Page 75 of Archer

“Speaking of that,” Sloane said. “It’s been twenty-four hours since the post.” She made room for me on the bench. “Nothing?”

I shook my head, accepting the seat beside her and the plate Maggie handed me.

“Maybe Webb didn’t see it,” Maggie suggested.

I nodded. “That’s what I said.”

“He’s a stalker,” Knox said. “Of course he saw it. We think he uses three fake accounts to interact, but we can’t prove it yet. They’re all registered to no one. Just gibberish for names.

Archer settled beside me, close enough that our thighs pressed together. “He’s being careful.”

Knox grabbed a piece of chicken. “I don’t suppose it’s possible he saw our team, decided to cut his losses, and headed back to Nashville.”

I looked at Archer and smiled. “I said that too.”

Nash shook his head. “Neighbors in Nashville say his apartment’s been cleared out. SoundWave Solutions hasn’t heard from him, and his phone’s been off for over a week. If he’s gone, he’s gone dark.”

“He’s not gone.” Archer filled a plate and scowled.

Sloane studied me with sharp eyes. “What do you think?”

Her question surprised me. We had a sheriff and two security professionals at the table.

“Trust your instincts,” she said. “Better safe than sorry.”

“I think he’s still here.”

Her smile was small and sad. “I was afraid of that.”

We ate in comfortable silence for a while, then the conversation drifted to easier topics. Maggie talked about the chaos at her family’s restaurant in preparation for the upcoming tourist season, and the strange encounters she had in general.

“One kid brought a snake in this week,” she said, spearing a green bean. “Claimed it was his best friend and unsafe to leave in the car.”

Nash choked on his sweet tea. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

“I wish. It took Dad and half the kitchen staff to convince his folks that a snake was a health code violation, and we have the right to refuse service.”

Sloane laughed, the sound bright and genuine.

“It was a lot like when you brought that frog to school, Nash,” Maggie added. “Was that sixth grade?”

“We don’t talk about Hoppy.”

I watched them banter, enjoying the beauty of it. This group of friends with history, inside jokes, and easy comfort. The way Maggie felt like everyone’s little sister, or the way Sloane and Knox communicated with just a look. I especially appreciated the way they all made space for me at the table without making me feel like an outsider.

I’d never had this, and suddenly I craved it.

By middle school I spent as much time in Nashville as I did at home, playing tiny gigs and trying to get absolutely anyone to listen to my demo. I lost a lot of friends and missed out on the average teenage experience. I didn’t go to college and make friends for life. I moved to Nashville at eighteen and have been fighting the good fight for a place in the industry ever since. I loved my life, but this would’ve been nice, too.

Sloane noticed my silence. “You okay?”

I nodded and cleared my throat. “I’ve been alone for a long time. Friendships made in Nashville are all a part of networking. They don’t feel genuine, and I’m just now realizing how rarely I let my guard down or take off my publicity face. This is nice.”

Maggie tilted her head and tented her brows. “I hope you’ll consider yourself one of us now. Even if you have to leave again soon, we’ll still be here. Rooting for you, whatever you do. And when you come back, it will be just like this, as if you never left.”

The offer touched my heart, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak. For a split second, I’d felt silly for making such a profound and private confession, but she’d taken it in stride. Then effortlessly made me feel loved.

Knox brushed a napkin over his lips and shrugged. “Dating Archer makes you family anyway, whether you like it or not. You’re kind of stuck with us now.”