Stella: Oliver drools excitedly?
I stop paying attention to my phone now that I am safely out of the hot seat. I clean up the very few dishes that Sadie and I made and get ready for bed when my phone rings, Archer’s handsome face flashing on the screen.
“Hey!” I answer and put him on speaker while I finish my nighttime routine.
I hear him juggling his phone and keys. “Hey! Sorry, I almost dropped my phone there. Did you watch the press conference? Not that it matters if you didn’t, I just may have revealed we were dating to the world. I didn’t say your name. I figured you would want to remain anonymous as long as possible.”
“I did watch your press conference and it prompted me to tell my family.” I spray my hair down and put it in heatless curls for tomorrow to help maximize the amount of time I can sleep in the morning.
“Oh? What did they say?” I can’t tell exactly but it sounds like Archer is nervous.
“My sisters are pissed at me for not telling them sooner. My little sister has a huge crush on you so sorry for that awkward encounter that will inevitably happen.”I take a breath. “My brother wants you to come to his baby’s gender reveal and I quote ‘make me the coolest dad to be in front of my friends.’” Archer laughs at that comment. “My parents are excited they want to come down for a weekend and meet you.”
“That sounds great honestly.” He must be in the hotel room because he’s not trying as hard as before to talk quietly. “And when is the gender reveal? As long as I’m free I will try to make it.”
I have to look up the date on my phone for the gender reveal. “It’s on November 3rd.”
Archer must be looking at his calendar as well because there’s a pause. “I can actually make it that weekend. We have a Thursday night game that week so I’m free that weekend.”
“Great. I will RSVP for us then, I’m pretty sure you just guaranteed the baby will have the middle name of Archer or Belle depending on the gender.” I joke, but as soon as the words leave my mouth I’m not so sure if it’s a joke.
“Nikki wants us to wear the color we think the baby will be.”
“Oh, what are you thinking?” He asks.
“A boy. Basically, because I really want another nephew so it’s even. Plus, I have a very cute, blue dress I want to wear.” I smile and make my way over to bed and get under the covers. Archer and I continue to talk until I begin to fall asleep on him.
Chapter 19
Archer
“Iheard we’re going to a haunted house.” Cameron Hawkins, our first-round draft pick and defensive end says as he shoulders his backpack. “Ty invited me, says I need to get out and meet new people.” He uses air quotes as he relays the last bit.
“I also invited Steph, our social media manager.” Ty says for Cameron’s benefit. “I figured it would be a good chance for her to get some photos for team bonding as well as maybe some faceless photos for your Instagram of you and Elle.”
“Faceless photos?” I ask.
“Team bonding?” Cameron asks.
“Yeah, I heard a couple of the guys are going to Scream City tonight as well. Deej is going with his boyfriend, Jacob is going with his brothers, so it made sense to invite Steph for a team bonding photo there. As for the faceless photos, Elle doesn’t want her face plastered everywhere which I get, but also the press have been hounding you for photos. I figured it’s a win for everyone, we get to hang out, Steph gets some quality posts for our social media, you get some cutesy faceless photos that either you, Steph or Jason can do shit with.Now tell me I’m a genius so we can get going. The girls are going to meet us there.” Ty says. “Elle’s friend Vi and her fiancé are meeting us there too.”
“I feel like you talk more to Ellie than I do.”
“We have a book chat.” Ty corrals us into his SUV. I’m in the second row with Cameron while Ty and Stephanie are up front. Ty types in the address for Scream City and we make our way. Stephanie controls the radio and has us listening to a campy playlist of Halloween songs. Cameron tells us about how he’s settling in and he tells us how this is the first time he’s ever lived alone. He’s always had roommates or his family with him.
“You know, if you ever are lonely, my cousin runs the animal shelter on North and Broadway. They’re always looking for volunteers. It’s the perfect way to get your pupper fix without having to worry about an animal while you’re away for your games. Plus having their pictures taken with famous football players helps them get adopted faster.” Stephanie winks at us from the front seat.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Cameron smiles at her. The ride goes by quickly and we find ourselves in a very crowded parking lot.
Apparently, everyone is in the mood for some Halloween haunts. I try to call Ellie but the screams from inside the festival make it hard to hear. Instead, I see a message from her telling where to meet. Our group finally ends up finding Ellie’s group and I can’t help but smile when I see her. She’s in her regular leggings and a ghost sweatshirt that matches Sadie’s. They both have Halloween earrings in, and I can’t help but grin. Elle often says she and Sadie share one brain cell and I have never been more convinced of it as I am today.
After a quick round of introductions, we head over to the ticket booth to buy our tickets for the night. Ellie’s friends Vi and Phoenix joined us for the night, and I discovered that Vi is the Violet who is the owner of the art studio where Sadie made my titty pumpkin picture. Which hangs in the main guestroom aka Ty’s bedroom when he needs to stay for an early morning flight.
The sun has set by the time we get into the festival. The air has turned crisp and cool and the smell of popcorn and sugar hangs in the air from the various food vendors. Screams echo all around us from the seven different haunted attractions. Deej, or DJ Matthews as the sporting world knows him, meets us in front of the haunted hayride with his boyfriend and Stephanie takes a picture of us guys for the social media accounts.
After the photo we wait in line for the hayride. Ellie is squeezing my hand and bouncing on her toes. “We don’t have to go on the hayride. We can just walk around and get fair food.” I bend down so she can hear me over the screams.
“No, no, we paid for this, I need to make it through one of the haunted houses. Or trails slash rides. Whatever you want to call them.” She laughs nervously.
