Page 41 of Serenity at Seagrove
Archer looked back in the mirror. He wasn’t seeing his own reflection. He was seeing Luna on the practice green at sunrise. The way she trusted him to guide her. The way she felt in his arms. The way she made him feel whole again—not like just some broken athlete trying to find his way back.
"I can't lose her, Dawson," he admitted quietly. "But I also can't ask her to wait for me either. California is a long way from Seagrove."
"Have you considered that maybe you don’t want to go?"
Before Archer could respond, his phone buzzed. A text from one of his young students, excited about the exhibition with some final questions. The enthusiasm of the kid brought a smile to his face.
"They're good kids," Dawson said. "And you're great with them—better than you've ever been on the pro circuit, if you ask me."
"They remind me why I fell in love with the game in the first place," Archer said, straightening his tie one more time. "Before it became about money and rankings and sponsorships."
"And Luna? What does she remind you of?"
Archer met Dawson’s eyes in the mirror. "That sometimes the best things in life are the ones you never even saw coming."
"Well, you're going to have to make a decision soon. That Oakland Hills offer won't wait forever."
"I know. They gave me another week, so I was grateful for that."
Archer checked his watch. "Well, it’s almost time to head to the course. I just need to get through today."
"And then what? Just keep pretending nothing’s changing? And then one day Luna just never sees you again? That’s not fair, and you know it."
The truth of Dawson’s words hit hard. Nothing about this whole situation was fair—not to Luna, not to his new students in Seagrove, and not really even to himself. But every time he thought about telling her, he just couldn’t do it. His stomach turned in knots.
A knock at the door saved him from responding.
Julie appeared, looking elegant in a beautiful summer dress. "The kids are already at the course, Archer, and they’re asking for their coach."
Their coach. Not a fallen pro. Not the guy who lost everything. But their coach.
"Go on," Dawson said. "But, Archer—don’t wait too long. Some things are worth fighting for."
As Archer drove to the course, he thought about Luna and the way she’d looked at him during their golf lesson. The way she’d helped him find his way back to the game he loved and the person he was inside. Through her gentle understanding, she had changed his whole life.
He pulled into the parking lot. Luna was standing near the clubhouse, and he was blown away by her natural beauty, both inside and out. He felt like his heart stopped, like he might actually need a defibrillator, and then started again with a different rhythm entirely.
***
Archer stood on the practice green, surrounded by his students, with their youthful energy buzzing around him like an electric current. He moved easily between them, adjusting grips, offering encouragement, and celebrating their small victories with a warmth that felt effortless.
“He’s different with them, isn’t he?” Julie’s voice came from beside Luna. She turned to see her friend watching Archer with a knowing smile.
“More like himself somehow,” Luna admitted, unable to take her eyes off him. “Even though I’ve only known him for a few weeks.”
A small girl with braids—Jasmine—sank a long putt, and Archer’s face lit up with pride. The way he crouched to give her a high-five. The way he encouraged every single child without an ounce of ego or pressure. It was unlike anything Luna had seen in him before.
“They don’t see him as a pro golfer or an injured athlete,” Luna said softly. “They just see him as somebody who believes in them.”
“Kind of like how he sees you,” Julie said.
Luna’s cheeks warmed. “Julie, you’re as bad as your sister.”
Julie laughed. “I’m just saying what everyone can see. The way you two look at each other when you think no one’s watching? You’re not fooling anybody.”
Before Luna could respond, Archer looked up and caught her gaze. A slow smile played at his lips, and for a moment, everything else faded. One of the kids called his name, breaking the spell, and he turned back to his students.
“You look beautiful, by the way,” Julie said. “Your sundress is adorable. Janine said you picked a gorgeous dress for tonight, too.”
