I let him mull over his thoughts in silence as we head back across town toward Archer’s house. I don’t want to push him into speaking before he’s ready, especially not if he’s building plans in his head or going over everything that was discussed with an eye on the rearview.

We walk into the cool, dim interior of Archer’s house, and Trystan closes the door behind us. I turn, impatient to know what’s going through his mind, but before I can even utter a sound, I’m in his arms.

It’s like the kiss outside of Cooper’s pilfered shed never ended. Trystan’s hands splay across my back, sliding beneath my...