Chapter 9
Archer
Ipull into the parking lot of the Mexican restaurant, the bright neon lights casting a glow across the lot.
Salsa Casa is a little hole in the wall restaurant attached to a bowling alley.
It’s in the same affordable neighborhood as the coffee shop and the parking lot is packed, it’s clearly popular.
The food must be good. It’s not surprising at all that this is Ellie and Sadie’s favorite Friday night haunt.
Inside, I spot them right away. Ellie and Sadie are huddled together at a corner booth, giggling.
When they notice me, Ellie’s face lights up.
I can’t help but smile back. She’s half out of her seat, dangerously close to taking a dive.
I find myself picking up the pace to catch her before she falls, but she recovers with the table just in time.
“Just so you know, we could have gotten a ride home with Reggie.”
“Who’s Reggie?” I ask. The idea of two inebriated girls getting a ride from this Reggie puts me on edge.
“He’s one of the organizers of the furry bowling league next door. He lives in my building.”
I try not to laugh, but it’s hard. The very idea of some poor dude in a furry costume wrangling these two is pure comedic gold. A chuckle ends up escaping me.
“What’s so funny.” Ellie’s brow furrows.
“I’m just imagining this Reggie trying to carry you two to the car.” I grin.
This causes Sadie to cackle at the table.
“I am perfectly capable of walking!” Ellie says as she wobbles again.
Sadie tries to talk toward us as well but has to sit.
“Okay, the room is spinning, how much tequila did I drink?”
I raise an eyebrow, amused and slightly concerned at the same time. “I think I’m gonna need to carry both of you out of here,” I tease, but in all honesty, I’m already planning the safest route to get them both out of here while trying to avoid this furry bowling league.
I’m only mildly successful in my endeavor.
The drive to Ellie’s apartment feels like it takes forever with Sadie and Ellie giggling in the backseat, chattering about everything.
The two of them insisted we stop by and see how Reggie was doing in his bowling match.
Which resulted in my taking photos with several furry fans.
Many of which have already ended up on Instagram if the girls giggles are any indication.
Ty is going to have a field day with that.
They were nice folks and I appreciate fans regardless of their after hours activities.
But I really hadn’t planned on a meet and greet and you can definitely tell by what I’m wearing.
I’m in my favorite gray sweat pants and a Lilo and Stitch t-shirt my niece and nephew picked out for me when they went to Disney World.
It’s like herding cats as I guide them both into the elevator, one arm around each of them to keep them steady. I help both girls into Ellie’s apartment after fighting with her keys for two solid minutes, Sadie flops onto the couch. Muttering something about needing the room to stop spinning.
“Let’s get you both to bed, okay?” I say gently, I lead Ellie to her bedroom first, helping her peel off her jacket and shoes.
But instead of settling in, she shifts over, making room on the bed. “Sadie claims I’m a bed hog; I most certainly am not!”
“I don’t know… Sadie might need more room than normal tonight to spread out after all that tequila.” I slide the blanket up over her, making sure she’s comfortable. As I turn to leave, Ellie suddenly grabs my wrist.
“Will you help her get to bed? I would but I am really comfy.” She snuggles deeper into her covers to emphasize how comfortable she is.
I look at her and try to suppress my amusement, failing. I sigh, a smile tugging at my lips, “I’ll go get her.” I turn back to the couch, where Sadie’s already half asleep.
Smiling, I shake my head as I walk over to the couch and help Sadie make her way to bed. I help her slide under the blanket, tucking her in just as I did with Ellie. She mutters something incoherent about needing to “hug the cat” and then promptly falls into a deep, taco and tequila induced sleep.
With both of them tucked in, I stand there for a moment, my gaze lingering on Ellie’s peaceful face as Sadie’s content snoring fills the silence.
I shoot a quick text to Ty telling him I’ll need a rain check on tonight’s honor mode run and make my way over to Ellie’s sectional.
It’s not the comfiest thing in the world but it will do.
I want to be here in case either of them needs anything throughout the night.
I have a feeling they will need a greasy breakfast when we go to pick up their cars in the morning.
I grab a throw pillow and the blanket that Ellie keeps on her couch and drift off to sleep.
The next morning, I wake up to something warm
and fuzzy on my head. So this is Fish, the cat that Sadie so desperately wanted to snuggle last night.
