The Best Mistake - Cookie O'Gorman Page 0,13

me, he’s the only one that’s ever been able to—”

Just as he was about to finish, a loud crack rent the air. The ball was soaring out of the park before I could even blink, and there was Baylor, celebrating his win with a whoop before rounding the bases.

“—hit a homerun off of Chase,” Archer finished.

I turned to him with a smile on my face, watching them together was just too much fun.

“And what position do you play?” I asked.

“Usually catcher,” he said, “and third base, but I’m good at bat, can play any position.”

I nodded. “You’re the best. That’s why you’re team captain.”

“Ah I don’t know about all that,” he said, and my eyes widened as I thought I saw a blush sweep up his cheeks. “Chase is the real all-star. He could go pro if he wanted to.”

“You look like all-star material to me,” I said, feeling my cheeks heat as he looked my way, piercing me with his gray eyes.

“You sure we don’t know each other?” he said.

“Yep, I’m sure,” I said, ducking my head and packing up as quickly as I could. I had enough here for an article. It was time to cut and run.

“Because I could have sworn—”

“Nope,” I said, getting to my feet. “Like you said before, I just have one of those faces.”

Bear blew his whistle then.

“Captain,” he said, “if you’re done chatting, we need you back over here.”

I released a breath. Saved by the Bear (aka Coach Grouch). I owed him one.

“We’re done here if you need to go back,” I said, still avoiding his eyes. “Thanks. For the interview, I mean. I think we’re good.”

“No problem,” Archer said, “I’m glad you got what you needed.”

I had just turned to go when he leaned down, his lips right next to my ear.

“And I like the glasses,” he said.

My breath caught as he ran a hand up my arm.

“I didn’t think you could look any hotter than you did last night in that red dress, but it’s a good look on you. Kind of like a sexy bookworm.”

When I turned to look back over my shoulder, his face was right there, close enough to see the small scar bisecting his upper lip.

“And again, the name’s Archer,” he said, the corners of his lips turning up. “That might be helpful for next time. I’ll see you soon, Honor.”

As he released me to run back onto the field, I just stood there like an idiot.

So…he remembered.

Not just remembered, he’d recognized me, had known who I was all along.

And had he just called me a sexy bookworm?

And implied there would be a “next time”?

Good grief. I didn’t think I could handle that. Nope, I decided. There was only so much awkward one person could take. If I didn’t see another O’Brien for the rest of my life it would be too soon.

It didn’t hit me until much later.

The full extent of the awkward.

After the interview, I’d retreated to my haven, my favorite place on campus. The library welcomed me with open arms. It was quiet as usual; there were students scattered here and there, but I easily found myself a quiet table, lost in the stacks, where I placed my bag, computer and notepad, sat back and prepared to do my thing. I was on a mission.

You’d think after that practice and my time on the baseball field I’d be ready to escape, and I was. But my escape came in the form of research. I threw myself into it, learning more about baseball and the O’Brien legacy than I ever wanted to know. I found out that Coach Daisy O’Brien had been with the school for nearly thirteen years. She and her husband, Tyler O’Brien, according to web articles, were two of the best, most well-respected baseball/softball coaches in all of collegiate history.

Until about eight years ago when Tyler O’Brien died after a battle with cancer.

Coach Daisy had taken the reigns of the baseball team after his death and continued to raise her six children on her own. My heart ached for all of them. Despite the tragedy, the Wolves baseball team, under the direction of Coach Daisy, kept winning, earning several bids to nationals.

But the streak hadn’t started until four years ago.

That was exactly when Archer O’Brien had joined the team as a freshman, where he broke nearly every baseball record the University had. The Wolves had climbed the ranks, had an awesome season, and finished it with a national championship. Then came