The Best Mistake - Cookie O'Gorman Page 0,63

in.

“If you want a tryout,” Jeff went on, “we’d be more than happy to have you. Here’s my card, so you can contact us at your convenience.”

Taking the card, I looked it over. Nice cardstock, professional font, the same as all the other cards I’d gotten before. But I never took an offer for granted.

“Thank you, I appreciate you thinking of me,” I said. “The Phillies are a great team. I’ll definitely consider it.”

“You do that,” Jeff said with a smile. “And maybe try to convince that brother of yours with the arm to give us a try, too, when he’s ready.”

“I’ll make sure he gets the message,” I said.

After a few more compliments about me and my brothers, the men walked away, and I was finally able to move toward where I’d wanted to be this whole time. June had disappeared, but Honor was still there waiting in the stands. When I stopped in front of her, she stared at me as if she’d never seen me before. I had no idea what that look meant. But I could tell something was going on inside that brain of hers.

I just hoped it was something good.

Thank goodness for the scouts.

They’d just given me my story about Archer.

I mean, sure he’d answered several of my interview questions on the bus, but unlike Chase, it wasn’t like I could use much of what he’d said—especially the parts referring to me. I’d been thinking I might have to interview him again, and my resistance was running low.

He did that to me.

But if I was looking for an angle, it had just played out in real time: the scouts, MLB plans, the girls. Archer O’Brien was in demand. He was a “hot commodity” like that one scout had said. The girls seemed to agree, one even asking for his autograph, though I thought it was obvious what she really wanted was a date. But who could blame her! And Archer had taken it all in stride as if this happened to him all time.

Maybe it did.

His future was bright. I wasn’t much of a baseball fan, and even I’d known he was amazing. Archer played the game like he was born to do it. He was going places. He was destined for great things.

And God help me, but I wanted him.

It was the first time I’d admitted it to myself.

I, Honor Tierney, wanted Archer O’Brien for however long I could have him.

There was something freeing and terrifying about acknowledging that fact. I was glad June had gone to the bathroom. At least there was one less person to witness my moment of clarity and the uncertainty that followed.

Even as he stood there, looking at me, I couldn’t find the words.

“Me and a few of the guys are going out for pizza later. You want to come?” he asked.

Did I? I wondered. What I really wanted was to figure out what to do about all of these crazy emotions.

Before I could answer, June came back followed by Chase, Dex and Baylor. Awesome. Maybe they could help mask how overwhelmed I felt. Archer was still looking at me as they sidled up next to us.

“Good news,” June said, and it took me a second to realize she was speaking to me. “I figured out an answer to the room situation.”

“You did?” I said faintly. “Oh, that’s a relief.”

She gave me a look but didn’t ask any other questions for which I was grateful.

“What room situation?” Archer said.

I snapped out of it at the sound of his voice. “When I agreed to travel with the team, I didn’t remember to book a room,” I said. “Didn’t even think about it really. Which was stupid, considering I knew this would be an overnight thing.” I shrugged. “June and I were talking when suddenly I realized I had nowhere to stay.”

“You can stay with me,” Archer said quickly.

“Or me,” Baylor said, smiling despite the scowl Archer directed at him.

“Or us,” Chase said, elbowing Dex in the side. “We have room for her, right?”

Dex tilted his head, no doubt seeing the red sweeping over my cheeks if the grin on his face was any indication. “No arguments here,” he said.

Archer looked like he was about to blow when another voice joined our little crew.

“Well, isn’t it nice how all of you are so concerned for Honor’s welfare,” Coach O’Brien said, the sarcasm thick in her voice as she walked up, planting herself next to me. “But none of that will