Wait.
Wait-wait-wait.
“Archer’s dad?” I ask, still trying to process the news. It seems like a while before the realization hits me. “Does Archer know?” I say quieter, my heart sinking.
Marlow nods and exhales, running his hand along the top of his head.
My stomach plummets like a rocket, a nasty feeling gathering inside. I feel like throwing up.
“When did he find out?” I ask almost in a whisper.
Marlow is quiet.
“Marlow!” I shout and fist his shirt at his chest, jerking him toward me. “Whendid he find out?”
My head is spinning, because I might’ve just made the biggest mistake of my life.
“About an hour ago! You were just with him. Didn’t he tell you?” Marlow shouts back, jerking my hand away, then says, quieter, “Fuck. We are all fucked. This island is fucked. He is, too.”
My hand drops, and so does my heart. So low that my knees buckle.
“Oh, no,” I whisper.
I don’t care about everyone or the island. But Archer… Heknewbefore I came to talk to him. And I screamed in his face. And didn’t let him say a word. And—
“Oh, God… I screwed up, Nick…”
I turn and start walking toward Cliff Villa.
“Kat!” Marlow shouts behind me.
I turn, walking backward. “Why aren’t you with him?” I shout back angrily, feeling my eyes burn with tears.
Of all the people whoshould’vebeen with Archer when he found out the news,Ishould’ve been there. Iwasthere, hurting him at his lowest.
I want to scream at myself for being so selfish.
I stop abruptly, take off my heels, toss them onto the side of the road, and break into a sprint, disregarding the pain of my feet hitting the pebbles.
I know Archer.
I’ve seen his pain before.
I know his dark habits.
It doesn’t matter that he doesn’t care about me. This time, I screwed up. Half an hour ago, I was the worst kind of friend, or acquaintance, or whatever I am to him—doesn’t matter. Nothing matters in this moment. Definitely not my injured pride. I showed my ugliest side, kicking him when he was already wounded.
Hold on, Archer. Please…
Two minutes up the hill and I sprint through the gates of Cliff Villa, praying that everything is fine.
It’s all disturbingly quiet. There should be people here right now. Archer’s bike is at the door, but no one else is around.
Where the hell is everyone!?
Why isn’t anyone with him right now?
He made this island what it is, but during the darkest moment, there is no one next to him. Not even me.