Free That One Night (That One Series Book 1) by Josie Wright

seeing someone?”
    Sighing, I shake my head, too tired to do anything else but answer.
    “No, I’m not seeing anyone.”
    “Good,” he says, his voice unwavering. It’s the cockiness I remember about him that he hasn’t really shown since he’s been back.
    “Why is that good, Ben? What is it to you?” I’m holding my breath, curious what he’ll answer.
    “I know I hurt you, Frankie. I fucked up and I can’t change that. I know you don’t trust me and that’s okay. Because I’ll fight for you, and I will win back your trust. I will win you back.” His words sound sincere, there’s a conviction in them that makes the breath I was holding whoosh out as we pull into my parents’ driveway.
    “You never had me to begin with,” I lie in order to quench the feelings of hope blooming in my chest.
    ***
    As we get inside, my mom barrels over to take Archer out of my arms. When I walk through the living room and up the stairs to my room to get a moment of silence, I run into Dave in the hallway. He has a grin plastered on his face.
    “So did you tell him he's Archer's dad?”
    I nearly topple over and could swear my jaw actually drops down to the floor below.
    “What are you talking...? How? I mean, how did you know?”
    “Contrary to popular belief, there is stuff going on up in here.” He taps his right digit to his head, giving me a smug grin. “It was basic math, the fact that I walked in that morning into the house and saw you all rumpled and only covered with a blanket sleeping on the couch — by the way, not a good thing to walk in onto as your older brother — and your reaction every time we talked about him. Oh, and let’s not forget Archer’s middle name. And he kinda looks like him too.”
    I’m dumbfounded and speechless, something that doesn’t happen often.
    “Why didn’t you say anything?”
    “I assumed if you wanted us to know, you’d tell us.”
    Tears well up in my eyes and I throw my arms around Dave’s neck and hug him hard. He might be a dickhead on the outside, but deep down he’s an incredibly sweet and loyal guy who always has my back.
    “You’re the best brother ever.”
    “I know.” He chuckles, but then his voice gets serious. “What happens next?”
    “I wish I knew.”
    “Want me to punch him? I did when he arrived here. I can do it again.” Dave wiggles his eyebrows at me playfully.
    Before I can answer, we’re interrupted by the sound of our mom clapping her hands together a few times like a happy seal.
    “That is a great idea, Ben. Frankie, did you hear that?” She shouts up the stairs, and I have the sinking feeling nothing good can come from her good mood.
    “Let’s see what is making Mom this happy. It can’t be anything good.” Dave arches his eyebrows at me and drags me downstairs with him, sharing my sentiment.
    So much about my moment of peace.
    “Frankie, Ben just offered to drive back with you to Northampton to look at the colleges and job opportunities up there. That way you don’t have to drive by yourself and can pay more attention to Archer, so my poor baby boy doesn’t spend all the time alone in the backseat,” she coos the last part to Archer, whom she still has on her arms.
    I feel like I have lost all sense of reality for a second. The world blurs around me and I shake my head to clear my vision. “Sorry, what?”
    “Yeah, I wanted to decide on a college anyway, and this way I save money on a flight, we can split the gas money, and you don’t have to drive yourself. Long drives like that can be tiring and dangerous,” Ben pipes up with a smug smile on his face.
    Asshole. I want to pounce on him and scratch his eyes out. Despite the ringing in my ears, I can hear Dave’s amused chuckle. Jabbing my brother in the ribs with my elbow, I glare at Ben, knowing that if looks could kill, he’d be on the floor breathing his last breath right about now. We agreed he’ll come visit in a week or two, giving both of us room and time to