31. SINGLE

31

SINGLE

Summer

I groan deliciously feeling something stiff between my ass cheeks, grazing my wetness. I realize now sleeping with no panties on wasn't a bright plan. But maybe I was kind of hoping he would fuck the sad out of me in the middle of the night.

"Wake up, sleepy head."

"You aren't sleek, Deltona." I turn to face him.

I find his devilishly handsome face.

"A man can try."

I take his face in before I rub my eyes, remembering everything about yesterday.

I got cheated on again. I shift to lay on my back and exhale audibly.

He doesn't say anything, but his left-hand rests on my stomach and he brushes me softly, still on his side. It's not sexual, just soothing and calming and so very welcome.

"What happened between you and Logan yesterday?" he asks after minutes pass by without a word from me as I sink a little more.

My ego really took a hit. The fact that I was going to dump him anyway doesn't matter, it feels like he flipped the script on me.

Didn't he know I'd be back? Maybe he planned it? I was breaking up with him last weekend and the last thing he said was to find him when I got back. Maybe they planned it all along. But also, what am I going to do, say, to Hazel now? The friendship is definitely over, but why would she do that to me?

I just don't get it. They looked so in tune all of them. Was it first time? Or was I the fool all along.

But then I think about how much Haze has wanted me to be better to Logan. Maybe it's a recent thing. I have no way of knowing any of that unless I ask. And since I don't want to talk to Logan, I'll have to speak to Hazel.

"Peach…" the calm, but concerned voice of Arch pulls me from my pit.

Can I tell him the truth? How will it look to him – to all of them – the fact that I left them for cheating only to run and get cheated on again by the guy who was supposed to be their replacement? How fucking wrong I'd been.

Could I have stayed and worked things out with them after Harv? Could I have dumped only him and continued the relationships?

I know I couldn't have. I wouldn't have been able to trust them. I would constantly question everything since they had successfully lied to me.

But am I not a bigger dummy by trying to move on only to get cheated on by a guy I didn't even love?

And why am I even upset by it? I don't love Logan. Why am I so touched? Shouldn't I be ecstatic? I finally found a solid out. I finally am free.

"I don't…" I drift off. "I'm embarrassed to talk about it." I choose honesty.

Arch's hand doesn't stop its ministrations and I close my eyes.

"You know there is nothing you can tell me that would make me see you any less, Summer. Right?"

"In theory, I know, Arch. I know. But…I just feel a little low. And insecure. And unsure. And it's a me issue."

Silence falls on us and he doesn't say anything to respond. I finally open my eyes, turn my face to him, and find him waiting.

"You really not letting me not talk, are you?"

"No," he says simply, as cool as a cucumber.

"Logan cheated on me."

His hand stops in its tracks. And his eyes widen with many emotions. I look away from him.

"Yeah. That's what happened. I got cheated on…again." I breathe out, unable to help the bitterness that drapes my words.

"He's an idiot," Arch says and I snort.

"You are friends with an idiot too." I don't look at him, but I feel the intensity of the moment.

"Was Logan drugged?" he asks.

"I don't know. Why do you ask?" I turn my face to him. But he just carries on brushing me again.

"So how did you find out?" he evades my question. But I am too in my feels to start interrogating him.

"I came back yesterday, and can you believe I was going to break up with him anyway? So, I went to his house. I don't know why I thought surprising him would be a great idea." I chuckle looking back at it now. That was probably God right there guiding my steps. "So, I went in and what do I hear but Hazel moaning, 'fuck me, Lo' for the whole campus to hear. " I grin sarcastically because I'll start crying unless I try to downplay this shit and I know for a fact Logan and Hazel aren't worth my fucking tears.

"Your friend Hazel?"

"The very one."

"Fuck, Peach. I'm so sorry." Arch comes close and comforts me, kissing the side of my face. I place my hand on top of his.

"That I told you so would be great right now. Maybe get it out of the way." I'm just in my self-pity bag because Archer has never said that.

He retreats from me. "Peach, this isn't your fault. And none of us would have thought the guy was such an idiot. He shouldn't have done that, and you deserve better."

I turn to look at him. So many things to say but I choose to just nod. I'm tired of talking about it.

"Is it possible that you rail my sadness away now? I'm tired of talking." I turn my body to him.

He chuckles sadly. "I don't think I should be taking advantage of you right now." He cups my face with his hand.

"Even if I say please?" I try to near him and be seductive. It just comes off…sad.

"I want to rail you believe me, but you are sad, baby. And you need to deal with this and not run away from it using sex. When you are a little better, trust me, I'm going to rail you as much as you want."

I retreat too and laugh.

"Life is really kicking my ass, isn't it?" I sit up. "A girl can't even get railed these days."

"Come on, Peach." He gets up too and wraps his arms around me.

"I just don't want to cry about it, Arch. They both don't deserve my tears, you know?"

He kisses my cheek. "They do not. But if you do want to cry. Then I am here."

After many minutes of silence, I get off the bed. "Come on. Let's go shower."

He quips his brow. "You want to shower together?"

"Well, I am single now and I can shower with who I want, so yes. Come on. Or is that off the table too?" I tease.

He smirks. "Nah. But let's make this bed first then we can shower. Or would you like a bubble bath? I think Jaden has the things."

"That does sound tempting. But I think I am overdue a conversation with the house. They deserve some sort of explanation from me and I'm sure they have a lot of questions with everything they know between us and Caleb." I pull the covers off the bed.

"Yeah, that's a good idea. Don't get me wrong, I love having you all to myself but…" he drifts off and I nod.

I can't stop thinking about Harvey. How am I going to look at him, what am I going to say to him and where is our relationship now? I can never point a finger his way. I am a cheater too. But is there a possibility for an us? Do I even want a relationship?

We shall see.

After we finish preparing for the day, me and Arch head downstairs where the TV is playing, and the aroma of coffee has the whole house on lock. I hope I can get a latte.

All eyes turn to us when I get to the living room. Caleb, Harv, Jaden, and Martin.

"Hey, pretty girl." Martin beams at me, and I can't help the smile.

"Martin, hello." Me and him have met here and there in our social circles. We have only conversed with others. I know he is more friendly with them, but he was a friendly to Logan's camp too. And after last night, I don't even know the kinds of things that have gotten to Logan's ears. Not that it matters anymore.

"Um, can I make myself food?" I gesture behind me to the kitchen when they won't stop looking at me like they are expecting me to say something.

Arch wraps his arms around me from the back. "Come," he says to my ear, and I can see their reactions to my body's reaction to Arch.

"Marty, beat it," Caleb says.

I turn before that gets deeper but not before I see Martin's wide grin. I let Arch lead me to the kitchen and watch him prepare to make my latte.

"Bye, Summer." I hear Martin's amused voice as he exits the house.

"Bye, Martin." I can just imagine what he thinks is going to happen. I sigh as I stand there and watch Arch turn on the coffee maker before he proceeds to take out things for breakfast.

It seems no one started on breakfast, so I guess we are doing that. We work in silence as I help him make breakfast. The other guys continue talking amongst themselves on the couch watching TV.

You'd swear I don't have a third degree pending. But I decide to just keep calm, knowing whatever is going to happen is going to happen anyway.