Page 2 of Shots Fired

“But he is in your head. Why else would you have said anything?” I don’t know how she’s going to handle my question; it’s my addiction to this girl that forces me to ask.

Challenging her might be a mistake. The conversations we share are always lighthearted—about her studies and her dream career in editing or my hockey game she just watched.

“Forgive me for being so blunt, Archer.” Darcy turns to look at me, one brow raised. “But why do you care?” She swivels on her stool, and I take a step back to give her room. “You have an entire bar full of hot women—most of them have been watching you this whole time, by the way—and here you are, talking to your teammate’s baby sister about her crappy ex and refusal to pay high rent prices.”

She turns back to the bar, and I make brief eye contact with her brother, Jack. He’s still staring in our direction, with the same irritated expression he wears whenever I’m near his sister.

Like always, I offer him a thumbs-up and a wink before getting back to Darcy.

“Talking to you is more interesting.” I throw in a confident smile to mask how fucking serious I am. “I don’t know if you can tell by now, Darcy, but I like talking to you. It beats an empty conversation with some random chick about a hockey game I know she didn’t watch and my own internal thoughts over how quickly I can get her naked and the deed done.”

Her head whips up to mine, nothing but shock written across her face before she throws her head back with a belly laugh that never fails to spread my grin wider.

“Oh my God, you are unbelievable—you know that?” she says between fits of giggles. “I laugh, but you know what?” She draws a deep breath, pointing at me. “I think you might just have the right approach in life.”

Still smiling, I shake my head in confusion.

Her pink cheeks are rosier as she takes another sip of her cocktail, and I watch her swallow it down.

“You have fun and don’t take anything too seriously. Hell”—she throws an arm up, nearly knocking me out in the process—“you could have your pick of the women on this planet, and none of them could ever hurt you because you’re in control.”

Her pointer finger lightly presses into the center of my chest, and, fuck, I shouldn’t feel that all the way into my toes.

Because I can’t figure out what else to do, I continue staring at the girl in front of me, wishing away the past nine years of my adult life, along with all the news outlets that reported on it.

“Darcy …” I begin, swallowing past the lump in my throat. I might as well start being honest with her now, even if it’s to tell her she has me wrong and that the “fun” lifestyle she thinks she wants isn’t all that, when my captain and one of my closest friends, Sawyer Bryce, taps me on the shoulder.

“I’m heading home, buddy.”

He glances over at Collins—Darcy’s friend and a pink-haired biker chick he’s been relentlessly pursuing with no luck. I guess tonight is no exception.

Darcy stares down into her cocktail glass. She’s only half finished with her drink, and I’ve got so much more I want to say.

Sawyer taps me on the shoulder again, and I know this is his version of my own warning. The one I’ve been ignoring.

Stay away from Darcy Thompson.

On a long breath, I pull out my wallet and set fifty dollars on the bar.

“How are you getting home?” I ask Darcy, Sawyer still hovering behind me.

She thumbs over her shoulder, and I cast a quick glance at Jack and his girlfriend, Kendra Hart. “I go home when they do. I’m keeping their spare bedroom company.”

I already know where she’s staying and that her brother would take her home. Still, I can’t help but ask on the off chance she’ll suggest taking a ride with me.

When Sawyer steps away to grab his jacket. I linger for a beat, just like the addict I am. “Liam isn’t worth it, Darcy. He never was and never will be.”

She smiles over her shoulder at me. “I know.”

“If you need any help moving in when you get here, just hit me up, okay?” I say, a foreign lilt of desperation in my voice.

When she slides down from her stool, our height difference is obvious as she looks up at me, even in killer black heels. “I have a former NHL player for a stepdad and a current one for a brother. The biggest items I possess are my kettle and toaster, so I think I’ll be good. But thank you; that’s a kind offer.”

I nod once, stuffing my hands into the pockets of my black jeans.

“Archer!” Sawyer flicks his hand toward me.

Jack calls Darcy’s name, too, as he and Kendra shrug on their jackets.

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