie was still standing in place, his hands resting on his hips, his fingers tapping against his sides—small movements, little releases of tension.
Brogan reached out, squeezing Archie’s shoulder. “You’ll get past this. And you won’t have to do it alone.”
Archie’s eyes met his again, this time softer. Not defeated, just exhausted. The kind of exhaustion that only came from caring too damn much.
“Thanks,” he muttered.
Brogan gave a small nod, squeezing his shoulder once more before letting go. “Always.”
The weight was still there, but at least now Archie wasn’t carrying it by himself.
The hurried move from San Diego to Foggy Basin had contributed to Archie’s over reaction to Jade.
He wondered why his father had just moved and left Archie to fend for himself when he had returned from school. The poor guy had nowhere to land.
They left in the van and drove to Joe’s to pick up the duffle bag he hadn’t even unpacked yet. They walked together side by side to the door. Joe answered.
“Why are you knocking? I gave you a key,” Joe said, giving Brogan a look no one would want.
“I’m picking up my things, moving back to Brogan’s.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Brogan, wait on the porch.” Joe made way for Archie to pass through the door.
Within minutes, Archie appeared with his duffle bag.