True, yesterday May posted someone (i think it was one of her other girl friends) on her story but they weren't in the insta post, so that could mean she didn't post every person that was there
I know of at least one other Manning who was there too lol
when it becomes real ; boyfriend material - arch maning series.
description -> what once started as a mutually beneficial deal, has now turned into a permanent relationship...
(tags and warnings; fluff, use of alcohol, smut minors dni, f receiving oral, fingering, handjob, unprotected sex, p in v, mentions of kissing, lmk if i missed anything!)
manning's navigation | boyfriend material series index | seven
word count; 10,360 words
angie's notes; hey,,, how y'all doing,,, missed you guys DEARLYYYY,,, ik it's been a while since boyfriend material was last updated, but this part probably has been my most favorite to write!! <33 sit back, get your snacks, and enjoy 😉😉
“sweetheart, i need to get up,” arch whispered towards you, his fingers tracing back a few strands of your hair. he pressed a small kiss to your cheek, trying to shuffle away, but you thought otherwise, scooting closer, nudging closer to his warm body. “why do you have to go?” you whispered back, pressing back a kiss on his bare shoulder.
“i have a meeting at the facility,” he answered, not resisting the urge to push himself closer, loving how sweet and safe you felt. “we need to run a few programs and dates for the spring schedule,” he explained, pressing more kisses along your face, feeling a huge smile stretch across your face.
“what are you doing today?” he asked, still quiet in a hushed tone, your arms wrapping around his middle. “i have work for a couple of hours, and then i have to do some assignments,” you replied, your eyes slowly opening due to them feeling dry. “here or at the library?” arch murmured, pulling your sleepy face up, so he could stare at.
“probably get coffee first, and then come back here,” you answered, sleep wanting to overpower you again. it had been such a long weekend. your body felt so exhausted and worn out. muscles sore, limbs so limp, and a throbbing headache. it seemed like every time you weren’t there, all hell broke loose, and they waited for you to come back and fix it.
you hadn’t seen arch in a couple of days due to your conflicting and problematic schedules. it had been two weeks since the party back in nola, now the beginning of february. he had surprised you the night before with a new bouquet of flowers, your favorite takeout, and a new copy of a book you had been talking about.
arch knew you had had a tough week. he had a tough week, not seeing you a single day, which drove him to your apartment, seeing you in hello kitty pjs and a facemask. he spent the night there, which had become very frequent between you both. it was more “convenient” due to you living closer to campus, his words, not yours.
“i wanted to take you somewhere today,” he said lowly, his fingers tracing along your spine. you flinched, your body growing tense at the sudden words, “what do you have in mind?”
“it’s a surprise, so i can’t say a single thing about it,” he jested, kissing your lips twice. there was one thing for sure: you despised surprises; it hadn’t changed one bit in all your life. “arch, just tell me, please,” you begged, kissing the corner of his mouth, then the small dimple that appeared when he smiled.
“no can do, sweetheart. wear something nice and comfy,” he said, rolling you onto your back, settling between your legs. you rolled your eyes, feeling annoyed. first, it was your sleep being interrupted, then the day ahead of you, and now this impatience that will last till that moment arrives.
“that’s not fair. just tell me, please,” you insisted, turning your head when he leaned down to capture your lips again. “you’re not being fair, just let me kiss you,” arch whined, placing a single peck on your warm skin along your jaw.
“no, because you won’t tell me.”
he stared at you with a look that made your insides melt, pulling him off of you with a giggle. “i need to get ready, and you’re distracting me,” you pointed out, putting your glasses on, hearing the bed creak, his footsteps following you into the restroom. your eyes diverted away from his toned body, arch only wearing a pair of boxers, and now his glasses, like you.
your fingers reached for your toothbrush, arch’s next to it, blabbering a small amount on the bristles. he copied your actions, pressing behind you, his muscled arm wrapping around your middle. it was so domestic, it made your insides turn.
you continued your morning routine steps, with no urgency. arch had settled into a pair of clean clothes after his shower, walking into the kitchen to prepare coffee and some eggos he found in the freezer, for both of you. “you’re gonna be late,” you reminded him, thanking him while you reached for your mug.
“it’s worth it,” arch shrugged, standing next to you, “and as i said last night, you live closer to campus. i’ll be there in no time.”
“easy, dominic toretto, you got a ticket from the campus police a week ago because of that,” you joked, letting him place you on the counter. arch chuckled, every cell in his body dreading having to leave. it felt like an eternity since he last spent proper time with you. and after tonight, that would no longer be a problem.
arch left minutes after. you saw the way his body forced itself out the door, not wanting to leave. he came back seconds after, placing two more kisses on your lips, whispering a small ‘i love you’. you made the last few minutes of your time, doing your hair and makeup, nothing too much, but enough to cover up how tired you were.
work went by fast—nothing overbearing like the previous week. there weren’t many tasks to do, just a bunch of communications with patrons and customers who came in. you went back home, carrying iced coffee from a new spot and notes you printed out, settling down and finishing assignments.
arch 🧡
hi sweetheart
just got out of today’s “duties”
like you say
wanted to double-check if we can do tonight?
y/n
hi baby
yes we can
you said something nice and comfy
because why again?
arch 🧡
nice try…
i’m not saying anything more
i’ll see you soon
you took your time retouching your makeup and styled your hair in your preferred way. the dress you bought last week is now on you. it was nothing by means of over-the-top; it was casual, and lovely for whatever he had planned. you grabbed and ensured you paired it with a light sweater because the texas weather seemed to be on the cooler side for the evening.
arch knocked on the door, wearing a short-sleeved button-up under his black hoodie, and some baggy jeans with sneakers. he carried another bouquet, this time with a mix of lilies, roses, daisies, peonies, and other green flowers, way bigger than the ones he had gifted you the night before.
you gasped in shock, his face burning red, a small, shy smile on his lips. “what is this for?” you asked, opening the door wider so he could come in without difficulty.
“you deserve them, sweetheart. i want to show my love for you in any way, and this is one of them. although i had to go somewhere to make them-”
“they’re perfect, stop overthinking,” your words reassure and calm that wave of anxiety and pressure that built in his chest. arch wanted the night to go perfectly. he had planned this for three weeks, and all he wished for was for everything to go smoothly.
you sensed his body language right off the bat, more nervous, hesitant, distant, “you okay, baby?”
he kissed you sweetly and softly, his heart stammering in skipped beats. “i’m okay, just a little nervous, that’s all,” arch confesses, kissing your forehead sweetly, admiring how beautiful you look. “if you’re nervous, you’re gonna make me nervous,” you smiled, walking into the kitchen, placing his new bouquet next to the one from the night before.
“don’t be. i just want tonight to go perfectly,” arch said, hugging you from behind. “is this dress okay, or too much?” you asked, pulling away slightly and spinning around.
“it’s perfect. you look perfect.”
“stop saying perfect,” you giggled, leaning up, arms wrapping around his shoulders. “just relax, it’s just you and me, hmm? now tell me, what is it that you have planned?”
“did you see the envelope that came with the flowers?” arch asked, your eyebrows raising in curiosity. he watches you unfold the cream envelope, your face twisting from curiosity to recognition. his voice fills the room with a question, “what does it say?”
