Page 67 of Save Me
“Morning, slugger,” Archie greets me with his usual Cheshire cat grin.
I slide into my seat, acutely aware of soreness in various muscles. Last night was a workout. “So, you’ve heard about that.”
“You kidding?” Our cart starts with a jolt, and then Archie is speeding down the path after Henry. “I’ve never gotten so many messages in my life. My phone’s been going nonstop. I don’t even know half these people. I don’t know how they got my number.”
“Look at you, popular guy. You didn’t tell them shit, right?”
“I don’t know shit! But I wouldn’t if I did. I know how things work around here.”
“Good.”
He hesitates. “So, why didn’t he fire you?”
I’ve been asking myself that since last night, and the only answer I can come up with is Abbi. That or he’s not as big a prick as I thought. No, it’s got to be the former. “I guess I’m just too good at my job to lose.”
Archie snickers, but then his eyes widen as if remembering something. “Oh, by the way, I watchedBasic Instinctlast night.”
“Connor’ll be so proud.”
“So, Belinda didthatto you? The leg … the skirt … the thing?”
“Jesus, Archie.” He can’t even say it out loud. Athousand bucks says my assistant is still riding the V-train. He’s probably never even had his dick sucked. “She did, indeed.”
“Wow. I would …wow.”
He would either pass out or prematurely blow his load. But it’s best for his sake that Belinda sticks to abusing Connor.
I reach over to ruffle Archie’s hair as we pull up to the first hole. “Now, be a good caddie and don’t let me look stupid.”
“Nice birdie!”Archie exclaims as I retrieve my ball and toss it to him.
“That means one under par, right?” He’s been coaching me on the terms and scoring between holes.
“You got it.”
We close the distance to where the others wait, having shot their rounds already.
“Did I hear you say youdon’tgolf?” Mark calls out, doubt lacing his thick accent. Arkansas, if I had to guess.
“Beginner’s luck.” Though I’ve been averaging par or close to it on each hole. If this keeps up, I could walk away with a score in the low eighties, which, according to Archie, is unheard of for a guy who doesn’t know how to play and hates everything about the game.
“Seems like Henry’s brought in a ringer,” Jim muses beside him, equally suspicious.
“Now, why would I do that, gentlemen? He’s got no skin in it. Do you, Ronan?” Henry smiles knowingly.
“Not a dime.” Meanwhile, these rich assholes have thrown in ten thousand apiece in a private pool, winner takes all. I think that’s why they came down here—to golf, gamble, and tell tall tales about women they’ll never fuck. I haven’t heard a word about Axis Core booking their next event.
“A distraction, then. Another one of Henry’s head games.” Jim wipes his sweaty brow with his forearm. We’re halfway through the round, it’s hot as hell out here, and I won’t be surprised if we have to call an ambulance for the guy before it’s all said and done.
An ear-piercing rooster call sounds then, earning a round of winces.
“Now,that’s a distraction,” Mark says. “Dang, Henry, where’s that comin’ from?”
“The neighbor,” he grumbles. “We’re dealing with it.”
No, you’re not.I grin at the tree line. Is Sloane over there, poking Ralph to get him to sing? I wouldn’t be surprised.
I should call her. I really want to, just to hear her voice. I hated rushing out of her bed this morning. Then she sideswiped me with baby talk while I was putting on my pants. I was not expecting it—that early in the dayandthe relationship.
