36. ARCH NEMESIS

36

ARCH NEMESIS

Summer

When we are finished with Jaden's noon class, we head to the taco place for lunch to meet Arch. Jaden has turned me out all day. I even had to change my clothes. I should have known his plans were not decent. What he did to me in my morning class… I won't be forgetting any time soon.

Or the embarrassment after class. People were avoiding my gaze and some looking at me like they knew what we were doing. I mean, they are adults they probably do.

But it's what Jaden does to me. When I'm with him, I lose all my brain power. I didn't even know I was into exhibitionism until I met him. Getting raunchy in public was our thing. While the others will dabble in it here and there, Jaden has to have his hands on me when we are in public.

I never knew how much I liked it and how much I needed it from him. And it feels like we are even closer than we were last night.

"Are you thinking about how you came all over my fingers earlier?" he whispers in my ear from behind me, his hands wrapped around me as we wait in line.

As I open my mouth to answer, Logan, Landon, Trevor, Gabby, Lin and Hazel walk in. Their eyes find me immediately and the whole mood changes as Logan takes a step in my direction. Trevor stops him and I look away. Jaden tenses behind me, but doesn't engage.

He just kisses my neck very provocatively, making a show of it. I let him as the asshole passes me and when I chance a look at him, he is fuming. I touch Jaden's head and move my neck after they pass.

"Thank you, but we don't need to put on a show for them," I say, turning to him.

Jaden smirks. "Not even a little?"

I roll my eyes. We order for us and three more orders in case more than Archer joins us.

We take an empty table inside, and luckily, Logan and the rest are outside. I sit away from them, I don't want my eyes to wander, even though I feel his eyes on me.

"Are you okay?" Jaden asks sitting next to me.

"I am uncomfortable here with them," I say honestly.

"Good," he says.

I narrow my eyes at him. Did this man just say my discomfort is good? He takes a loaded nacho chip from the dish and brings it to his lips, seeming unbothered.

"Explain, dude."

"Don't call me dude, bro ," he jokes. "It's healthy having negative emotions after a bad breakup."

"I didn't love him, Jaden." I feel the need to make sure he knows that.

He pulls my cheek playfully. "I know."

I want to talk more because focusing on him is honestly making me forget everyone else. But then walks in the blond bombshell that is Arch and I smile naturally. Caleb walks in after him. Both scanning the area, they grimace a little at the direction of that table, but they quickly move.

Arch comes first and kisses me on the mouth. I blush a little when he pulls away and he smiles tenderly at me. I exhale, really relaxing. He takes his seat and Caleb gives me a kiss too. Caleb's kiss lingers and I welcome it fully. When he pulls away, he winks at me, and I giggle like a middle schooler in front of her crush.

"I missed you," he says, pulling a chair and sitting next to me.

I shrug with cockiness. "What's not to miss?"

They all laugh.

"You got me a beef taco? I was in the mood for a quesadilla," Caleb complains.

"You didn't answer when I texted. Eat what's in front of you," Jaden says.

"I told you I had a meeting with my dean, when was I supposed to text you back?" he says.

"You met the dean, why?" I ask.

"I had a small tussle with one of my professors," he says.

I want to press but Harvey walks in, stealing all my words from me. My heart drops even further when I spot the girl who is slowly turning to my arch nemesis next to him. He isn't holding her hand, and Harvey is a hand holder. Strange but okay.

Archer frowns. He sees him next and the mood at the table sours as he goes to the line for food. I look at the nachos and suddenly feel full.

"Are you okay?" Caleb asks, their eyes are all intent on me.

"I'm fine," I lie.

When none of them stop looking at me I turn with glares.

"Now back to you and the dean." I look at Caleb.

He leans back in the chair and lets out a long breath.

"I'll tell you later," he says.

The dark shadow of Harv and his girlfriend approaching the table sends me into a hotter and hotter jealousy. I want to pull her away from him. When they are close, I finally turn and reveal my biggest smile.

Harv doesn't spare me a look as his focus is solely on this girl who just sat next to Arch and they both sit between Arch and Jaden.

"Hello, friends," Harv says, his eyes on me when he says friends .

This has to be a joke. That's the only explanation I can think of. Harv didn't claim anyone all along and now her? What the fuck makes her special?

"Hi, everyone." The girl smiles sweetly as she reaches for a potato fry on his plate, and he lets her have it. That used to be mine. I am the boyfriend's fry muncher in this group.

"Gang, this is Fay. Fay, these are my friends, Jaden, Summer, Caleb and Archer," he says coolly, looking at her and my chest gets so hot I want to cry. But I pick up a nacho and stuff it in my face.