“find the place, where coffee cups clinked, and a certain deal was made by two strangers at the time…”
you step towards him, a small smirk playing on your lips, feeling your veins rush in ecstasy. “arch manning… did you create a scavenger hunt?” you teased, seeing him rapidly nod. “any ideas where this location is?” he asked, trying to be discreet. “i do, shall we get going then?” you said, pressing a kiss to his blushed cheek.
the coffee shop was not more than five minutes away; it was your go-to spot. it was open till late, allowing students or people who needed to come to work. the bell rang when you and arch stepped foot inside, your eyes trailed to the empty corner, where the table was.
you recalled that day, remembering how nervous you were to sit and chat with arch. how you overthought the decision over and over, almost convincing yourself that it was best to ignore him and stay home.
how he peeked up behind you, scaring you in the process. recalling exactly how it felt when writing and agreeing to the rules, thinking of how silly and stupid it was to tell him he couldn’t fall for you, because months later, here you were.
he followed behind you. watching with a smile as you scanned the table, the box filled with your favorite cookies from the cafe, tied up, another small creme envelope. your fingers didn’t waste any time opening it, eyes reading over the cursive words.
“what does it say now?” arch whispered, not wanting to cause disturbance to those working.
“find the place filled with books, where every shelf watched two strangers escape into another world…”
arch chuckles at how your eyes squint in mischief, your arms crossed, thinking quietly about where the next location is. “it could be anywhere. give me one more clue,” you pleaded, seeing him disagree, “it will give it away, think closely, you can do it, sweetheart.”
your brain hurt from how much you were retracing, trying to remember all the small places you had been together. if this scavenger hunt was retracing steps from the beginning to now, then it meant either two places: the library where arch would randomly pop by at, or the bookstore you showed him a week before the ohio game.
“it’s the bookstore, right? the one near the small strip mall?” you said, almost asking.
“should we go check?” arch asked playfully, wanting to test your buttons and patience. you thought about it for a few more seconds, your gut intuition screaming that you were right. he waits, hands dug into his pockets, hiding the laugh he wanted to let out.
“let’s go.”
this was another one of your hidden places. one that was also opened late. arch didn’t know places like this existed; he figured it would be similar to ones in downtown, where they closed early in the afternoon. but no, every spot you’ve taken him has a deep meaning to you. which is why this was becoming more and more special.
“slow down, we have all night,” arch joked, watching as you sent him a dagger. you greeted the librarian, the one who helped you survive your freshman year of university. your mind traced back to when you took arch here, showing him your favorite aisle and the spot near where all the audiobooks were.
“i’ll give you a hint this time,” arch settles, your hands clapping in excitement, having no clue where to go. “when you brought us here, you showed me a book,” your brows crinkled, thinking of all the novels you showed him that day. it wasn’t any of your dark romance or murder mystery ones; this was one of the first glances he got into your life.
you walked around, finally reaching the section where they held first edition books. you picked up ‘the little red riding hood’, it had a faint picture of the little girl in her red cap, carrying a basket, the letters gold, and the covers brown. you remembered how shocked he was to hear the original tragic ending, learning there were multiple alternate endings.
you opened the cover, seeing the small envelope, closed the book, and gently settled it down. those novels were delicate and easy to crumble. you read the next sentence, wondering how on earth arch had gotten this creative.
“find the place where art meets music, where the pieces watched two people begin a life together…”
“you think you’re so clever, don’t you?” you said, hugging his torso. “i don’t think so. i know i am clever,” arch mocked cockily, feeling proud of himself. “the book is yours, take it,” he said, your stomach dropping at his revelation. “no, it’s not? this book is expensive, arch!”
“so what? i know how much it means to you. it’s finally going to fill that empty gap on your bookshelf,” arch explained, knowing just how much you were overthinking it. “y/n, look at me, it’s okay. let me do this for you,” he held your head softly, kissing your lips twice, fighting the fire in his pit to deepen it.
he was paying attention to the small things in your life, and help you god, it was making you fall more and more in love with him. with his manners, his blue eyes, his sweet personality, but also his way of being when it came to you. you loved this man so much that the old version of yourself would be scared and in denial.
“now come on, think of this next place very closely. you’ve been doing so well at guessing,” arch praises, grabbing the book for you, making it more real. “where art meets music? sounds like a slam poetry event,” you guessed, arch laughing, shaking his head no.
“it’s not slam poetry,” he says, opening the truck door for you.
“good, because for a second i thought you were about to take us to do that,” you giggled, opening the box of cookies, parting one in half so you could share with him. you still didn’t understand what the point in the end of all this. was it just another silly idea to go out, or was there something that wasn’t properly kicking in yet…
your eyes bore into his in a supplicating way, seeing him almost deny it, before sighing and giving in, “one last clue, it’s a place that has four white walls, names written in corners.”
“that’s not helping! you just blabbered nothing... oh wait! it’s the art museum i worked at during my sophomore year!” you exclaimed, arch nodding, starting the truck, and began to back out, “my smart girl, i told you got this.”
he played the shared playlist you made together back when you were in nola for the ball. arch sang along and held your hand, pressing delicate kisses over your knuckles whenever he got the chance. tonight’s theme was ‘storytelling’, various of artworks displayed, from huge canvases to small ones, and sculptures built in a minimalist manner.
“how am i supposed to find the next clue?” you asked, arch interlocking your hands together. “pick the one that most calls out to you. not out of interest or because it pops, one that you most correspond with…”
you go around, hand in hand, walking to different pieces, feeling no connection until your eyes set onto a painting. it was outside a cafe, two people sat away from each other, the woman concentrated on her book, enjoying her refreshment, as the man had his head slightly tilted to look at her, yearning for her attention.
it was titled “the beginning of infinity”, and in the bottom corner, a small envelope stuck out. “how did you know i’d pick this?” you asked him before opening the package.
“i know you y/n… i know your likes and dislikes, i know how you read and scan everything before making a choice. i knew you’d pick this because in a way, that’s us in the picture,” arch confessed quietly, seeing your daze in admiration. you smiled big, not having any words to describe how you felt. arch knew you better than you knew yourself.
“find the place where barbeque fills the city air, and two people enjoy the chaos…”
you threw your head back, groaning in satisfaction, leaned up, and pressed a kiss to his plump lips. “you guessed that one fast. where is it?” arch murmured, not wasting time, and followed you out. “it’s our joint. the one where they play live music, where you stained that one white shirt with mac n cheese. the place where they serve the best briskets and ribs.”
it didn’t take long to get there. a live jazz band is playing, reminding you of new orleans, a few empty tables, people in their own world, laughing or talking quietly. the order had already been placed, according to arch. you moaned in delight, taking a bite of probably one of the most tender and juiciest pieces of brisket known to mankind.
arch laughed at your reaction, handing you a napkin when you reached for one. “i don’t know what they put in this, but it’s heaven every single time,” you glorify, now reaching for a bite of ribs and mac n cheese.
“is this our last place?”
“no. there’s one more spot, but i’ll leave it for the end when we’re done here,” arch explained. you shrugged, still unaware of the ending outcome. he was so grateful for how things were going tonight. he was enjoying how his plan was becoming real life in every place you set foot in.
over the course of dinner, the two of you began to share old memories of when this all first initiated. he revealed he was scared to death the day you met at the cafe and set the rules. how excited he felt every time you were at his games, swearing he knew you watched from home during the a&m game, that you were his good luck charm.
he told you the small details he noticed right when he started getting to know you. how he started carrying hairties, knowing you easily forgot them. buying vanilla-scented items because you loved them. how easy it was for you to get into an attentive zone and take forever to get out of it.
he also revealed a few stories you didn’t know about. how he and ryan did argue but made up a week later during your separation. that, on christmas eve, he got so wasted, his sister had to take his phone away because he was calling you over and over, repeating how badly he missed you. how his parents sat him down the morning after new year's to tell him how happy they were that he found you.
