But Archer didn’t see that. All he saw was that there weren’t any Bradleys in the bleachers at his games.
And as I think about his lighter eyes and lighter hair, I can’t help but wonder whether he was right to feel like an outcast. It’s not the first time I’ve wondered about it. It’s something Everleigh and I have even talked about before, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense why my dad would have roped Archer into signing the paperwork for his criminal activity.
It makes sense why Archer would’ve chosen baseball when the rest of us chose football, when our entire family is afootball family.
Maybe Archer isn’t a Bradley after all.
CHAPTER 19: Tatum Barker
Full Planner Mode
The wedding was a success, and I sleep in on Sunday morning in Kenzie’s casita only to wake up to the smell of bacon.
My first thought of the morning is of Ford.
Because of the bacon. That man loves his bacon.
I grab my phone and send him a text.
Me:Good morning. My friend’s place smells like bacon, and it made me think of you. [bacon emoji] Good luck at today’s game! [football emoji] [flexed bicep emoji]
His reply is immediate, and it has a photo of a plate with scrambled eggs and a pile of bacon.
Ford:Team breakfast this morning.
I giggle.
Me:Looks perfect for you.
Ford:The only thing that would have made it better is having you here with me.
I stare at his words as my chest tightens.
He means as a friend, right?
Archer’s words come back to me again, likely for the millionth time since he spoke them.He’s in love with you, you know.
No, I didn’t know. And no, he’s not. We’re friends. Close friends. The best of friends.
But when I think about faking it on Thanksgiving and how I didn’t reallywantto be faking it, well, I just end up in a pit of confusion that I can’t seem to climb out of.
Me:Lol. They wouldn’t let me within a block of that place on game day. Score me a TD, k?
Ford:I’ll do my best.
I leave it at that and emerge from my casita, where the bacon smell carried, and head toward the kitchen.
Kenzie’s two kids, a boy and a girl named Cassian and Kapri, are strapped into highchairs while Cody brings them milk in spillproof cups, and Kenzie flips pancakes at a griddle.
“It smells delicious in here,” I say.
“Good morning,” Cody says with a smile, and they really are just the sweetest family.
I look at the photos Kenzie often posts on her Instagram, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s really all as perfect as it seems. All blonde hair, blue eyes, wide smiles, the brightness levels turned up, and the exposure adjusted to perfection.
And as I walk into their bright kitchen that almost appears to have had the exposure adjusted this morning, it actuallyisas perfect as it seems.
Cody walks over and loops his arm around his wife’s waist, bending to kiss her cheek, and she giggles as she flips a rocket ship-shaped pancake likely meant for Cassian and a star-shaped pancake that’s probably for Kapri.