“Good morning to you too.” I mutter. I look around her apartment in the morning light.
It’s airy yet cozy. Her apartment is decorated in creams, light pinks and pastel greens.
Her one wall is lined with white bookshelves that house colorful books in an order I can’t seem to comprehend.
I make a mental note to inspect them later to see what she likes to read.
Her kitchen is standard for the apartment she lives in but she has decorated it to tie in with the living space.
Sitting up and stretching, I catch Ellie groggily making her way into the kitchen.
She’s silent as she makes herself some coffee, not noticing that I am on her couch. I don’t want to startle her but I’m afraid the longer I sit here without her noticing the more awkward it will be. I clear my throat. “Good morning, sunshine. How are you feeling?”
Ellie groans. “I am never drinking again.”
“A bottle of wine followed up by several margaritas will have you feeling that way.” I tease.
“Thank you for coming to the rescue last night. And putting up with everything that followed. Sadie and I don’t typically get that drunk.” She winces, no doubt remembering snippets of the night.
I can’t help but chuckle. “You two were quite the show. How’s your hangover?”
“Very hard to ignore if I’m being completely honest.” She busies herself with a second cup of coffee and I check my phone in comfortable silence.
Elle pads her way over with the second one for me.
“Cream and sugar right?” I smile at that even in her hungover state she remembers how I take my coffee.
“Thanks.” I reach for the coffee, taking a sip. “So how was your wine and paint?”
“Oh, it was fun, they’re both awful, we focused too much on the drinking and not enough on the painting. I spilled some of Sadie’s red wine on her painting. I personally think it elevates her painting. Takes away from the tittyness of the pumpkins.”
“Titty pumpkins?” I ask. “I need to see and maybe buy this painting. It sounds like something I should hang in my guestroom.” An amused smile making its way across my face.
“I know how much Sadie makes, she will gladly sell you that painting, but she’s going to upsell you. She’s a shark.”
My smile remains on my face as I try to envision this painting.
We drink our coffee in comfortable silence as Elle tries to recover from the previous night.
I take this time to acquaint myself with her cat, Fish.
He is desperately trying to drink my coffee every time I set it down, which makes me hold it close to my body.
●●●
After Elle showers and wakes an incredibly hungover Sadie up, I drive the girls to get very greasy breakfast sandwiches and take them to their cars. I have to see this titty pumpkin painting Elle said that Sadie created.
“Sadie,” I tease, “how much for that titty pumpkin painting?”
“For a new original Sadie Thompson, it will cost you …” Sadie’s hums trying to think of a number. “A hundred bucks. I’ll even sign it for you.”
“Deal.” I say as I pull out three hundred from my wallet. I remembered Ellie telling me that Sadie’s Venmo was messed up.
Sadie’s eyes go wide. “Archer this is way too much.”
I shrug, it definitely is not worth that much, but Sadie is Elle’s best friend and I know teachers don’t make nearly the amount they deserve. “I think it’s actually priceless, especially when I hang it up in the guestroom that Tyson tends to claim as his.”
Elle is trying to hold back a giggle, and I see Sadie trying to decide whether to actually accept the money.
“Please Sadie.” I request. “At the risk of sounding like a huge douchebag, it’s really not a lot of money for me, in fact I would offer you more, but I feel like you would kick me in the balls if I insinuated you needed the money.
” I pray to all the higher powers that she doesn’t do just that at my statement.
Sadie’s eyes narrow and she puts the money in her cross body. “Fine, but I’m making you a companion piece to even it out.” I can’t tell if she’s joking or not, but I really don’t know what I would do with two pumpkin boob pictures.
“There’s really no need.” I say as she hands me her wine and paint project.
“Thanks again for helping out last night.” Sadie says as she gets in her car. “I’ll see you tomorrow!” She yells as she drives off.
My face must convey my confusion because Elle turns to me and explains. “We’re going to watch the game.”
“Oh! So she meant physically see me, not actually… got it.” After Sadie’s car is nothing but a blip on the horizon I turn to face Elle.
Elle is fidgeting nervously and before I can ask her what is wrong, her lips are on mine.
Her lips are soft and taste like coffee and her vanilla ChapStick.
I go to put my hands on her but she’s stepping away.
“Thanks for everything Archer.” She gets in her car and drives back home, leaving me and my pumpkin boob painting in the parking lot. Wanting another taste.