Page 69 of Comeback
We spend the next hour drinking and talking and scoping out the single men. When two guys approach us, we’ve had just enough wine to entertain the idea. Though pretty much immediately I’m not feeling the guy that’s obviously picked me in this foursome.
Billy is twenty-five, in sales, and a big fan of pickleball, his new sports car, and talking about himself. When he starts telling me about how he’s just started brewing his own beer in his garage, I glance at Olivia.
She seems to be faring better with her guy, Rob. He has his arm around the back of her chair and stares down at her adoringly. As he should. Though I can’t help but judge him slightly for his friend, who is literally boring me to sleep.
I take another large gulp of wine and pry my eyes open wide as I try to feign interest, but an entire group of women standing by our table all turn toward the doors and shriek with the kind of excitement that has me wondering what’s going on.
It only takes a few seconds to figure out why and who they’re looking at. My brother is here. My brother andhis best friend.
I make eye contact with Archer across the bar and my face warms. Damn. A week without seeing him in person and I forgot. Sure, sweaty practice Archer is hot but this one walking toward me makes my pulse race.
He elbows Brogan and then nods his head toward me. I drop my gaze and fall back, pretending like I’m listening intently to Billy. If he noticed at all that my attention had wavered, it doesn’t seem to bother him because he’s still droning on about his brewing process. Also, I’ll admit I might be a bad date. I couldn’t seem to focus on a single thing Billy said even before Archer walked in.
As discreetly as possible, I nudge Olivia under the table. She tears her gaze away from Rob and looks at me. I widen my eyes and ever so slightly tip my head toward where I last saw Archer and Brogan. She isn’t getting it at all.
I’m just about to attempt to mouth it out to her when her stare lifts to someone behind me and a huge grin takes over her face. That and the goosebumps racing up my arms tells me that Archer is close.
“Hey, sorry to interrupt,” Brogan says.
I swivel around and face the guys, sending Brogan a questioning look. “Hi!”
I stand, because frankly I don’t know what else to do. I hug Brogan and then because it feels awkward not to, I step to Archer.
His hands wrap around my back, and I nuzzle against his chest for a brief moment. He smells good, that cologne that Brogan likes to tease him about really does something for me.
“What are you guys doing here?” I ask. I glance back at the table. Billy looks unimpressed by the two guys in front of me. In fact, I’d say he’s a little pissed.
“I heard you were on a date.” Brogan puffs out his chest slightly. He’s already a big guy so it’s not exactly necessary. In fact, it looks like he’s about to bust out of his white T-shirt.
“I wouldn’t call it a—” I start, but my brother pulls out the chair I’d just been sitting in and moves it closer to Billy before taking a seat.
“Hi. I’m Brogan.” He tips his head in my general direction. “Sabrina’s older brother.”
“What is happening?” I whisper to Archer as we watch on.
“It’s hard to explain.” Archer is fighting a smile, and I feel my own lips pull up to mirror his.
“Try,” I say firmly.
Brogan and Billy are now shaking hands and by the way that Billy is wincing, I’d say Brogan is squeezing his fingers unnecessarily hard.
“He’s looking out for you. Being a protective big brother.”
A startled laugh escapes my lips. “What?”
Archer turns to me, and I forget all about Billy and his possibly crushed finger bones. “You told him you were going out to find a boyfriend. What’d you expect him to do?”
“Nothing,” I answer honestly, then it hits me. “Oh my god. Is he here to try and scare off my date?”
Archer looks at me in a way that tells me I’m finally getting warmer. “He’s your brother. He thinks it’s his responsibility.”
I should maybe be mad, but it’s hilarious, considering how glad I am to be away from Billy. All I can do is laugh.
“We just want to make sure he knows that if he hurts you, we’ll kick his ass.”
“We’ll?”
An arrogant smirk tugs up one side of his mouth.
