“I can hardly blame Archer for breaking up with someone as petty and immature as you,” Mateo snarled. “I’m only surprised it took him as long as it did.”

Caleb’s face crumpled. He turned and all but ran away.

“Fuck.” Mateo put his hands on his hips, expression twisted with regret. “I’m supposed to be connecting with him.”

A laugh burst out of Archer.

Mateo’s lips quirked. “What? What’s so funny?”

But Archer was already laughing too hard to reply.

Mateo started to chuckle, then guffaw along with Archer. It wasn’t long until the two of them were roaring.

“Oh, shit,” Archer gasped when he was able to speak again. “I’m so sorry. It’s not funny.”

“It’s a little funny.”

Archer gave up, and they laughed and laughed until they were breathless.

By the time Archer and Mateo got back to the greenroom, Team Caleb had cleared out. It was a nice break from the suffocating contempt, but he wondered what he would find when he got back to the dorm. An image flashed to mind of all of his belongings strewn about the lawn.

Fortunately, the lawn was as tidy as ever when he trudged up the path, but his room was even tidier—Caleb’s stuff had been cleared out. Ben and Beau were there getting ready to head out.

“Where did he go?” Archer asked. He was expecting ice from Ben, so he directed his question at Beau, but Ben replied without any animosity.

“His friend Steve has an extra bed in his room.”

“Ah, yes. Good old Steve.” Archer sighed, wondering why that hadn’t been a huge red flag six weeks ago, and how much of an idiot he actually was. He flopped on his bed and pulled out his phone. A message from Lynn waited—just a lawyer meme. Archer sent a laughing emoji, then figured he might as well tell her. Caleb and I broke up, he sent. He was being such a dick about Mateo. I couldn’t keep ignoring it.

She replied right away. Aw, shit. I’m sorry, Arch. You doing okay?

Yeah … Caleb’s pretty pissed though.
Might be awkward for a while.

Hopefully he gets over it quickly.
Now what were you saying about
Mateo?

Nothing! Nothing about Mateo.

If you say so. Seems like he might
help you get over the breakup, just
saying.

He could just imagine the sly expression on Lynn’s face. How’s Sasha?

She is THE BEST. So amazing,
in fact, that now I’m even more
nervous to propose to her!

Archer sighed and leaned back against his pillow. He was so happy for Lynn, but her happiness only served to highlight the shit he was mired in, and, tonight at least, he couldn’t deal.

“You okay?” Beau asked. “Breakups are hard.”

“I will be. I only wish Caleb wasn’t so upset.”