Archer’s unexpected reply pulls my attention to his face.
“Don’t you agree that the best things in life come to you when you least expect them?” he continues. “Take Darcy, for example. I was the NHL’s biggest playboy, and I was good with it too. Did I plan to fall in love with my teammate’s little sister?” He shakes his head, a smile creasing around his blue eyes. “Nope. It just happened. And now I have a stunning daughter and wife to show for it.”
I appreciate the sentiment, even if his situation is entirely different from mine. Jack was always going to be pissed at Archer for banging his sister in secret, but his life—and maybe even the structure of his face—was never at risk.
“If you and Maria made a mistake splitting, then it’s never too late to go back and fix things.”
My laughter punctuates an otherwise silent locker room as Archer watches on, confusion knitted between his brows.
“Yeah, you couldn’t be any further from the mark if you tried,” I tell him.
My goalie maintains his silence. He wants me to elaborate, and I have no clue what words to use next. I’ve known and played with Archer for a number of seasons, and with each year that’s passed, I’ve seen him grow into someone I know I can trust with my private business. Even if he might not always understand it. He knows Maria and I had an on-off marriage for a while, and at one point, I remember announcing that we’d split, my declaration fueled by too much booze and heartache. He was there for me then, and he’ll be there for me now.
“Maria and I are finished; there’s no going back for either of us. Not this time around and never again.”
Archer runs a hand through his wet hair. “Is there someone else? Because you’re giving me vibes like there might be.”
I blow out a quick breath. “Yes—no—maybe.” Our eyes connect. “How did you guess all that just from my vibes?”
He looks at me like it’s obvious, circling his own face for effect. “You remind me of me when I was pining after Darcy, but knew I couldn’t have her.”
I jump up from the bench, his observations hitting way too close for comfort.
He follows me, golden-retriever enthusiasm overtaking his expression when he bumps his shoulder against mine. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Just leave it, okay?”
His eyes land on the open training bag, my cell sitting on top of folded clothes. “It’s someone you can’t—or shouldn’t—want, isn’t it?”
Archer’s serious tone pulls a, “Yes,” from me, along with a deep rumble from my chest. “Although her life is possibly more screwed up than mine right now.”
He pauses with his T-shirt halfway over his head, speaking through the material. “Screwed up how?”
I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me.
“She just had a baby, and her shitty ex bailed on her.”
“Prick.”
I nod once. “She had to drop out of college as a result.”
Pulling his T-shirt down, Archer’s eyes practically bug out. “Whoa! Back up a step, man. Did you just saycollege?”
This is right about the point where I should stop speaking. But, hey, Sawyer and Collins are in the know. Might as well let Archer in on it too. Hell, maybe we could announce it on the Jumbotron next game.
“She’s twenty-one before you go and lose your mind.”
He points at my chest, hand hovering over the only tattoo Ihave. “And you’re, what … thirty-five?” He takes a second, counting on his fingers before moving to his toes. “Jesus, that’s fourteen years!”
“Very astute, Moore. Would you like a gold star?”
He rolls his eyes at me this time. “No. But seriously, next, you’ll tell me that she’s your niece or something.”
My grimace says it all.
“Holy fuck!”
I clap a palm over his mouth, wincing as I check to make sure that we’re still alone. Mercifully, we are. “Obviously, she isn’t my actual niece,” I grit out. “But she is the daughter of my and my ex-wife’s best friends.”
