Arrows Through Archer

by Nash Summers

The thing that would beat in my chest thereafter would not be my heart. My heart collapsed that day. And now, I am an empty shell of the man I was supposed to become.

The sweater he wore was too big and the polish on his nails was chipped away. He looked on the outside how I felt on the inside.

Love it

“You’re like a brother to me, Archer. You’re not perfect, but no one is. And if I met a billion people on this planet, I’d still choose you. You and your silent fucking depression—you and your quiet heart and your fear of living.

Just because Mallory was older than me didn’t mean he had a clue what he was doing. We were stuck in this strange place together—unknowing and lost.

“Thanks,” I said when he set the plate down in front of me. “My pleasure.” “You’re always feeding me.” “It’s what parents do. It’s in our blood.” For some reason, that unsettled me. “I don’t know. I guess I don’t think of you like that.” “As a parent?” He set a glass of orange juice down in front of me and another one next to his plate. “Yeah. I mean, I know you are, but not to me.” He fixed his gaze on me for a moment—unwavering—and then he smiled.

“It must’ve been nice, though. Having her while you did.” “You ever been in love?” “No,” I answered immediately, drinking a long sip of whiskey. “Not even close.” “Really?” “Do you think some people only have a certain amount of love inside of them? Or a certain amount of fucks to give? Because I do. And I think I’ve reached my quota.” “You’re too young to be so cynical.

Carpenter, remember? I’m good with my hands—both of them.” An image shoved its way into my mind. I consciously had to force my brain to expel it.

😳

It took me a moment to place the foreign smell in the room. Usually, it smelled faintly like soap or Mallory’s cologne and heavily like sawdust and fresh pine. But that night, faintly, lingering in the air, was the smell of perfume. It smelled sweet like flowers. It made me want to throw up.

“I want to be with a woman who likes puzzles.” “I don’t understand.” “You look so damn happy sitting at the kitchen table, puzzle pieces scattered around.” I closed my eyes. “You should go to bed.” “I know,” he said quietly. I stood. “Are you coming in?” He ignored my question as he stared down at his now-empty glass. “Puzzles make you happy, don’t they?” Sharpshooter by nature, my instincts told me to go in for the kill. “It’s not the puzzles that make me happy, Mallory.” Immediately, his eyes locked with mine. “Don’t do this to me, Archer.” “Okay.” Alone, I left the workshop, while Mallory remained behind.

🥲 this is great 'talking about it without talking about it'

“Sometimes I forget we’re not the same age.” “Good, because it doesn’t matter.” “If our positions were reversed, you’d be singing a different tune.” “You have a fixation on your age.” “No, I have a fixation on yours!” Mallory yelled.

Delicious

“I haven’t kissed anyone in years.” “Have you ever kissed a man?” “Yes.” He took my hand, brought it to his mouth, and kissed the palm of my hand. “You.”

😩

He began moving his hips a little, thrusting into the palm of my hand as I jerked him off. My breath caught in my throat when his thumb glided over my slit. He leaned forward and kissed me as I moaned, my body unable to handle the feel of his hot erection against my palm or his rough hand against my own. I said his name as I came, eyelids fluttering, heart threatening to break free of my ribcage. Because how could I not? My entire world, in that moment, consisted of him and only him. Mallory whispered into my hair, kissed the side of my face, and then came undone. I felt his muscles constrict a moment before the sticky, hot liquid spilled into my hand and over my stomach, mixing with my own.

I need a cold shower

He said, “You look different.” “Yeah?” “A bit more gray in your hair.” “Age’ll do that. I’m practically on my deathbed now.” “I see your age obsession is still thriving.”

I wanted to see what Archer saw when he looked at the things I’d made. But that’s all they were: things. Some might’ve been beautiful or intricate or unique. But they were only things.

“Mallory, can I ask you something personal?” “Yes. You can ask me anything.” “Do you remember everything about Sophia?”

I’d once asked Archer if he’d ever spoken at a bereavement group. He’d told me that his mother used to say—half jokingly, half not—that if you didn’t have anything positive to say, don’t say anything at all. So, no. He hadn’t ever spoken at a group meeting.

😥

“That time we danced in front of the fireplace. I think it was the song that finally did it. Sophia loved that song, and when we listened to it together, with all my mixed emotions raging inside me, I thought everything would’ve felt wrong. But it didn’t. It felt right. So maybe that’s when I knew. Hell, maybe I knew sooner but was too much of a coward to admit it to myself.” Archer leaned back a little in his chair and glanced toward the fireplace that crackled in the living room. “I think it was the first time you showed me your workshop.” I laughed. “Yeah?” “It was because it was something personal and you shared it with me. People don’t share things with me—not really.”

“You’re asking me to stay here with you,” he stated. “Yes.” “Indefinitely.” “Yes.” “I didn’t know you felt that way.” I took him by the shoulder and spun him to face me. “How can you not know I love you, Archer? I’ve dreamt of you every night that you weren’t by my side. I can’t imagine someone knowing you like I have and not loving you.”

“Sweetheart,” I said softly. I reached across the seats between us and took his hand in my own. “I know. We’re going so that you can teach me to shoot. That way, we can go together each year. If you want to.” He stared at me for a few moments, our fingers still entwined. And then he turned toward the passenger side window and stared out at the passing trees and shimmering blue lakes. There was a slight hitch in his voice when he said, “Yeah. I want to.”

I'm such a simple person. Just have the older gruffer character call the younger one a pet name, very gently, and im there