“can you believe all this happened because we decided to fake date?” you ask, taking final sips of your arnold palmer. “because you were this close,” your fingers pinch together, “of letting your grandma set you up with someone.”
“she basically did. with you. if she hadn’t made that deal, i wouldn’t have met you, sweetheart,” arch recalls. how furious he was that day, after his grandma’s divulgence. the frigid and scared state he was left in for weeks, thinking of how his future was on the verge of being managed by someone who wasn’t him.
“you did know me,” you corrected.
“barely! i was convinced you hated me or i’d done something,” arch exclaimed. you were so shy and private, something reticent that had arch wondering left and right. everyone around him was themselves, but you? he never put his finger on it. he wanted to know you.
“my life was always quiet and reserved, and as i’ve stated in the past, you intimidated me. your career, your lifestyle, you being the arch manning. it was scary… the last thing i wanted for you to think was me chasing for your attention or trying to use you,” he watches as you look away, unable to hold the strong eye contact like before.
“what do you think of you of me now?” his question makes you smile, looking back up at his blue eyes, which now looked grey. “after everything, every single day that passes, i love you more and more,” you gulp nervously, his thumbs tracing over your rings and skin.
“does it scare you?”
“yes and no… yes because i’ve never experienced being in love, and no because this, us, being with you, feels so right, in every way.” his gaze softens, his surroundings no longer loud, fully focused on the most stunning and remarkable girl he’s met in his entire existence.
“gosh, i love you,” he breathed out, causing you to smile and let out a small giggle. “not to ruin the moment, but… i’m impatient, and i want to know the next clue,” you say, fixing yourself in the seat.
arch nodded, pulling out his brown, worn-out wallet. you're prompt to catch how his clear pouch, where his driver's license was, is now replaced by a polaroid of you, now making sense why your bulletin board looked off. “when did you get that?” you ask, pointing to the photo.
it was taken during your trip with your friends before the school year started in the summer. it looked taken off guard, you wore a black and white polka dot dress, hair up, smiling so bright. “on halloween night,” he says sheepishly, hating being put in the spot.
“i can give it back-”
“no, baby, it’s okay. keep it, i mean it,” you nod, not wanting him to feel like you were offended or worse. arch pulls out the small envelope; this time, it was a deep cherry red, a small wax heart in the back holding it together.
before you could grasp it, he pulls it back immediately, letting out a shaky sigh, “this last one, i want you to keep it, for memories when we look back in the future. do you promise?”
you’d be lying if you said his words didn’t cause your heart to race abnormally. the future seemed far, but as long as you had him, you would repeat it again. you straightened your back, placing your hand over your heart, nodding rapidly, “i promise.”
you grab it slowly, for some reason feeling a weight you couldn’t describe. arch bites the inside of his lip, silently observing, trying not to seem nervous whatsoever. but he was a mess inside. his brain was in chaos at what was to come next. thinking of a different way you’d react when he popped the question.
“find a boardwalk that overlooks the city, where once the two strangers, now lovers, shared their first real moment…”
“you’re not here to kidnap or kill me, right?”
“no, sweetheart,” arch laughs as you eye him suspiciously.
“this sounds otherwise,” you lift the paper, reading the sentence once again. “so you know where it is?” arch asked, pretending to sound oblivious.
“i know exactly where it is…”
the drive to the pier was silent. a comfortable silence. neither of you could stop looking at one another. and that heavyweight still didn’t disappear. you were convinced you had it figured out, but now you were more confused than ever. he leads the way down to the pier, the night having fallen already, the wind causing a buoy nearby to make noise.
“we’re here…” arch stated slowly, as if he were trying to process the situation.
“we are…” you copied the way he said it, leaning onto the railing, looking up at him. he leaned in closer, causing your mind to shift into more perplexity.
arch lets out a shaky breath, trying to calm his nerves before he speaks again, “we came here when we decided we would give us a try. we had already been through so much regarding that night, from the media, our families, our luck… but when he officially decided to try, it made me the happiest man alive.”
“every single place tonight has been somewhere we’ve been to together, places that hold and make it memorable, pieces of our story. the best part has been you. from the beginning, i swore to you and myself this couldn’t be more, but as each day passed, as i got to know you, it completely switched into you becoming my favorite person, my happiest memories,” arch continued, your chest weaving in realization of what was occurring.
“i’m not a man of many words, but i want you to know now, and forever, you’re the only person i want beside me at all times. i want to keep choosing you, i want to create more memories, and i want to continue finding places that become ours. it’s always been you, and that’s why my final question is, will you be my girlfriend?” he swallows deep, afraid for some reason.
you stay silent, walk towards him at an agonizing pace. arch didn’t realize his hands were shaking until he felt your smaller ones interlock together. he calms instantly, as he needed you as a drug to alleviate the anxiety that pangs every organ within him.
his eyes flutter close, inhaling your scent as you kissed him slowly without any urgency. you could taste the sweetness that remained tainted on his lips. you felt his desire as his fingers dug into your skin and pulled you closer to him. tonight had been perfect, and his words just sealed what had been pushed off since it started.
you pulled back, on your tippy toes still, arch holding you close, still awaiting a response, “is that a yes?”
“i’ll always say yes,” you whispered. he smiles in the kiss, wiping away the tears that dropped from your eyes. “you have no idea what you mean to me, arch,” your forehead rests on his, looking into each other's eyes.
was it cheesy? maybe. but right now, you didn’t care. because for once, you didn’t feel scared or worried. you felt at peace knowing that despite every obstacle both of you encountered, it brought you together. officially.
it wasn’t possible for life to have back-to-back triumphs. there was always something dark and plot-twisting that awaited in the end. but right now, that wasn’t what it felt like. you were so happy, so happy, that no matter what you faced, good or bad, you seemed to find a solution to everything.
you were together officially. after he asked you to be his girlfriend, he spent the whole way back to your apartment discussing how he pulled it all together. he only asked for help once, and it was to his mom and sister. the rest he came up with himself. arch wanted it to be creative and memorable.
and it turned out perfectly. you kept the flowers, not caring if they were past their due date, the envelopes to each location, and somehow found yourself daydreaming at work, in lectures, during studying, the scene at the boardwalk where he asked you to be his.
the little girl inside you was ecstatic because, after so long, you found someone who not only made you feel like the luckiest girl but also patiently waited for the right moment. arch never wanted you to feel pressured or make you do something you didn’t want, which is why he delayed asking you. he didn’t want you to think this was something silly and for games. he wanted you to know his real and raw intentions were pure and honorable.
he asked you to be valentine's day later, not because he wanted to, but because it was the right thing to do. and when that special saturday rolled around, he had reservations at one of your favorite restaurants, gifting you a diamond bracelet, along with new charms to add to the one you already had, and tickets to see olivia dean in the fall.
you gifted him a whoop 4.0 watch, recalling how he was looking to find a fitness tracker that wasn’t an apple watch or an aura ring. along with a customized vinyl that had a long playlist of different songs that reminded you of him or were already in your shared playlist.
february was coming to an end, and soon spring would start. work kept you incredibly busy throughout the week, and your classes were online. regardless, you were grateful, because soon you’d graduate, starting your first real job. doing something you loved and worked so incredibly hard to get.
your apartment was warm when you arrived home, returning from getting groceries to meal prep for the week. arch had dedicated his day to working out and catching up on his classes after falling behind due to football. that didn’t mean he went ghost; on the contrary, he would text you updates now and then, which is why his call didn’t come as a shock.
