Page 4 of Comeback
Someone yells for Brogan and my brother whips his head around to find the source. Archer and I stare at one another,neither speaking. I’m too busy wondering why Ariana Grande? And what kind of girls is he into? I did some minor online perusing, and he doesn’t really keep up with his social media presence. The last post was from almost a year ago when he first joined the Mavericks. Most of the photos are of him, his teammates, his brothers. Any that included girls seemed more incidental than anything else.
“Excuse me for a minute,” Brogan says, resting a hand lightly at my elbow. “Don’t go anywhere. I want to catch up on all the things.”
He’s gone before I can respond, leaving me alone with Archer. I take another sip of my champagne and avoid looking at him for a moment while I catch my bearings. I swear I’m usually confident and self-assured, but this environment really knocks a girl off her game. Not that I want game here. I’d just like not to turn into a meek version of myself.
“He’s glad you’re back,” Archer says. I’m honestly surprised he’s talking to me at all. Small victories, I guess. He’s still frowning any time he looks at me though.
“Yeah. I am too.”I remember to sign the words as I speak this time.
“You don’t need to do that,” he says.
Geez. There is no winning with this guy.
His jaw ticks. “If you aren’t staying this time, you should be upfront with him. I don’t want him to get his hopes up and then you duck out again.”
My mouth drops open. Okay, so technically yes, I guess that’s what it looked like to him, but it’s so far from the reality of it all.
It was honestly a shitty six months that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. It’s not like I wanted to put my life on hold and run back home. I love Lake City. There’s so much more fun and excitement in this town than where I grew up. But family comes first. Something I don’t bother trying to explain to Archer. It’sobvious he’s already made his mind up about me and I don’t have the energy to go ten rounds with him.
“Thanks for the concern, but it’s really not any of your business.” I step to the left, prepared to pass by him, but Archer is faster. He moves in front of me, chest inches from mine. So close I can smell his cologne and feel the warmth radiating off him.
His expression is pained, and his hazel eyes swirl with unease. “He has had a lot of people disappoint him. If you’re going to do the same, then just do it now and get it over with. Don’t act like you want to be in his life if you’re going to keep flaking.”
His meaning finally registers. While I was adopted, Brogan grew up with our birth parents. And they were not the best. I’ve only heard a little of the details, but it was enough for me to know how lucky I was to be brought up in a loving and caring environment.
“I didn’t flake,” I say. “I left because…” I stop myself. Screw him. He doesn’t get to bully the reasons out of me. I don’t want him to hate me either though. He’s looking out for Brogan, and I get that. “I’m not going to flake on him.”
He doesn’t move, but he works that impressive jaw back and forth. “So you’re staying then?”
I’m not sure what he wants me to promise. That I’ll never let him down? That I’ll always be here? I’m not going to do that. Shit happens. Life is messy. People disappoint you, sometimes on purpose and sometimes by chance. Nothing is guaranteed.
“For tonight anyway.”
“Hey.” London comes to stand between us.
I bet we look like two boxers about to pounce. Punching his handsome face might make me feel better actually.
“I want to catch up,” she says, pulling me away from Archer. She drags me over to a couple of empty bar stools in front of theisland. When we’re seated, she smiles at me with her dark brows raised slightly. “What was that about?”
“What?” I play dumb and take a drink of my beer, followed by a sip of champagne. I’ve never been so glad to have two drinks in hand, though the two do not pair well.
“You looked like you were about to punch him or kiss him.”
“If those are the only two options, then I pick the first one.”
She laughs and my unease slides away. London doesn’t ask me any more about Archer. Instead, she catches me up on everything that’s been going on with them since I left. I missed her and talking like this almost makes me forget about the party around us.
That is until Brogan joins us, bringing some of his teammates with him. Including Archer. I note that they all stand in a way that allows Archer to read their lips.
“What were you doing in Flagstaff so long?” Brogan asks. “I thought you were just heading back to get your stuff, so you could move here, but that was months ago.”
That had been the plan but well, life happened.
“I had to sort out a few things first. Took longer than I thought.” I smile weakly and feel Archer’s gaze on me. He has this disbelieving stare aimed at me like I knowingly lied to Brogan. Why would I even do that?
Still, if it’s true and they all think I’m a huge flake who might bounce at any moment, I want to squash it. Not for Archer, but for Brogan.
“I’m all moved now though.”
