Page 25 of The Tenth Circle
“Damn right, Rebecca Dawson. A bitch who’s tired of finding sex toys thrown on your bed like stuffed animals.” I toss a handful of popcorn back, the two of us going on like this before Archer can finally breathe enough to join in.
“Miladies,doth not feareth.” He holds Bex and I apart. “Thence is enow of Archie Andrews to go around.”
Archer’s ridiculous Shakespearean comments do nothing to ease the laughter between the three of us. Or the food fight.
Bex has the chips, Archer the popcorn, and I manage to swipe the melted chocolate he uses to dip the popcorn in off Bex’s dresser.
You can guess what happens next.
Bex’s hair is a mix of popcorn and chips, Archer got nailed pretty well with the chocolate, but neither of them is as bad as me because my chest, face, and hair have an additional coat of brown sticking to them.
I swipe some chocolate off my chest with a finger, licking it clean. It’s not enough to forgo a shower, unlike the assholes next to me, but no biggie because I had intentions of taking one anyway.
“Okay, so I may have overdid it with the chocolate.” Archer winces. “A lot.”
“No shit.” Bex slaps him on the back of his head. “You did the same to me with the popcorn.”
“Yeah,” Archer’s face contorts, “but the popcorn’s white.”
Bex’s eyebrows cinch together. “What the hell does that have to do with you making a mess out of me?”
I already know where this is going and bite back another laugh before it turns into a soft drink fight.
Archer eyes Bex’s pale hair and skin…answering her without even saying a word.
“You asshole!” She hits him again. “It’s not my fault I’m two shades away from being milk.”
Archer kisses Bex’s forehead as she fakes a pout, enjoying messing with his moral compass.
“You’re beautiful, Rebecca Dawson. I swear it.”
“Bitch never said she wasn’t,” I tell him, swiping a towel off the back of my desk chair. “Just sayin’...there’s a difference.”
Okay, so I like messing with his compass too.
“You know what I meant.” Archer’s eyes dart between me and Bex. “I was trying to give a compliment.”
“By assuming I think I’m ugly because I’m pale?” She raises an accusatory eyebrow.
He drags a hand down his face. “That is not what I meant. You’re overanalyzing.”
I tiptoe over to Archer and lean close to the side of his head, inhaling through my nose. “Is that narcissism I smell?” I sniff again. “And manipulation?”
Archer reaches for my arms and pulls me onto the bed, supporting himself above me on his elbow to tickle my side.
“Stop your shit, Beaumont!” I cry out.
Bex, the loyal friend she is, jumps on the six foot behemoth to pry me out of his grip.
It doesn’t work, because somehow Archer’s managed to pin us both beneath him, holding one girl hostage while he torturesthe other. There’s yelling, tussling, and there would be peeing if Archer didn’t show some mercy.
Man, he’s strong for a walking encyclopedia.
Archer still has us caged when he says, “Will miladies please forgive this poor, pathetic soul not worthy of your honor?”
“Laying it on thick, Beaumont.” I grunt, still trying to escape. “Now get off before I introduce my knee to your dick.”
“And my fist to your testes,” Bex says as she tries to wiggle free, making Archer and I shoot our attention toward her.
