The Best Mistake - Cookie O'Gorman Page 0,64

be necessary. Honor’s going to be staying with me and June tonight.”

A flash of something passed over Archer’s face—disappointment maybe?—but it was gone a second later.

“Cool,” he said, pushing his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “As long as she’s covered. I was just concerned.”

“Sure you were,” Baylor mumbled after which Archer not-so-subtly elbowed him in the stomach. The resulting groan made Archer’s lips tug up on one side.

“So,” he said again, “pizza later?”

“I’m in,” June said. “Would never turn down pizza. Yum.”

“You kids have fun,” Coach O’Brien said. “Me, Bear and the staff are going to a steak place not too far from the hotel. Had a whole bunch of five-star reviews online. I hope it’s as good as everyone says.”

And then all eyes were on me.

“Well,” I said, wringing my hands, “I would come, but actually, I need to stay in and write.”

“Are you sure?” June said. “Some of the other girls said they were planning to come, too, so it won’t just be us and these guys.” She hooked a thumb over her shoulder. “If that’s what you’re worried about. I totally get it. They can be…a lot.”

Coach O’Brien nodded, but Baylor frowned. “Hey, I resent that, Junebug.”

“You sure you can’t come?” June said, ignoring him.

I nodded. “Yeah, I should really get these articles done. It’s the reason I’m here after all.”

I caught Archer’s gaze then as he lifted a brow, and I heard what he didn’t say just as surely as if he’d spoken aloud. His look said, But that’s not the only reason, right? I tried to telegraph my response with my eyes. Of course, it’s not. I love being with you, spending time with you—so much more than I should—but right now, I just need to be alone to write and breathe.

And, most of all, to think.

There would be a lot of thinking going on while the others were away. Of this, I was certain.

I wasn’t sure he got all that, but he nodded a second later.

“No problem,” he said.

June put a hand on my arm. “I’ll bring you back a couple slices.”

As we walked to the bus, I hung back, and Archer fell into step beside me.

Lowering his voice so only I could hear, he said, “You know, I could stay in, too. I don’t have to go with the guys. They would understand.”

I forced a laugh. “Oh no, please go. You just won, so you should celebrate.”

“You sure?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said. “I’m sure. You’ll have more fun without me anyway.”

He didn’t say anything in response.

The hotel where we stayed was nice. The room I ended up in with Coach O’Brien and June had two beds and a big couch, the latter of which would be my bed for the night. I wasn’t complaining. It was comfortable. My feet didn’t hang off the end, the cushions were soft yet sturdy, and honestly, I was just happy not to be on the streets or sleeping on the bus. Coach O’Brien had mentioned before leaving for dinner with the rest of the staff that she’d always intended me to room with her when she’d invited me. June had even offered me the bed, but I declined. They were being so nice about everything, but it was clear they were in a groove, a pattern. I just wanted to be as undisruptive as possible.

And to get these freaking articles finished and sent off to Walter.

I’d decided to start with Archer.

He was the oldest, after all.

And the smartest.

And the most interesting.

And the funniest.

And the hottest.

I mean, those broad shoulders alone—

Gah, what the heck was wrong with me?

I mean, yeah, Archer was all of those things. It was true. Though he’d called his younger brother Finn a genius, I’d noticed Archer’s quick wit, not just in conversation but on the field. And everything he did interested me, including how confident yet humble he was with such incredible talent. He had a great sense of humor, though he frowned a lot. And, as if it needed to be said again, he was a total stunner. From the steel gray eyes to his strong cheekbones, from those kissable lips to his rocking body, the guy ticked all of my boxes.

Despite this (or maybe because of it), I was having a hard time writing about him. The first time I’d tried the whole thing had gone wonky. It started as an article praising his baseball skills, outlining his many prospects, but before I knew it, the thing had somehow