“hi sweetheart, did you get home?”
you could hear his muffled voice, clearly driving. “just walked in with the last bags. this time it was a two-trip encounter. what about you? where are you headed?”
“i just picked up our dry cleaning for saturday’s banquet, along with some pizza. is it okay if i come over?”
he sounded so nervous; it was so cute. you placed the phone on speaker, talking to him while removing and cleaning out your kitchen. “yes, arch. it’s completely okay. i need to submit a project that’s due, and then my attention is all yours. how far are you?”
“maybe twenty minutes? there’s more construction now, and it’s causing traffic.”
“it’s that new dormitory building they’re constructing! i passed it on my way back. just be careful, and i’ll see you soon.” it’s not that you wanted to hang up on him; it’s more about wanting him to be safe while driving. even if he was the most impatient driver to exist.
“god, i’ve missed you. i can’t wait to see you, sweetheart.”
you hung up shortly after exchanging a few more words. you finished putting away the groceries and any dishes you had washed earlier. the apartment wasn’t messy, but still, here you were rearranging pillows, some blankets, the books on the coffee table, and switching a plant from one side to the other across the room.
arch came by momentarily after. he greeted you with a kiss, helping you set up the final details on the couch. you were already deep typing away on your laptop, glasses on, wearing one of his old t-shirts. his show played in the background, arch laid his head on your lap, eyes fluttering closed.
“you know it’s okay if you fall asleep, right?” you murmured, something he failed to hear the first time. “but i don’t want to. i want to spend time with you…” he replied, looking up tiredly. your hand came to his jaw, thumb stroking where his light stubble appeared.
“we are. just go to sleep, okay? we have all day tomorrow to hang out.” he fought it as much as he could, but his tiredness took over so quickly. you spent another hour working on your project before submitting it, grabbing a blanket nearby to cover arch.
the next day, you headed out early to find a pair of shoes needed for the evening. you’d promised arch to attend his football banquet a week ago. at first, you thought you wouldn’t have been able to go due to work, and he seemed upset. fortunately, you got the day approved, which led to last-minute shopping.
arch wanted to find a tie he hadn’t worn already to games or other formals. you wanted to find a new pair of heels since the ones you typically wore to events had been so worn out. arch had gone to quickly pick up his tie, which he had ordered a week ahead, and met you at the shoe store.
he watched as you tried six different pairs, a small frustration building in you when you couldn’t settle on one. they all were elegant and themed in their own way, some had sparkles, had a thinner heel or a thick pump, they were either a shade of black, golden or silver.
“i’ve never seen you so concentrated on something that isn’t school or work,” arch said, still sitting on a small stool. “i’m indecisive when it comes to shopping. either i will leave with two different bags, or with nothing… what do you think of these?” you walked a couple of steps, spinning to show him the other side of them.
“they’re perfect,” arch uttered, looking at how the shoes adorned your legs. you stared at him seriously, arms crossed, not saying anything. he gave you a panicked look, regretting ever speaking, “let me try a different pair.”
he laughed it off, continuing to watch as you tried two more pairs before finally finding the perfect ones for this occasion and any others you attended. both of you decided to get a small meal at the food court, sitting down and talking about how the night would go.
“well, look at what we have here,” you and arch tensed at the familiar voice, turning to see edith. her hair had been dyed a different color, similar to yours, and for some strange reason, she was awfully dressed exactly like you.
“can we help you with anything?” you asked, feeling arch’s hand reach under the table. you should’ve felt angry, but all you felt in that moment was pity. pity because after months of trying, of attempting to do anything to make you and arch separate, she was still stuck to that.
“i always wondered how long it would last until he dropped the act of you being his fake girlfriend… because my arch would never fall for a girl like you,” she smiled falsely, looking at arch like he was an obsession.
“fake girlfriend? where did you hear that?” you reacted sarcastically. she was the last person who needed to know about the original deal. hell would have broken loose if she had found out.
“you don’t have to lie to me. we saw it from the start, you think you’re such a-”
“be careful with what you say next. i’ve let other stuff pass in the past, but i’m not going to tolerate your fixation with us any longer. you failed over and over; it’s getting embarrassing. look at you, you’ve even started dressing as her. you’ll never be what y/n means and is to me,” arch said this time, seeing edith’s face twinge in completion, maybe hurt?
she tried to find proper words, yet when she realized nothing she would do or say would cause anything, she walked off, clearly ashamed. “i’m sorry,” arch voiced quietly, seeing you immediately shake your head. “don’t apologize for her doing’s. you managed and said everything right,” you reassured.
“i really don’t want her to ruin today-”
“and she won’t. she’s gone, and i think she’s gotten the hint; nothing she does will destroy us.”
“i love you so much, sweetheart.”
“i love you, too.”
when getting back from shopping, both of you took a nap together on his bed before you started to get ready. the banquet was going to be hosted near his house. your dress was a rich brown color, with asymmetrical shoulders and a tie drape.
you had finished your makeup a while back; it was subtle but glowy, ideal for the evening. arch watched as you gave him various side-eyes, struggling to hold back his laugh when you were in the process of slicking back your hair.
he wore a grey suit, the new tie still hanging loose around the collar. you had finished right when he got into the shower, applying gold jewelry, and some body glow you bought. he didn’t ask, but you silently knew he wanted you to help him with his hair, loving when your fingers combed through it and styled.
there were assigned small tables designated for guests. you and arch took pictures with a photographer by the entrance, greeting a couple of his teammates and coaching staff. the banquet was designed to recognize players from the season, and to give a proper farewell to the seniors, players who declared for the draft, or to properly introduce the ones who transferred and were new.
“he’s here,” arch mumbled, the grip on your waist tightening protectively. “who’s here?” you asked, looking up at his face that was now twisted with annoyance. “ethan, why is he even here? he’s not part of this committee,” arch said dismissively.
it was enough facing edith earlier, now him? was the universe against him?
“uh, he’s majoring in sports management, his dad is also a longhorn alumni,” he looks down at you, surprised at how you knew that much. “when we were ‘together’ he spoke and bragged about it a lot,” you explained, seeing his eyes twist in amusement.
“together?”
your eyes roll playfully, slapping his bicep softly, “you know what i mean… acting like you’re not my first boyfriend.”
“first and last,” he said with a smirk, kissing your lips sweetly, not knowing what was coming next. ethan seemed to have noticed both of you, making his way across the reception and standing in front of you.
“nice to see you both,” he greeted, arch scowling immediately. “can’t say the same. what do you want?” he got straight to the point, knowing that if he tried to say or do anything, he would be ready to fight back.
“i can’t be respectful and say hi? it’s not a good look on your image, manning,” ethan tsks, doing whatever it took to provoke the quarterback. “i just wanted to see how the happy couple was after everything that occurred. gotta say y/n-”
“don’t talk to her,” arch warned, stepping closer, looking around to make sure no one was staring. he felt you press closer, silently warning him not to do something. ethan continued to add fuel, clearly not impressed or bothered, “you were so insecure in yourself and made it your mission to never commit. what changed?”
