The Best Mistake - Cookie O'Gorman Page 0,83
once.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he cut me off with a look.
“No, Arch. It’s true,” he said. “Do you think Dad would want you to be miserable all the time? No. He wouldn’t. He’d want you to find your happiness and live in it.”
Dad always had a way with words, and Chase had inherited the quality from him.
“I just don’t want to let any of you down,” I said softly. “I don’t want to let her down again.”
“Well, why can’t you save her, too?”
“What do you mean?”
“Honor,” he said. “Why can’t you save her? Like you said, you already do it for the rest of us—this one tiny incident excluded. You’re there for Baylor when he’s being an idiot, rescuing him from the girls and most of all himself.”
Baylor scoffed. “I would argue that—if it wasn’t so true.”
“And what about Dex.” Chase held out a hand. “Every time he gets into a fight, who’s there to bail him out? He would’ve probably already ended up in the hospital or prison if it wasn’t for you.”
“Accurate,” Dex said.
“And you look out for me, Emmy, Finn, Mom and all the guys on the team the same way.” Chase put his good hand on my shoulder. “What’s one more person, Archer? One girl who made you the happiest we’ve all seen you be in years.”
My mind was reeling with everything Chase had just said.
“A fine girl with a lickable little body,” Baylor put in, and I scowled at him hard.
“Don’t talk about her like that,” I warned.
“Why not?” he said. “I thought you two were done.”
My jaw clenched. “It’s just a break.”
“Well, maybe you should go get her back then, before someone else beats you to it.”
“Maybe I will,” I said.
“Ah, there he is.” Baylor stood and cracked his back like he’d done some heavy lifting. “My work here is done.”
Dex rolled his eyes at that. “Oh yeah, it was all you.”
As the three of them kept ribbing each other, I was still thinking of all that was said—and what I was going to do about it.
The epiphany moment should’ve never taken this long to get here, but at least it had come.
It was time to get my girl.
I just hoped she’d take me back.
Charlie knocked and then entered my room without me saying a word.
“Honor.” She sighed. “Your eyes are all splotchy again, and you’re still wearing your paint clothes.”
“Sorry,” I said, sitting up.
“Don’t apologize. It’s Archer who owes us all an apology. I just wish you’d get angry already, so we can go key the guy’s car or something.”
Standing up and walking to the door, I met her there and forced a smile. “He’s Emmy’s brother, remember?”
“Whose idea do you think that was?” she said and threw her arms around me, pulling me in for an impromptu hug. “She thinks he’s being a complete idiot about this. I happen to agree. We’re all on your side.”
“But Chase—”
Charlie pulled away with an eyeroll. “That guy will probably be as good as new in a few months. I’ve seen people with worse injuries recover in my physical therapy classes. I don’t know why everyone’s acting like this is so dire.”
I nodded. “I hope you’re right. He really loves baseball.”
“That whole crazy family does,” she said. “By the way, was that the panty thief I saw coming out of your room? What did he have to say?”
“Nothing much,” I mumbled, the lie sitting heavy on my tongue. I just didn’t have the heart to rehash the whole conversation with Baylor so soon.
Rose came to the door then. “How’s it going in here?”
“Good,” I said. “That new paint is going to look awesome on your bookshelf when it dries.”
She nodded. “Just trying to brighten up the room.”
“The eggshell blue color is gorgeous,” Charlie said. “A very happy color.”
“And goodness knows, we could all use some more of that,” Rose said, her eyes taking in my face. “It will be okay, Honor. I’m sure he’ll come around eventually.”
I’d opened my mouth to respond when there was a ruckus at the front door. It sounded like Emmy was arguing with someone. The three of us exchanged a look and then dashed out into the living room.
I’ll never forget the sight that met my eyes.
Emmy had Archer in a headlock, his body doubled over even more to adjust to her smaller size. I had no idea how she’d gotten him in that position. If I wasn’t so sad, the whole thing would’ve been hilarious.
“I told you