27. Archer
Chapter twenty-seven
Archer
Three Years Ago- Proposal
D ear Seb,
No one realizes how awkward proposals are until they’re forced to sit and watch one happening in real time. Declaring your love in front of a table of twelve and then asking someone to give you an answer right then and there is nerve-wracking for the spectators. I can only imagine how Tilly felt with all eyes on her as Jessie started his speech and ended it with his knee on the ground and a ring box in his hand.
Deidre leaned over and started gushing about how adorable the entire thing was, and it made me sick to my stomach. Cheers and champagne were passed around as everyone congratulated the happy couple. Shantel squeezed my shoulder and pulled me in for a hug. For a minute I worried she knew my dirty little secret, but then she whispered, “I’m so drunk I can’t see straight, will you take me home?”
I congratulated Jessie on his proposal and told him I was going to take his sister home before she made a fool of herself. Malik had to work late on a merger, so he stayed home. I hadn’t expected Tilly to wrap her arms around me, elation written all over her face as she told me how much she loved her ring, how perfect it was. She’d had a few drinks by then and was a little more open than normal. Fire exploded in my chest when she squeezed me tight. Her hair smelled of lemons, and I couldn’t help planting a soft kiss onto the top of her head as I congratulated her.
Deidre’s frown had me pulling away from Tilly quicker than I wanted, but it wasn’t right for me to be holding her anyways. She wasn’t mine, and she never would be. But holding her close seemed to shatter my world completely.
I dropped Deidre off at home with a promise to give her a call tomorrow, and Shantel’s drunk ass couldn’t make it up the steps to her house, so I called Malik to come get her. He came out in Jack Skellington pajamas and threw her over his shoulder with a thanks. It was pretty funny to see when everything she drank exploded down the back of his shirt and he started cursing. I wish I could say I was a nice guy and helped him clean it up, but I was strung tight and needed to unwind.
I should be sleeping, but instead I’m writing to you telling you all about my shitty week. Mom and Dad begged me to do some construction work at one of their friends’ houses tomorrow. It’s funny how they look down on my career until it benefits them in some way. But the money is good. It’s better than good, so I keep my trap shut like you taught me and do the work right. My construction company is really starting to grow, and if I keep on this upward trajectory, I’ll be able to put a down payment on that fixer-upper with the three-car garage you and I saw on the outskirts of town. It’s far enough away from Mom that I won’t have to worry about her stopping by to gather information for Dad disguised as “I miss my boy” visits.
So many things are starting to happen for me, and I wish you were here to celebrate. I’ll do a few shots in your honor tonight while I drown my sorrows about Tilly. Come tomorrow, I’m starting on a new plan. One that involves moving up and moving on.
-Arch