“a mama’s boy wasn’t going to offer me what i wanted. yet i found a man who surpassed all my standards, and that should say enough. i don’t owe you an explanation, let alone any apology, if that’s what you’re asking for,” you spoke up, arch remaining quiet.
this wasn’t his business or past, but he would back you up with how you responded and moved forward from it.
“you absolutely do owe me an apology, ” ethan snarled, stepping closer, but arch was quick to react.
“i’m warning you again, back off,” arch defended, pushing him by his chest backwards. “you want an apology? for what exactly? because your ego couldn’t handle that i chose myself instead of you? you’re pathetic,” you questioned, a twisting anger riling in your chest.
“i did everything for you-”
“you didn’t do shit. you only did stuff that would’ve benefited you. i wasn’t going to stand there and be publicly humiliated by a guy who couldn’t even send a proper text back,” you lashed out further, not noticing you were closer, arch holding you back from the waist.
“you painted me as the villain! you embarrassed me in front of everyone!” ethan spoke louder, his jaw clenched, trying to control his anger, because everyone in the room knew him well enough.
“you lied to him. you told him stories that weren’t true because you’re hurt i left you for someone else? you only paid attention to me once i began going out with him. that’s the real reason your ego hurts, because you couldn’t handle me being with someone who will forever be higher than you make yourself be.”
ethan scoffs, eyes wide. he hadn’t expected it; now he’s too stunned to speak. he was timorous at the quarterback, who threw an angry glare at him. “he only told you the innocent version to make himself look better,” he tried to lie once again, which made you and arch let out an unbelievable laugh.
“listen, elijah, eaton, whatever the hell your name is. you’re only making it worse for yourself. she doesn’t owe you any sort of apology when she hasn’t done anything. it was the best decision she made,” arch speaks now, sealing the encounter.
ethan didn’t stick around further, walking off to who knew where. “is it a bad time to say, i love when you get so angry and defensive?” you whispered, too scared to say it out loud in case there were prying ears.
“speak for yourself,” arch smirked, looking around the room, everyone still engrossed in their own topics. “i’m proud of you. he has been a lot, and i will forever apologize for believing his word over yours.”
“stop. i don’t want you apologizing for him and for edith. i’m done with them and their attempts to split us apart. they’re in the past, and they will stay there, okay?”
“is it a bad time to say, i love when you’re demanding and optimistic at the same time?” arch teased this time, unafraid of who was hearing him. you giggled, hiding yourself in the crook of his neck.
“an hour more and then we go, okay?”
“no. we will stay and support the team because it's what they deserve,” you stated, fair and clear.
“and then we go home?”
“yes. then we will go home. we need to finish entourage…”
“so you admit it’s the best show ever to be made?” arch jested, grabbing your hand, walking to the table.
“i never said that!”
arch 🧡
miss you
you look so beautiful tonight
please be careful
y/n
surprised you’re not here, xx
kiss you too
miss ** lolll
arch 🧡
don’t tempt me
it’s still early
also, keep your feet inside the car!!!
y/n
yes captain
anything else
arch 🧡
don’t let any men buy you drinks
or flirt with you…
i sent you some money
y/n
really 😒😒
i’ll rext you
text **
love you bte
to say you were wasted was an understatement. you had slightly blacked out, but thankfully didn’t throw up. your best friend wanted to go out after breaking up with her man, and the plan was simple: bar hop around dirty sixth to get free drinks, then go to a rooftop club where there was a private section reserved for her.
you hadn’t been out in a while. getting dressed up, doing your makeup, take pics with your friends. it was missed dearly. it had been such a fun night, you remembered bits and pieces. the night shifted from texting arch, then buying a round of drinks for everyone, and dancing to your favorite song after it was requested.
arch had picked you up as promised, laughing the entire way at the amount of talking you did, yapping about how the night had gone. he helped you get dressed out of your clothes and into your pj’s, being careful while removing your makeup and doing your skincare.
as much as you tried to sleep in, you woke up early. arch laid on your chest, his hand clutched tightly along your shirt. you managed to get up, take a quick body shower, and brush your teeth without him waking up. you began to clean up the mess from the previous night, where you had hosted the pregame.
you were finished cutting up strawberries, which would go with your blueberries and cherries. arch stepped in, scratching the nape of his neck, teeth freshly brushed. he was shirtless, only wearing a pair of plaid pj pants, his nike waistband showing.
“good morning, sweetheart, how’d you sleep?” he kissed your shoulder, grabbing a cup of juice. you sat on the counter, feeling a random air of tension appear. he looked hot. his muscular and built body makes your head turn into a frenzy.
“g-good. r-real good-d,” you stuttered, looking away. “did you have fun last night?” he asked aimlessly, watching you closely as he drank a cup of juice. “mhm, it was very fun. i’m thankful i didn’t wake up throwing up or with a raging headache,” you rambled, taking bites from the fruit platter.
his cup hit the counter, his steps slow. “why aren’t you looking into my eyes, sweetheart?” he asked carefully, his hands spreading your legs apart. “go put on a shirt,” you said, giggling, feeling his finger graze your chin, forcing you to look at him.
“why? am i distracting you?”
“i-i just want to eat my fruit,” you said sheepishly, swallowing hard, seeing the specks in his eyes linger on yours. he reached down for an uncut strawberry, taking a bite, his eyes squinting slightly, you almost missed it. arch wasn’t oblivious either. he felt the sudden shift when he walked into the room. that sudden rise in his pulse, seeing you in his clothes, smelling like a mix of fruit and vanilla.
he dragged the bitten strawberry along your lips, you took it as a sign to open your mouth barely, taking a bite out of it as well. “what are you thinking of?” arch asked, his voice still groggy and deep, his louisiana drawl making your legs clench.
“it’s kinda inappropriate,” you rambled off nervously, feeling his finger trace your bare thigh, up the flesh on your hips. he smiled widely, nodding his head, urging you to speak your mind.
“you can tell me, i won’t judge or make fun of you…”
“you’re literally laughing right now,” you groaned, your hands covering your shy state. “i'm not. just intrigued, that’s all. tell me what’s on your mind,” he begged, uncovering your face, leaning in, and rubbing his nose along yours.
“we’ve, you know, done things,” you said shyly, feeling your chest burn in want. you wanted him to kiss you. to tell you, he wanted the same thing. that he also felt that tingle in his tummy. that you wanted more than just a kiss and a quick trace.
“i need to hear you say it, sweetheart,” arch whispered, kissing your jaw and pulse point.
“i want you, all of you, arch,” you expressed, fingers clutching tightly against his pj’s. he kissed you twice, pulling away, his eyebrows pulled together.
“i’m not stopping at a kiss,” he expressed, pulling you closer to him, where your core hit his growing bulge. “i don’t want you to. touch me, please, i want it,” you gasped, arch swallowing it with a needy, messy kiss. it was unpolished around its edges, but it showed the intense passion that was growing.
your head couldn't believe this was about to occur. that you and arch are about to spend that special moment. he kissed you with a pace you didn’t want him to change or stop. you could feel his restraint, holding back from hurting you?
“you’re not gonna hurt me. if you’re unsure-” he shook his head at your words. “it’s not that. i just need you to know this isn’t going to be a one-time thing. i want you mine at all times,” he breathed, pushing you closer until there wasn’t any space left.
“i am yours. i’ve been yours since that kiss at sam’s party,” you said, fingers shaking, undoing the knot from his pants.
