21. Shane
Chapter 21
Shane
I arrived as Cyrus was pulling out of the driveway. I didn’t bother knocking because they’d been expecting me, but I called out when I stepped inside. I brought a case of beer from a small brewery that wanted me to carry their product and I was going to have Marshall and Cyrus help me test it out.
“Hey, man. Where’s Cyrus going? Is he skipping out on us?” I knew Cyrus had planned to invite Archer, but I didn’t want to come across as too eager to see him.
“He went to get Archer.” Marshall was in the kitchen constructing some kind of charcuterie board that would please most twelve year-olds. It was nothing but junk food. Chips and cookies and frosting to dip them in.
“What’s this?” I asked, motioning to the sugar platter as I passed by on my way to the fridge to store the beer.
“Archer’s favorites. Some of them. I’m going to make the little hotdogs he likes too.” Marshall looked at me with a pinched expression. “When Cyrus called to invite him over, he’d just gotten off the phone with his old business partner.”
“The one who ripped him off and then disappeared?”
“That’s the one. Cyrus said Archer sounded upset.”
“I wondered why he was backing out of here like his ass was on fire. ”
Worry snaked through me. My phone remained silent in my pocket. I was annoyed that Archer hadn’t told me, even though it had clearly just happened. Knowing that I could check in with him later made me feel a little better.
“If I ever see Clayton the creep again, I’m going to gut him like a fish,” Marshall said. I could tell from the look on his face that he wasn’t exactly joking. Not that he would do it, but he wouldn’t mourn Clayton if it actually happened.
“I’ll be your alibi.” I eyed the various snack trays that Marshall had put together. “Do you need any help?”
“No, I think that’s good.” He folded his arms over his chest. “I worry about him like he’s my own brother, you know. Cyrus and I have been together for what feels like forever, and I’ve always liked Archer. I’d move heaven and earth to help him.”
I knew the feeling all too well. I had half a mind to dig around and find out who exactly this Clayton guy was. If money made him leave the first time, then money surely would make him leave again. Only… I knew types like Clayton. If you gave in once, they’d be back again. They circled money like sharks sensing blood in the water.
“Archer’s going to do a tattoo for me.” I told Marshall out of desperation to change the subject. If Archer walked in and we were talking about him, I wanted it to be good things. Things that wouldn’t make us clam up when we saw him.
“Oh yeah? He did one for me when he was apprenticing. It turned out amazing.” Marshall lifted his pant leg to reveal a phoenix on his calf.
It wasn’t like I’d never seen it before, but knowing Archer did it years ago made me see it in a new light. He was talented even as an apprentice .
“I’ve been thinking about getting another, but I haven’t decided yet. I’m not a fan of the healing process to be honest. What are you getting?”
Leaning over, I snatched a cookie from the tray. “I don’t know. He hasn’t told me yet.”
“He hasn’t told you?” Marshall asked, visibly confused.
“I lost a friendly bet.” A very friendly bet, but the less Marshall knew about that, the better. “And as the winner, he gets to design my tattoo.”
“You’re insane. I love Archer, but I’d never let him do that to me.”
I shrugged and stuffed the cookie in my mouth to prevent me from confessing that I loved Archer too, just in a different way than Marshall loved him.
“I trust him. It’s not like he’d do a bad job or give me a stupid tattoo. He’s really talented.”
Really talented was a shitty way to describe how skilled he was. How hard working he was. I saw the way he threw himself into his work. The way he was always trying to hone his skills and learn new ones. For the first time, I wondered if tattooing had been his first choice of careers, or if it had been one to better guarantee him an income.
An idea formed in my head, but Cyrus and Archer walking in the door made me push it aside. I’d think about it some more and if I brought it up, it wasn’t going to be around Cyrus and Marshall.
As nonchalantly as I could, I greeted Archer. Already I hated that I couldn’t cross the room and cradle his face in my hands and kiss his sadness away. I had to stand on the other side of the room and act casual. My feelings for Archer were anything but.
“There’s beer in the fridge. It’s from a micro brewery. They want me to carry it, and you’re my panel of testers. ”
“He means we’re his guinea pigs,” Cyrus shot, his lip curling. “If it’s anything like that last swill, I’m going to end you, Taggart.”
“This is why I need your help. Your palate is much more refined than mine.”
Marshall covered a laugh with a cough. “Anyway, uh, the snacks are ready and the movie is waiting. We can order dinner after the first movie.”
Cyrus reached for Marshall and pulled him into a kiss. “My husband is the best host. That sounds wonderful.”
Seeing the way they gazed at each other had me glancing at Archer. He caught my stare and looked away sullenly. I read him loud and clear. This sucked. It sucked a lot. Archer grabbed a tray off the counter and went to the living room.
“We didn’t come here to watch you two suck face. Come on, Cyrus said I could pick the movie.” Archer set the tray on the coffee table and flung himself down on the couch. He bounced a couple times, then patted the spot next to him. “Please sit next to me, Shane. Cyrus and Marshall need to be separated. I don’t want to hear their gross kissy sounds.”
“We do not make gross kissy sounds,” Cyrus argued. “They’re the sound of true love.”