This is fucking torture.

"It's nice to meet you guys and you Summer. Harv has told me a lot about you," she says and I detect a foreign note in her tone I don't know.

"He has?" My voice comes out pitchier than I intended, and I clear my throat.

"Yeah. And you are my personal hero." She grins.

"Huh?" I ask dumbfounded. Everyone at this table is as quiet as companies when new graduates apply for jobs.

"I mean, all of this—" she gestures around the table.

"That's enough," Harv says, looking a little not with his new girlfriend's babbles.

"No, Harv, I think you need to let her finish. Go on, Fay." I can't hide my bubbling anger and I'm not sure I want to. I want to shower her with all these nachos. And it's not even that I'm angry at what she's saying, but that she is sitting there talking about Harvey like he is hers.

"Summer…" he warns.

I get up suddenly and the table rattles, but I don't pay attention to it.

"I have to go. I have…things… bye." I drag my bag and walk out.

I try to not sprint out, so I don't embarrass myself. My heart beats in my ears, my chest hot with twisted anger and I want to cry. But I blink and I stop myself from running. Hands grab me from behind and for a split second I hope it's Harvey coming to say he doesn't want her anymore and he wants to work on us.

"Baby, shh." Caleb's voice comes from behind me and Archer appears in front.

"Let me leave. I have something to do," I say.

"Then let's go," Archer says.

They both say nothing as I head to my dorm.

Jaden remained behind, but I'm mad at him too because he should have left the lovebirds alone. But I know that's unfair, so I push it aside.

We enter my dorm without saying anything and they get out of my way. Placing my bag on my table, they take seats on my bed. Avoiding their direction, I head to the bathroom. It's a little sucky that there are no doors here. I take off my clothes and cover my hair with a shower cap because I am not in the mood to get it wet.

I stand under the hot spray, and I try to breathe as I try to face the fact that Harv has a girlfriend. I know I have no right to be so jealous because we aren't together especially since I used to parade Logan in front of them, but I am fucking jealous. I hate it.

I know I need to stand up. I know I need to accept this. I need to be okay with it. We haven't been together in over six months, of course, he was going to see someone else.

Su, you need to be okay with this.

With a sore heart, I come to that decision. I will swallow my feelings and try and be happy for him. Because the alternative will not shine me in a positive light. I will be the crazy ex and nana would be ashamed of me. I need to boss the fuck up.

When I have washed my body, I feel refreshed. I'm still sad but I'll be fine. Perhaps I can just see where the vibe is taking me with the others.

I still don't know if I am ready for full-on relationships. Mainly because I don't know if it will be right without Harvey. It's stupid to hold a candle for someone's boyfriend but…

I wrap my body with a towel and hang the shower cap on the hanger. The two braids Arch did on me this morning dangle and I smile as I walk out to them looking very relaxed.

Caleb sits crisscross without his shoes and Arch is lying with his top half on the bed and feet on the floor, and they are talking about something.

They turn to me when I enter, and there is worry on their faces.

"I'm a little hungry," I say taking a seat next to Caleb, not giving them a moment to probe.

"What are you in the mood for?" he asks.

"Gourmet burger from Ozzy's with the mushroom sauce," I say.

"Ooh, that sounds good," Archer says.

Caleb opens his phone and goes to his app.

"Peach, are you okay?" Arch asks, caution not far from his voice.

"Can I please not talk about it?" I say, hoping that is enough.

There is a moment of silence as Caleb continues with the order.

"Is he really dating that girl?" The question comes out without thinking. I don't know why I need to know.

There is another moment of silence, which is more telling than any words.

"We don't know," Arch answers.

I stand. Having heard enough.

"Peach?" Archer stands but I walk to my bathroom to get my cosmetics for my night routine.

"It's fine, Arch. He can date who he wants." The words barely make it out of my mouth as I feel an intense pain in my chest, but I hold the tears. I will not cry.

Arch's arms wrap around me, covering me like a shield to protect me from all the bad of the world.

"We are here to listen if you want to talk," he says as I stand in front of the mirror, and I look at our reflections.

I roll my eyes. "I am fine, really am. I'm really happy for him." I seal it with a small smile.

He doesn't believe me, of course, but he also gives me a small tight smile. "She'll never be you."

"I think that's exactly what he was going for," I say, the little bitterness not far from my voice but I have to keep it together. I am a boss. I am a boss.

Arch nods but he doesn't add anything else. He stands behind me as I lotion my face and body. He helps me tie my hair for the night and get in my pajamas. When we are done, the sun is setting and the food has arrived.