Page 88 of Forbidden to Fall

I looked at him skeptically. “Are you telling me you’re actually pursuing Juliet?”

“That’s right.” He grinned widely.

I smiled, secretly impressed. And envious. “That’s great! Really. I’m Team Juliet. But what’ll you do about the mayor?” Juliet’s dad wasn’t a fan of Archer. He was also ultra-protective of his daughter. Bad combination.

Archer shrugged. “It gets old living your life dictated by someone else’s feelings.”

That statement resonated bonedeep, but I also had no idea how to not care how my actions affected my brother. Or James, for that matter. I’d promised him I was his friend.

Either I let down Ryan, or I let down James.

Couldn’t two grown men who’d been attached at the hip their entire childhood and the better part of their early twenties get over a nearly decade-old mistake?

I thought of the conversation I’d overheard between James and Archer right here in the stables—when I’d sneezed myself into a near-concussion. Archer had said there was more to the story. James had said people didn’t want the truth—just someone to blame.

I’d been chewing on that information for weeks now, trying to persuade myself I didn’t need to know.

But I did.

“Hey,” I said. “A while ago, I heard you say there’s more to the story with James, Ryan, and Lily. What did you mean?”

Archer stopped and looked at me, then shook his head. “I don’t really know. James is a good, good guy, though. He’s always been good.” He went back to brushing. “The story just doesn’t add up.”

I didn’t say anything. It was the same thought I’d had—not being able to reconcile what I’d known of James before, what I knew of him now, and what he’d done to Ryan.

But people could surprise you in all the best and worst ways.

James’s comment about people wanting someone to blame rather than the actual truth was the part I couldn’t stop thinking about, though.

What did it mean? And did it actually matter?

Whatever had happened back then, the James I knew now was someone I admired. Someone whose happiness mattered to me deeply.

“Do you think Ryan will come around?” I asked.

“Not until he’s ready.”

“What will get him ready?”

He chuckled. “Maybe seeing that his sister’s in love with his enemy?”

“I’m not⁠—”

“Or”—he interrupted—“that might cement his hatred of James forever. Could go either way.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Golly, Archer. I just love these little chats we have.”

He grinned. “Me too.” His phone gave a quick buzz, and he took it out. “Another booking.”

“It’s going well, then?”

“Too well.” He shoved the phone back in his pocket. “In fact, I was hoping you might be able to help out with some rides this coming week. Just if we get a double-booking.”

I raised a brow. “By which you mean you already double-booked.”

“Correct.”

Classic Archer. He was terrible at saying no to guests.