Chapter 9 | Discovery

Archer

The night with Riley couldn’t have gone better.

I brought her home at 11, not wanting to push her parent’s boundaries. She smiles at me as we pull up to her house and says, “I had fun, Archer.”

I nod with a smile, “Me too, Ri, maybe we could do this again soon?”

She gives me a coy smile as she says teasingly, “I think we could arrange that.”

I chuckle and get out of the car to go open her door. I take her hand and start walking with her to the front door, but she stops and looks at me as she says, “You can go ahead and go, Archer, I’m fine.”

My eyebrows furrow and I shake my head no and say, “I’d like to see your parents if they’re still up.”

“Oh, well, they’re probably asleep. You know how the old folks are.” She responds with a nervous chuckle. I nod looking at her curiously, why doesn’t she want me to come to the door?

I take her hand and say, “Come on, Riley.”

She lets out a soft groan that confuses me and she fid