“Then true love turns my stomach,” Archer shot back, but he scooted over as if he needed to make room for me. I tried not to sit too close. Every little move I made I examined from every angle, wanting to make sure I wasn’t doing anything that would give us away. Sitting too far away would look equally suspicious. My current train of thought made me want to kick myself. It was just sitting. How complicated did I have to make it ?
As soon as I sat down, Archer inched closer to me. A motion that went unnoticed by Cyrus and Marshall. With the remote in hand, Archer got the TV going and the streaming service open.
“What are we watching?” I stole another cookie, even though they were too sweet for my liking.
“ Batteries not included .”
“It’s his favorite.” Cyrus dropped into the chair and tugged Marshall down onto his lap. They were about the same size, so I wondered if Cyrus was going to make it through the whole movie like that. It also left the entire other end of the couch unoccupied. I should move over and give Archer space, but that would be weird. Wouldn’t it?
Fuck. When did everything get so difficult? I needed to relax, but for the first time in my life, I had something to hide, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t want to hide that I was with Archer. Except I wasn’t with him, was I? We were friends with benefits. Never once had we agreed on more.
Maybe it was time for that to change. And if we were more, we could tell Cyrus. If we told Cyrus, Archer and I wouldn’t have to sneak around behind his back.
“Alexa, movie lights,” Marshall said. Instantly the lights dimmed.
“You and your silly toys,” Cyrus teased him, but he pulled him closer, his lips brushing against the shell of Marshall’s ear. He caught me looking so I held his gaze and made kissy noises at him. “You’re an ass, Shane.” Cyrus laughed.
“And that’s my cue.” Archer hit play on the remote and the movie started. I’d looked the movie up online after it had been mentioned the first time, but I hadn’t watched it. I’d wanted to watch it with Archer.
The synopsis online didn’t prepare me for how cute the movie was. And how moving. The people in the building had created a family. And when the aliens came, they were welcomed .
Throughout the movie, Archer snacked, but his attention remained glued to the screen. I doubted he realized how many cookies he’d eaten until he went for another and they were gone.
“Oh, God, take that away from me.” Archer gave the tray a little shove and I moved it to the far end of the coffee table. He leaned back and got comfortable. “Watch this.” He motioned to the screen where suddenly the little flying saucer robots were having babies.
“I’m sorry, but that’s the cutest shit I’ve ever seen.”
The movie took a tragic turn when it looked like one of the little robots wasn’t going to make it, but he was saved by one of the characters and reunited with his family. I’d never admit to the tears I wiped way when I thought the baby robot was a goner.
“Hah, you got Shane too.” Cyrus crowed, because of course he noticed.
“Anyone with a heart would tear up at that,” I threw back.
“I have a heart.” Cyrus pretended to be wounded and he might have kept going but Marshall gently shushed him.
I tried my best to pay attention the movie after that. For the most part, I was successful, but I was still keenly aware of the way Archer was close to me, but not close enough. I wanted to wrap him in my arms and enjoy being with him. The thing was, I could imagine a future like this. The four of us watching movies together and eating a horrific array of sugary goodies, which were apparently Archer’s comfort foods.
When the movie ended, Cyrus ordered dinner and I helped Marshall put the remaining treats away. Cyrus ordered pizza from a local mom and pop joint that had been around since the dawn of time. The original owners were retired, but their grandson ran it now and the food only seemed to improve as time went on .
The beer was a hit, but I had to drive home so I stopped at one. As did Archer. Cyrus and Marshall had a couple with dinner while we watched another 80s movie, one I’d actually seen before. Kieran had been a huge Stephen King fan growing up. Therefore, I’d seen every King movie in existence. Maximum Overdrive was cheesy, but the cheese helped lighten the mood.
When the movie was over, it was clear that Cyrus and Marshall were in no state to drive anyone home, even if they’d wanted to. I’d known them long enough to know the look of heat that simmered between them.
“Did you need a ride home, Archer?”
“You can crash on the couch if you want,” Cyrus offered. He probably meant it. Somewhere, deep down under his raging libido.
“No fucking thank you.” Archer hopped to his feet so fast it had Cyrus cackling. “Are you ready to leave? I’m ready to leave. We should leave.”
He looked to be one step away from sticking his fingers in his ears, closing his eyes, and chanting la, la, la, la I can’t hear you.
“I guess we’re leaving.” I got to my feet. “Drink the rest of those beers and tell me what you think.”
“I think you should bring it in,” Cyrus told me. He was always honest with me about potential product and he had a good palate. I trusted his opinion.
“Okay, good. See you tomorrow.”
We said our goodbyes then stepped out into the fresh air. The sun was just starting to set and the heat of the day lingered. It had been a beautiful summer, but the days were getting shorter now and the weather was starting to turn.
Archer climbed into the passenger seat and I turned the key.
“Am I taking you to your home… or my home?” I asked him .
When he looked at me, I knew what he was thinking. That we shouldn’t. We’d spent the whole evening sitting next to each other, pretending to be nothing but friends. I’d loved spending the day with him, but I wanted more. Being near him, but not being able to touch was torture. And I still wanted him to confide in me about Clayton. Even if I couldn’t offer solutions, I wanted to be supportive.
“After the day I had…” Archer let out a sigh and leaned back, closing his eyes. “I want to go home with you.”
Without another word, I backed out of the driveway.