The Shepherd (The Game 6)

Holy fuck, he was actually here.

I swallowed dryly and forced my legs to function, and I began walking toward the patio doors.

I ran a hand through my hair as my mind kicked into reeling mode.

He had to be someone’s plus-one, yeah? And why? How?

As soon as we were out in the fresh air, I sucked in a deep breath and rubbed my hand over my face.

Archie was here, it was him, he was fucking here, it was Archie, his dimpled grin, those gorgeous dark-blue eyes with thick lashes, his inability to shoot a damn duck, his half-British accent, that warm, infectious laughter—it was him.

“I want to know more about you.” He spoke between kisses and tried to climb up on my lap. “I already know you’re an addictive kisser.”

I chuckled and gave our surroundings a quick glance. We didn’t have anyone nearby, and everyone seated on the hill had their attention aimed at the band playing on the stage. Feeling confident we wouldn’t disturb anyone, I let him straddle me before I kissed him again.

“Greer, talk to me.”

I blew out a harsh breath and side-eyed the partygoers on the patio, chatting away at the tables, drinking, eating candy, and it was too much. So I stepped off the deck and rounded the corner of the house.

Ivy followed.

I remembered how my night with Archie had opened up minutes later. He’d expressed he wanted to know more about me, and I’d been hesitant because I’d had my plans with Angelo. But then Angelo had texted to say he was beat. He’d finally gotten his luggage, and he’d rented a car. And all he’d wanted was to go to bed. We had a new plan—to meet up the morning after.

“Did you see an ex or something in there?” Ivy pressed.

I flicked her a glance and saw the concern in her eyes.

“Not my ex,” I muttered. “Do you have a list of all the plus-ones?”

She nodded hesitantly.

Since only thirteen members had listed plus-ones, I took a shot in the dark and hoped she recalled the names. “Do you remember an Archie on there?”

She stood a little straighter. “Yes. You know him?”

Fucking hell. So it wasn’t my mind playing tricks on me.

“I don’t know if I can go that far. He used to date my childhood friend.” I let out a chuckle at how fucking bizarre that was, then raised a brow at Ivy. God knew I loved her, but she was like my sisters-in-law. “That’s all you’re getting.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Are you sure?”

I stared at her.

Don’t push me, girl.

That deflated her. “Fine. You take a break—you look like you need it. I’ll ask Penelope to cover the downstairs. Will half an hour work?”

“Definitely no more than that.” I dipped down and kissed her forehead, eternally grateful. She knew when to reel in the gossip queen that lived inside her. “I just need some air.”

“No problem.” She smiled and gave my hand a squeeze before she left me alone.

I sighed heavily and looked up at the night sky.

Why the fuck are you here, Archie?

I didn’t know if I was angry or just bewildered and confused. Maybe a combination of all three—though, there was more too. I was angry. Five years wasn’t enough to get past that he was the reason I’d lost my oldest friend. But at the same time, I hadn’t handled myself great back then, and I’d misplaced some of the blame.

It’d fucking hurt. To this day, I couldn’t believe how painful that unraveling could be; for chrissakes, I’d just met the guy. I’d shared a single evening with him. But what a fucking evening it’d been…

“You promised to help me win!” he laughed.

“And I will.” I grinned and guided him behind one of the trailers along Game Row. Here, hidden away in the dark, I pushed him up against the wall of the trailer and kissed him senseless. I hadn’t gotten my fill since we’d left the concert area.

He moaned and locked his arms around my neck. “I can’t get enough of you.”

That went both ways. “I wanna see you again,” I whispered.

Lust and hope flashed in his beautiful eyes, and he nodded quickly. “Me too, sir.”

Fuck—the way he said that. I brushed my thumb over his bottom lip. “It’s the second time you’ve called me that.”

Soft heat bled across his cheeks. “I like saying it.”

I smiled slowly and pressed my lips to his. “I like hearing it.”

I had memories of my sisters-in-law when they’d just started hooking up with my brothers. They’d walked around with stars in their eyes and revealed sides of Angus and Cullen I’d never seen before. For a while there, I’d viewed them like characters in a fucking fairy tale. I’d found them as ridiculous as sweet.

Years later, my one evening with Archie had felt exactly like that. Like a fairy tale, with the colorful lights and festivities of a carnival as our backdrop.