“we’re not doing it here,” he lets out, picking you up without any effort, feeling your legs wrap around him tightly as he walks you to your bedroom. your back hits against the wall, feeling his cock press harder against your sensitive part.
his lips fall back on yours, and arch was instantly addicted. addicted to how you kept him close, your hand on his cheek, afraid he would pull away, addicted to how you tasted like a sweet strawberry mixed with vanilla, how you crumbled for him.
arch couldn’t pull away. you couldn’t resist.
“can i take this off?” he asks, pulling the hem of your oversized t-shirt. you nodded, letting him do the honor, hearing him let out a desperate groan. he captured your lips once again, undoing your black lace bra, dragging his lips where the straps fell, the soft flesh of your boobs, and erect nipples reaching his view.
“prettiest fucking tits,” arch gasped out. he slowly leans down, keeping eye contact, his hands roaming your sides as he places wet and fervent kisses along your tummy flesh. your hands rest on his muscled shoulders, keeping balance, the torture causing your legs to clench.
“what about these?” he pinches the shorts you had on, listening to the quiet murmured yes that fell from your lips. you had on a matching pair of black underwear, nudging forward when he kissed the inside flesh of your thighs, urging your senses to the brim.
“gonna keep these on for now, okay?” arch states, placing a few more wet and tangible kisses along your skin before going back up. you do him the favor of removing his pj’s, leaving him with only his black briefs, seeing his erection peek through.
he switches spots, laying you carefully on the bed, having to pull away where you let out a small whine. “you’re so beautiful, sweetheart, you know that?” arch whispered again, causing a tremor in your body, seeing a glint in your eyes.
he felt your fingertips roam over his torso, causing him to tremble. he kissed you again, savoring the moment, his hand palming and giving your breast a firm squeeze, rolling your sensitive nipple with his fingers.
“you’re teasing,” you protested, eyes low, the look on your face speaking the desire that ran through you. “no, i’m just taking my time. i want to take care of you properly. there’s no rush,” arch upheld, kissing the curve along your jaw.
“don’t give me that face, sweetheart. i promise it’ll feel good,” he said upon looking at the pout on your face. arch was a mess. you were displayed on the bed, taking a mental picture he wanted to last forever. he started moving down your body, peppering kisses over your sternum, before finally feeling some relief when his tongue lapped around your nipple.
“do you trust me?” he asked, looking back up towards you.
“of course i do,” you stated immediately. it wasn’t something you needed to think or hesitate. every part of you trusted him.
“see that mirror right there? i need you to sit up for me,” he urged, and you moved fast, doing what he said. he parted your legs, kissing the inner part of your knee, not removing his eyes as he worked down to your slick, wet core.
he hadn’t done anything, and it was already causing you to get dizzy in pleasure. you jerked, feeling his lips press a kiss along your clothed slit, closing your eyes, trying to control the sudden wave of adrenaline. he squeezed your hips before sinking his fingers into your underwear and slowly removing it.
your legs shut tight, nervous at the thought of being fully bare under the sunlight. “don’t cover up for me, i’m not gonna have that. every inch of you is perfect,” arch rasped, looking where you bit your bottom lip, unsure, then unveiled yourself.
arch lowered his face to where you needed him the most. he pressed a small kiss over your slit before his tongue poked through and began to ravish you entirely. you looked up to the mirror facing both your quivering bodies, letting a small gasp when his tongue began moving up and down on your core.
you tried to relax, but it was hard when you found the scene so embarrassingly hot. his back muscles flexed as he continued his motions, the look between your legs as he showed you how much he wanted and needed you. your body relaxed, fingers grasping his hair when arch started to suck and flatten his tongue along your clit.
you felt your high building already, legs quivering, hps bucking up to meet his movements. “please don’t stop, arch. it feels so g-good,” you moaned, making the mistake to look back to the mirror where you let out another quiet moan.
he moaned against you, continuing to do what he was doing, although this time, his index and middle fingers started to rub circles along the bundle of nerves as he lapped at your entrance. “taste like fucking honey, sweetheart. this pussy is so sweet,” his words cause you to slightly close your legs around, stunned and turned on by his dirty talk.
he admired your state, how you reacted to everything he did to you. it was euphoric. he flicked his tongue, up and down, side to side, at one point tracing his name. he wanted to give you everything you deserved.
“w-w-wait, wait, wait, stop.”
his brows crinkled in confusion, looking up to check in. “did i do something?”
“no, you’re doing everything right. i just… i want to take care of you, too,” you admitted. arch lets out a lazy smile, “how do you plan on doing that?”
“you’re not the only one with ideas, baby,” you patted the spot next to you. “before you do, these need to come off,” your fingers toyed with his briefs, arch sucking a deep breath, his cock feeling relief when it sprang out.
he sat next to you, watching through the mirror as you moved closer and rested on his chest. he slowly began getting the idea, and it was pivoting him on further. your hand palmed him, kissing the underside of his jaw, leaving a small but noticeable mark. he hissed loudly, feeling your small hand wrap around his shaft, and began pumping him.
he looked down, capturing your lips, his fingers moving back down to your sensitive core. he circled your clit, before moving them down and began to push them along your entrance. you moaned loudly into the kiss, his fingers starting to curl along your velvety walls.
your mind couldn’t wrap around how attentive he was being. his mind was on how much you wanted to please him, and how none of you wanted it to be one-sided.
“holy fuck,” arch cursed, throwing his head back, then looked to the mirror. your thumb traced his red, sensitive tip, giving him a firm squeeze as you started to move it up and down again. this was the hottest thing each of you had endured. your eyes snapped back up to look at him, a hazy smile like yours on his lips.
he started pumping his digits in and out, letting out a quiet curse before saying his name like a devoted prayer. you whimpered at the loss of contact, then threw your head back, feeling the lightest amount of pressure along your clit as he circled it.
“how does that feel, sweetheart?” he kissed your temple, struggling to hold back a moan when you started jerking him off faster. “please don’t stop. i don’t want it to end,” you begged. his fingers pushed back, moaning at the sensation when your walls clench around him. “you gonna gum for me? i wanna feel it,” arch spoke lowly, causing a wave of coldness to rush along your spine when you nodded.
“i’m so close, arch,” you warned, closing your eyes, lips shut as you held in your cries of pleasure. your hand around him hadn’t stopped, and this time you did the combo of pumping and twisting his shaft, his precum acting as a layer of lube.
“w-where did y-you learn that? fuck fuck fuck, don’t stop!”
“do you really wanna know?” you teased, seeing his eyes darken, refusing to think about another man teaching you. he felt the pit of his stomach on the verge of bursting. you felt that familiar tingle in your chest that traveled down to your core, wanting to hold back, but you couldn't with the way he was touching you.
you kiss him hardly, tongue tracing, teeth clashing as your hips disperse together. his hot ropes of cum landed on your hand, but you’re too busy on the sensation that rips through you when you came, feeling the ridges of his fingers as he worked you through your orgasm.
he lets out a heavy sigh, one that makes you overthink. “i don’t have any condoms…”
“i’m on the pill,” you kiss him again, pulling back, “and i’m clean. i swear.”
“are you sure, sweetheart? we can wait if you want to have protected-”
“i can’t wait anymore, arch… i want this now, and i want it with you.” he sees your face contour into a pleading manner, licking his fingers clean, still tasting your sweet fondness. “get onto your back,” arch says, wiping his release from your hand.
he rested between your legs once again; this time, it was different from the times you’ve done things. there was no going back. he wasn’t even inside you yet, and he was losing it again.
