The Reluctant Cougar (Rise of the Alpha King's Heir)

Archie's Melody (Part II)

6 Months Later...

"Hey, ladies," Archie said with a big grin, sitting down at the largest table of females in the bar. "My name's Archie."

They eyed him warily as he grinned at them. As had become his tradition, he glanced around the group until he saw something to comment on.

"Ohhh, I love your nails! Where'd you get them done?"

"The beauty shop down the street," the girl said slowly, eying him uncertainly.

"They are fabulous. I'll have to go sometime. Danielle's Stylin' Nails?"

"Yeah, but I don't think they'd take you there..."

"No, but Hard as Nails will," another girl chimed in. "It's across the road from them. Danny will do anybody's nails. She also does piercings and tattoos." 

"Guys can go too?" another girl wondered.

"It's not the 1800s anymore," one girl said, rolling her eyes. "And taking care of yourself is not something reserved for just women."

"I might have to step out and try that sometime," Archie said with a charming smile. "My sisters used to do my nails when mom and dad weren't around."

Helen had been talking about trying a new nail place; maybe they could go together.

"So," another girl said pointedly, visibly much more relaxed than when he'd first joined them, "we're obviously not your mark for the night. Why'd you sit down with us?"

He wasn't sure why, but giving at least one girl a compliment unrelated to her sex appeal always made the whole table relax; he just had to act like he was sitting with his sisters. 

He sighed heavily and looked at them with his pleading baby brother eyes, "Well... I need your help. Please."

"Oh?"

Five sets of large, innocent eyes and ears perked up.

"Do you see that guy over there talking to the twins?"

They nodded.

"He's my buddy. We get along well, but we're from the same background...and our people have a certain expectation that I'm not really meeting..."

They were all staring at him with interest and empathy, and it reminded him just how much he missed being in the presence of women. He loved the brotherhood of the Academy, but sometimes it was nice to have somebody actually listen.

He continued, "There's somebody I... like, but I can't go over there while he's around."

He glanced at where Melody was laughing at some handsome mid-twenties guy, and it killed him that he had to wait to talk to her. Still, if P.A. was clued in on how awesome the girl was, there was no way he'd not want her too, at least for one night. And P.A. was older, smoother, knew how to talk to women , and was bigger in every sense of the word. There was also the issue that she was Weil'Cha, and Archie wanted to pursue her anyway. He didn't know if P.A. would understand, didn't trust that he wouldn't try to talk him out of it. Even though Weil'Cha were no longer allowed to be physically marred, it was still an expectation that they remain lifelong celibates and never marry. Seeing how much life Melody had in her, how much love, that seemed like a phenomenal waste, a smack in the face to whatever being or chance had decided she needed to be in this world.

"But he won't decide to leave with somebody until he knows I'm taken care of."

Understanding clicked into place. The girl in the middle, the unofficial leader, took his hand and patted it, "Sweetie, we got you. Do you just need to hang with us for a while, or do you need us to leave with you?"