Twenty-Four

"What the heck is going on here?"

Archer's question is more like an accusation. Obviously, I can't blame him. But I also can't stop the words no, no, no, no, no, from spilling out of me, either. Please tell me this isn't happening. Thankfully, Jude speaks up for the both of us.

"This isn't what it looks like," he says, holding an arm across my body, as if he needs to shield me from Archer.

The Dragons' captain's eyes widen as his gaze darts between the two of us. "It better not be," he spits at Jude with a finger pointed toward him. His other hand grips the top of the car door like he needs it to support his weight. "Though I imagine you'll have a hard time getting Gwen to believe you're not cheating on her when you've got the coach's daughter curled up in your lap."

Yeah, this looks bad.I grimace and shuffle away from Jude, pressing my hands over my eyes. I've never wanted to disappear into thin air more than I do right now.

Before Jude can explain, Archer slams the car door and stalks off. "I've gotta catch up to him," he says, rushing after the one guy who has the power to send our world tumbling into an abyss full of scandal.

I follow behind, wrapping my arms around my now shaking body. How did we let this happen? We tried to be so careful, so secretive…

"Archer, wait up!" Jude charges ahead and stops in front of Archer, holding his hands in the air. "Listen, man. I know this is going to be really hard for you to believe, but I am not Joel."

By the time I reach them, Archer's fuming. I've never seen the guy so mad.

"You expect me to believe that?" he says with a scoff. "I come down here to grab Indy's stuffed dog and find my best right winger having an affair with Coach Pratt's only daughter!" His voice rises along with his indignation, ratcheting up my nerves. We've got to calm him down before someone hears him.

"Archer, please," I plead, approaching him from the side. "Please listen to us. This isn't Joel, it's Jude. They switched places." I wince at the truth, knowing how far-fetched it sounds. "If you don't believe us, you can call Ronnie and ask her. She knows about the switch…and she knows that I'm dating Jude." I purposely emphasize his name to drive home our innocence.

This gives him pause. His brows lower as he swings his gaze between us. "Why did you and Joel switch? Just so you and Chantelle could…what? Have a night away together?"

Sheesh, this just keeps getting worse.

"No, that's not it at all," Jude says. Visibly rattled, he runs his hands through his hair as his throat muscles constrict. "I'm going to call Joel and you can speak to him. Okay? He'll be able to explain everything better than I can."

Archer's lips pull tight, but he gives Jude a single nod.

Jude steps away to call Joel, and I take the opportunity to speak with Archer alone. "Please don't tell my dad," I beg him. "I know your first thought is to go to him. But at least hear Joel out before you do. Okay?"

Archer blinks down at me with a shake of his head. "He's seriously not Joel?"

"No. I would never do that to Gwen, and neither would Joel." I place a hand on Archer's arm. "You know how close all of us are."

He looks as if he wants to say more, but Jude approaches. "Here. I explained what happened and he'd like the chance to fess up." Jude meets my eyes. "About everything."

I swallow the lump in my throat as Archer tentatively takes the phone from Jude and says hello. I don't even realize tears are streaming down my face until Jude wipes them away with his thumb.

"It's going to be okay, Chantelle." He places a kiss to my forehead, then steps away. "You go back up to your room. I'll stay here and work this out with Archer." My eyes land on the man in question as he paces back and forth while talking to Joel.

"Are you sure?" I ask. I hate to leave him to deal with the fallout on his own. It wasn't supposed to happen like this; I thought we hid it so well…

He brushes my hair back and gives me a small smile. "I'm sure. Trust me, okay? Don't believe your spiraling thoughts, just trust me. It'll all work out. I'll text you later tonight."

I nod, then brush my lips against his one last time before leaving him to face Archer alone.

I wasn't surprised to find that Ronnie had no idea Archer had gone back to her Jeep to get Indy's stuffed dog. She was the one who gave us the go-ahead to meet in her vehicle, so I know she'd never intentionally get us caught.

I do my best to take Jude's advice and block out the many unproductive thoughts about what happened, refusing to go down the road of "what ifs," and trust him instead. But the one thing I hate about this entire situation was that Jude was beginning to realize the toll this switch was taking on him—on us. He genuinely wanted it to end. But now Archer knows and…

My phone lights up and I roll over to check it. Ronnie's soft snores sound from the opposite bed as I tap into Jude's text message.

Boyfriend

Hey, peanut. Joel told Archer everything. He's rightfully upset but has agreed not to tell Coach as long as Joel switches back after we get home. Whether or not he discloses the injury to Coach is up to him: Archer's words.

That's good news, I guess. I just feel awful that this is how you were found out…

Boyfriend

Me and Joel were idiots to think we could pull this off without a hitch, but I can't bring myself to regret a single thing. I never would've earned your notice otherwise.

I smile to myself, ducking my face under the covers. Would I have given Jude a chance if I hadn't been so bent on finding out the truth about him and Joel? Before I can search my mind for an answer, another text comes through.

Boyfriend

Don't overthink it, peanut. No matter what, everything will be okay. Sweet dreams.

I send him a quick goodnight text, then exhale the rest of my doubt. At least for now, things are stable. For now, I'll save the worry for when I get home and have to tell my dad and mom the truth.