“if you want to stop, let me know, okay?” he lowered himself, letting you feel some of his weight as he pumped himself three times. his tip nudges along your wet slit, tracing your tip, groaning at the warm and slippery sensation.
your back lifts, head thrown back as he finally thrusts into you, arch kissing your neck, controlling himself so he doesn’t cum on the spot. it was a painfully delicious stretch, feeling every vein and how his cocked jerked inside you.
he started moving, pushing back before thrusting right back in, your legs wrapped around him, wanting him closer if it was even possible. you were so tight, so warm, squeezing the life out of him.
his eyes focused on the pleasure on your face, eyes fluttering closed, “don’t look away, focus on me, sweetheart… look at how good and so fucking tight you’re taking me y/n,” arch hissed, a hand squeezing your side, as he moved in and out of you. he gripped your jaw gently, pushing you to look at his stunning, worn-out face.
“you’re so deep, i can feel you in my tummy, s-s-shit,” you cursed, scratching and making marks on his back. your hand tries to cover your mouth, afraid you’re making too much noise for your neighbors, until arch growled, “don’t even think about it. i want to hear you…”
the sensation was inexpressible, so intense, so intimate, you didn’t want him to stop. arch leans down to accept your kiss, the bubble in your tummy building by each second as he continues the pace he is at. his strokes are long, slow, and deliciously deep, kissing that spot that drives your mind further into dizziness.
“you have no idea how fucking amazing you feel,” arch croaked, pinning you down, his forehead resting on yours, sharing another feverly kiss. “tell me, this is what you wanted back in the kitchen, right?”
“i-i-i”
“tell me, or i won’t make you cum,” arch demenaded, earning another loud plea from you.
“yes, yes, i did. i’ve been thinking about it all month,” you answered truthfully, dreading he’d pull away. instead, he smacks his hips more harshly, feeling his tip hit deeper if that was even possible. he feels how close you are to releasing, hating that he had to do what was next.
“no, no, no,” you cried out, the pool between your legs disappearing as your high was ripped away. “lay on your side, trust me,” arch panted out, his own cock feeling heavy at the immense pressure.
you do as he says, arch pressing behind you, lifting your legs, and slide right back in, easily. he fucked you with slow and deep strokes, feeling his finger rub circles along your clit. his free hand wrapped around your throat, applying a bit of pressure, “this is mine. you're mine… no one else will get this. will ever get to have you.”
“i’m yours, arch.”
he pushes his hips up, feeling your walls clench tighter and tighter as he moves. his teeth clench, he squeezes your hip, sucking in another sharp breath as he drowns in his own ecstasy. you feel your body crumble into a limp state, with each of his thrusts driving you dangerously close to your high.
you grip his forearm, twisting your head to meet his messy and sloppy kiss. you’re a mess, feeling his every curve, each ridge of his girthy cock as he thrusts into you. you know arch is close, shuddering, is circles along your clip becoming sloppy. the bed frame creaks as he fastens his pace once again, this time not denying his or your orgasm.
“please don’t stop again, i’m so close, and i know you are too,” you moaned out, nails digging into his skin. “wait a little longer, i want to cum with you,” he voices shakily, and you try your best to hold it in.
a string of muffled moans falls from each of you, thrusts sloppy as both of you feel the bliss of pleasure run through your bodies. he’s still deep, his hot seed leaking inside you, your bodies interwined. he can feel your walls pulse, throbbing, continuing to compress him.
his lips trace and run along your shoulder, up your jaw, and finally onto your lips. “i love you so damn much, sweetheart…”
“i love you, arch…”
you’re still struggling to catch your breaths, but it doesn’t stop any of you from releasing a warm laugh, holding each other tight, not wanting to move or pull away from the moment. “you’re okay? it wasn’t to, well, i wasn’t too harsh-”
“it was perfect… and i can’t wait to do it again.”
he smirks, blood rushing to his cock again. you wince, feeling sore from the actions, as he gently pulls out. “how about you let me give you aftercare in the shower? and i’ll squeeze in another round?”
⋆⠀author's note & warnings: another draft i need to get rid of, semi edited don't look too closely. fluff (you/your), language potentially. read more for #1⠀⋆⠀series masterlist.
You were sure your voice sounded terrible. It had that raspy, sandpaper quality that came with a head cold and the feeling of pain every time you swallowed. You sniffled loudly into the phone. “And now I sound like this,” you muttered, half to yourself.
On the other end, Devin chuckled softly, deeply, quietly. You could tell he was tired, his adrenaline finally receding after a game in Atlanta. “Baby girl,” he murmured, “you could sound like one of those anti-smoking commercials, and you’d still be the prettiest thing I ever heard.”
You rolled your eyes, though you knew he couldn’t see it, and curled deeper into the nest of blankets on your oversized sectional. Outside, Phoenix’s skyline glittered through the windows, the purple, deep blue, and orange watercolors indifferent to your plight. “I’m just annoyed by the fact that I couldn’t go,” you grumbled, voice thick with congestion. “I was looking forward to that restaurant. I got a bunch of videos on my For You Page about it, and I was going to post, like, a bunch of pics on IG.”
Devin’s laugh was muffled, like he’d pressed his face into a pillow. “Baby, you act like that place might disappear tomorrow,” he said, voice warm with that slow, unhurried drawl of his. You could picture him sprawled across some hotel bed, plain white tank over a pair of sweats, one pillow clutched under his arm, phone balanced in his hand. “Ain’t no rush. We’ll go when you’re better. Hell, I’ll make it up to you when I get home… take you twice.”
You groaned, dragging a hand down your face. “Yeah, but I wanted to go now,” you whined, then immediately regretted it when your throat protested. You coughed, wincing, and reached blindly for the tea on the side table that was lukewarm now, but still sweet on your tongue. “Ugh. This sucks.”
“You always want shit now,” he teased. “Like when you saw them heels last month and texted me ‘baby I need these’ at 3 AM.”
You huffed, pouting dramatically even though he couldn’t see it. “First of all, I did need those,” you croaked, then sniffled. “Second, their menu changes seasonally, Dev. What if they take the truffle gnocchi off before I get to try it?”
“Then I’ll buy a damn truffle and learn to make gnocchi,” he said, so casually you could almost see the shrug from the sound of his voice alone. “You think I won’t?”
“Do you know what gnocchi is?” you rasped, pressing your fingertips to your temple.
Devin made an offended noise. “Do you want the shit or not?”
“Baby, I love you, but the last thing I need is you burning the fuck out some mushrooms in my very expensive kitchen,” you muttered, letting your head fall back against the couch cushions. The ceiling fan spun lazily above you, casting uneven shadows across the room.
Devin exhaled, long and slow, and you could picture him running a hand over the lower half of his face. “Fine, alright,” he said finally. “Then I’ll just slip the chefs a couple hundred to make it special for you.”
You smiled despite yourself, tucking your cold feet further beneath the throw blanket. “Never beating the allegations.”
Devin’s chuckle was lazy. “Allegations?”
“Don’t worry about it. You bribe the chefs, I’ll stand behind my man,” you rasped, grinning when Devin laughed softly.
Silence settled over the two of you for a few moments. Then you heard him taking a slow breath before finally speaking up. “Wish you were here,” he added softly.
