Toe the Line Read Online Penelope Ward

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Angst, College, Contemporary, New Adult, Romance Tags Authors:
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Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 94012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
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“Okay.” I nodded. “I promise.”

“I was sick when I was a kid. I had leukemia.”

My mouth went agape. “Oh my God. I had no idea.”

“I know. Like I said, they don’t talk about it. My father was just starting his career back then and was under a ton of stress. My parents nearly went bankrupt paying for an experimental treatment that wasn’t covered by insurance. But the drugs worked.” He shook his head slowly. “I think that’s part of why my dad pushes me so damn hard. Almost like… ‘We saved your life, Archie. Now don’t waste it.’”

I blinked incredulously. “How can they not have told my parents about something so important?”

“Well, they didn’t know your parents back then, and very few people know. My parents basically pretend it never happened.” He seemed to think for a moment. “Actually, it’s more my father who won’t let my mother talk about it. It’s his coping mechanism, I guess. There’s still a lot of unresolved trauma from that time that they haven’t dealt with. I don’t know if it’s a form of PTSD or what, but my mother says my dad was never the same after, even though I went into remission.”

It was hard to imagine that this strong, virile guy in front of me had ever been sick like that. “But you’re okay now? You never had a relapse or anything?”

“No. I’m absolutely fine. I mean, you always live with that fear, right? That it could come back. But the doctors said with the kind I had, there was a good chance it wouldn’t ever return.”

“That must’ve been hard for you…to go through that.”

“Honestly, I was so young that I don’t remember a lot of it clearly. Probably a good thing.”

I stared off for a bit to process this. “Well, for the record, I’m really glad you’re okay.”

“Me, too.”

Something occurred to me. “You said your dad changed after that. Do you think him being so harsh toward you is a protective mechanism?”

“You mean, like, he’s afraid to love me because he could lose me?” He nodded. “It’s funny, my mother had a theory similar to that once. But since he won’t talk about it, it’s hard to know what’s going on in his head.”

I nodded, still trying to absorb everything. “Sorry… I feel like I need a minute.”

“Take your time. I totally threw that on you. Or Fred did.”

“I’m glad he told me.”

He rubbed his eyes. “Okay, I’d like to go back to Archie now. Let’s change the subject. How was your date with James? I didn’t have a chance to talk to you, since he hogged all your attention last night.”

Surprised at his choice of topic, I shrugged. “It was good.”

Archie raised a brow. “Just good?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“Did he kiss you?”

My eyebrows jumped. “I don’t have to answer that, do I?”

“I think you just gave me the answer.”

My face felt hot.

He pointed at me. “Damn, you’re turning red.”

I touched my cheek. “Am I?”

“It’s cute, actually.”

“Why?”

“So few girls—at least the ones I know—get embarrassed about such things. Nothing is new anymore. Everyone’s done everything, tried everything.”

I swallowed, feeling seen yet embarrassed. “How do you know I haven’t done everything?”

“I don’t know for sure. I’m just going off your reactions. I could be totally wrong.” He paused. “But…am I right?”

“I don’t have to answer that.”

“No, you don’t. But then I just make assumptions, which isn’t any better for you.” He stared at me with a mischievous grin. “Alright. I’ll stop pushing.”

The room went quiet for a bit. A part of me wanted him to know the truth so I could get his opinion on my situation. It had been weighing on me. I mean, the guy just told me he’d had cancer, for Christ’s sake.

“I haven’t had sex yet,” I blurted. “Is that what you wanted to know?”

Archie’s expression turned serious. “Okay. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Most everyone I know has,” I added.

He shrugged. “So what?”

“So what? I’m about to start college, and I’m a freaking virgin, that’s what.”

“That doesn’t make you weird. You’re just waiting for the right time.”

“I don’t know why I just admitted that. I think you made me feel like I could tell you anything after the cancer thing.”

“Cancer makes you want to talk about sex?” he teased. “It makes you horny?”

“No. But it makes you seem vulnerable, I guess. Like it’s safe to tell you stuff.”

“Cancer will do that.” He laughed. “You know what sucks? Because I don’t talk about it, I can’t even use the cancer card to my benefit. Do you know how much ass I could get if I went around telling everyone I’m a survivor?”

“More than you get already? I doubt that. You have no trouble getting laid.”

“Whoa. Here comes judgy Noelle again. You think I’m a manwhore or something?”


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