The Best Mistake - Cookie O'Gorman Page 0,48

Archer smiled for the second time that night. It was just as stunning as the first, but after everything that’d happened it packed an extra punch. So did knowing we’d be continuing this later—whatever this was.

I shivered at the thought.

A couple minutes later, I heard shouting and ended up shivering for a totally different reason.

The party seemed to be at a standstill as I jogged down the stairs. Archer’s smile had disappeared as if it had never been. He was standing with his arms out, kind of like a crossing guard, except instead of directing traffic, Archer was trying to deescalate an obviously volatile situation.

“Get out of my way,” some guy said, his expression and eyes angry as he looked past Archer. Following his gaze, I noticed Dex and Baylor, and uh-oh. They didn’t look any happier than he did.

“Tell me exactly what happened first,” Archer said.

“I don’t have to tell you nothing.”

“Yeah, Tony, you do.” His voice hardened. “This is my house, my team, my rules. Unless you want to be escorted out, you better explain.”

The guy, Tony, seemed to get even angrier if that was possible. I didn’t remember seeing him on the field, so he must’ve been a friend or fan. “I caught your brother all over my girl. That’s what happened.”

“Is that true?” Archer asked, looking to his brothers.

Baylor scoffed. “Hey, she kissed me.”

“And you stood there doing nothing, huh? Yeah, right.” Tony pressed forward but ran into Archer’s still outstretched hand. He also seemed to have a girl who was holding him back; I assumed she was the girlfriend. Her face was bright red but if it was from embarrassment or guilt I couldn’t tell. Probably both. “I’m watching the game with my boys. I turn around for one second to get a beer, and when I go to the kitchen, he’s got his tongue down her throat.”

“Again,” Baylor said, “technically, it was her tongue down my throat.”

“Oh, you’re asking it for it, O’Brien.”

Tony tried to get at him, but this time Dex stepped forward.

“Put your hands on my brother again, and see what happens,” he said softly, the danger in his words unmistakable.

Tony backed off a bit at that, but he wasn’t appeased. That much was clear by his next words.

“So what, Archer? I got pissed and reacted. Your brother was making out with my girl. What was I supposed to do?”

Archer shook his head. “You know there’s no fighting here.”

“Me and the guys pulled them apart before any real damage was done,” Dex said.

“Bay, you have anything to add?” Archer asked.

“Listen, it wasn’t like she had a ring on her finger,” Baylor said. “How was I supposed to know she had a boyfriend on the premises? Then Tony here, comes in shouting, throwing his fists around. Of course, I’m going to defend myself.”

Archer nodded, looking at first one then the other. “Sounds like a misunderstanding to me, one that got out of control. An apology could go a long way.”

Tony didn’t look like he agreed, but Baylor nodded.

“Hey man, I’m sorry,” he said, sounding sincere. “I honestly didn’t know she was with anyone. It won’t happen again.”

Tony glanced back at his girlfriend, who averted her gaze, then to Archer and finally Baylor. His eyes still held that hard gleam. “You know what, Baylor,” he said, “you can take that apology, and shove it right up your ass.”

Dex looked ready for a fight, but Tony held up his hands.

“I’ll let myself out,” he said, shrugging off his girlfriend and walking out of the house. She followed a few steps behind. Once they were gone, the crowd kind of dispersed on its own, everyone going back to their own little corners as if nothing had happened. But I noticed the tension still lining Archer’s body.

“Well,” Baylor said with a grin, “that was fun.”

Archer stepped up to his brothers, looking them both over. “That,” he said, “was a crisis averted. Nothing fun about it. Are you guys okay?”

Dex rolled his eyes, but Baylor just laughed. “Yeah, mama bear,” he said. “We’re good. Tony’s the one you should be concerned about with a girl like that.”

“You’re welcome for pulling him off you by the way,” Dex muttered.

Baylor shook his head. “Please. I could’ve handled that guy in my sleep.”

“Whatever you say.”

“Where’s Chase?” Archer said suddenly. “I didn’t see him anywhere.”

“He’s in the kitchen, trying to make the bacon.”

“I better go see how it’s going.”

Baylor patted him on his shoulder before walking off. “Everything’s good, Arch. You saved