You knew he hated road games, hated waking up in strange beds without you snoring in his ear, hated missing the way you pushed him away in your sleep when you got too warm. You missed the weight of his arm slung over your waist, his nose pressed into the curve of your neck, following when you rolled over in the middle of the night, and the half-asleep mumble of, “Baby… back, come back,” when you drifted too far to your side of the bed.
You smiled into your mug filled with tea, pressing your lips together to clear your throat and keep yourself from coughing again. “Yeah, well,” you murmured, “you’d just complain I’m getting germs all over your side of the bed.”
“Nah. I’d let you sweat all over me. Wrap you up till you couldn’t move.”
You let out a weak laugh. “You say that now,” you cleared your throat, “but you’d be peeling me off you by midnight.”
Devin hummed. “You ever seen me let go of something I want? Exactly. So stop actin’ like I wouldn’t deal with your sniffly ass in bed. Love you sick, love you healthy, love you when you’re stealing the covers.”
You sneezed through your nose, the sound wet and unflattering. You wished he were next to you now, making fun of your scratchy voice and your tiny sips of cold tea. “You’re lucky I’m too weak to argue with you,” you muttered with an air of fondness.
“Nah, you just love me too much to argue forreal. You know I mean that shit,” he countered, voice low and warm, and you rolled your eyes again, even as your lips curled into a smile.
You shifted on the couch, wincing as your sore muscles ached with the movement. You could hear Devin breathing softly on the other end of the line. “Tired?”
“Dead tired,” Devin admitted, his words slurring slightly with exhaustion. “Shit’s finally hitting me. I should be home with my baby instead of staring at this ceiling.” The mattress creaked faintly as he shifted, and you imagined him stretching his long legs out, settling deeper into the mattress. “You picked up some NyQuil?”
You wrinkled your nose at the thought. “Baby, you know I don’t do that stuff.” You took a sip from your tea again, letting the sweetness coat your throat before you continued. “I got tea, soup, and I’ll sweat the rest of this fever out tonight.”
Devin hummed, finally giving in to the pull of sleep, his voice dropping to a mere whisper. “Mmm. You better.” There was a rustle then a yawn before he added, barely audible, “Call me if you need me, beautiful.”
You exhaled, letting the silence settle in before you replied. “I will. Get some sleep. I love you.”
background: being young in college has a pregnancy roulette game end up in the emergency room with someone getting left out.
(all pics from pinterest, all rights reserved)
notes: so... with me getting begged like i have power, heres a tease.
warning: this is a alternative universe, keep this in mind,
Y/N yawned, dragging herself out of bed, her body heavier than usual, limbs stiff, and stomach churning with nausea that had started after the game.
Arch, of course, was already moving quietly around the kitchen, his bare feet padding softly on the hardwood, coffee in hand, and a subtle grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
“Morning, sunshine,” he murmured, his voice low and warm. “You feelin’ any better?”
Y/N shook her head, letting a small groan escape. “Not really. My stomach’s just ugh.”
Arch’s brow furrowed. He set the mug down and gently pressed a hand to her lower back. “You look… tired, baby. More than tired. Lethargic, even. You sure you don’t need me to carry you there?”
She laughed weakly, though the sound was thin. “You’d look ridiculous carrying me around Austin.”
“Eh, probably. But I don’t care. You look like you need help, and I’m here to help, so don’t you dare try to tell me otherwise.” He kissed the top of her head, the scent of his cologne mixing with the faint trace of his protein shake.
By the time they arrived at the OB/GYN’s office that Friday morning, Y/N was leaning heavily on Arch, still in oversized sweats and a baggy sweatshirt, feeling like every step took twice as much effort as it should.
Arch opened the car door for her, his southern Louisiana drawl soft and protective. “Come on, darlin’. Let me make sure you don’t go over before we even get inside.”
Inside the sterile office, Y/N slouched into the chair, trying to make herself small as Arch hovered at her side. The nurse smiled warmly, leading them in and reminding Y/N to relax, but it was Arch’s presence that made her heart steady.
She could feel his hand resting lightly on the small of her back, thumb rubbing in slow circles, grounding her when her nerves spiked.
The doctor, a kind woman who had clearly dealt with protective partners before, ushered Y/N to the exam table.
“So.... uh doc,” Arch began, trying to sound casual but failing miserably, “how long can she..uh, you know… how long before she’s, uh, really gonna start feeling like she’s not, uh… gonna puke every five minutes? And like… when does all this… exhaustion hit? I just wanna make sure she’s okay.”
The doctor laughed softly, shaking her head. “Arch, you’re doing fine. Yes, the first trimester can be rough. Nausea, fatigue, occasional food aversions, heightened senses-” she glanced at Y/N. "and it’s completely normal. We’ll monitor everything closely, but right now, she just needs rest, hydration, and balanced nutrition. You’re doing the right thing by being involved.”
Arch exhaled, visibly relieved. “Good. Good. That’s... that’s what I wanted to hear. Just makin’ sure my girl’s not, uh… dying on me.”
Y/N rolled her eyes but smiled, leaning into him. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I try,” he said with a grin, his hand tightening slightly over hers.
The rest of the appointment was filled with the usual, blood pressure checks, ultrasound preparation, and Arch peppering the doctor with questions about diet, exercise, and “what I can do to make sure she’s comfortable.”
Every so often, his hand would drift to her thigh, rubbing small circles in reassurance, or linger near her lower back. Y/N could feel his warmth even through the fabric of her hoodie, and despite the exhaustion and nausea, her heart swelled with affection.
When the doctor finally gave them the all-clear for now, and a tentative due date, Arch practically glowed, guiding Y/N out of the office.
“Okay.. brunch?” he asked as they stepped into the sunlight outside. “You pick, I’ll carry you if I have to.”
They ended up at a quiet, upscale brunch spot a few blocks away, whispers from nearby tables. Arch, the gentleman, wrapped an arm lightly around Y/N’s lower waist, his thumb grazing the curve of her stomach almost absentmindedly but deliberately enough that it made Y/N shiver in surprise.
“Ignore ’em,” he murmured in her ear. “We’re here. We’re together. They can stare all they want.”
Y/N smiled, leaning into him, letting the attention wash over her without worry.
The food arrived, and Y/N, ravenous despite the nausea, dove in. She ordered everything she could think of and Arch watched her, amused. “You’re eatin’ like a champion, darlin’.”
“I am a champion,” she said through a mouthful, giggling. She pushed her plate away and Arch immediately noticed.
“You okay, baby?” he asked, eyes scanning her face for the slightest hint of distress.
“I.. yeah, I just need a minute,” she admitted, setting her head down on the table.
Arch immediately leaned over, brushing a soft kiss to her temple. “Don’t you worry about a thing. I’ve got you.” He called over the server, quietly asking for a glass of water and extra napkins, his southern charm softened by panic beneath.
For the next hour, he stayed beside her, rubbing her back, keeping a hand on her waist, whispering little reassurances, telling her stories in that slow, lilting southern drawl that always made her laugh even when she felt terrible.
By the time they left, Y/N leaned on him completely, her energy sapped but her heart full. Arch gently helped her into the car, sliding his hand to rest on her thigh, his thumb tracing tiny circles. “You did amazing today, baby. Proud of you.”
Y/N smiled faintly, exhausted but comforted. “Thanks, Arch. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You won’t have to,” he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I’m stickin’ around. We’re in this together, darlin’. Every step.”
And as they drove home through the warm, golden light of Austin, Y/N felt it and the weight of the first trimester, the nausea, the exhaustion, but also the warmth of Arch's love surrounding her everyday.
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