Page 90 of Shots Fired

Emotions are high around the table. Even Kate’s stoic eyes wear a gloss.

“What’s that?” I ask.

Kate swallows. I can’t tell if there’s regret or she’s simply reminiscing. “Don’t waste the next seven months of pregnancy convincing yourself that you want to co-parent with a man who would do anything and everything for you and his unborn family. Embrace it, girl. Embrace him and all that he is—because trust me when I say there are women out there who would kill to be in our position. Being a mother—from conception to the day we leave this earth—shouldn’t be something we do alone. The person who should step up to the plate is your man or partner. I know Liam—the fucker—ripped your heart out, but don’t let that stop you from loving Archer with everything you have. Life’s too short, and pregnancy is too special.”

If I wasn’t sitting in a packed restaurant, I’d let the sobs break free. In thirty seconds, Kate has nailed exactly how I’m feeling, hitting right at the heart of my fears.

“You know what I think?”

“What’s that, Mum?” I croak out.

Her tears are flowing freely now. “I think I’m the luckiest woman alive.” She wraps her spare arm around Kate’s shoulders. “I have the best friends and the strongest, smartest, and most beautiful daughter I could’ve ever wished for. I also think you should heed every single word Kate said because she’s one thousand percent correct, and I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

We sit with our words and my reality, one that feels more exciting with every passing second. I’m not naive enough to believe that my short- and long-term future won’t be full of difficult moments. However, I am wise enough to believe and trust in the people around me.

I have to trust them. I have to trust Archer.

“I’m assuming Jack doesn’t know?”

I shake my head at Mum, a kernel of unease reappearing. “No, he doesn’t.” Emotion is replaced by insistence when I speak again. “And that’s the way I want to keep it. I think we all know that regardless of Archer’s intentions with me and the baby, this is going to go down like a lead fucking balloon. Jack thinks his goalie has a girlfriend over in Dallas when, in fact, he’s been hooking up with his sister behind his back, and now we have a baby on the way. It could tear the team apart, and I’m not going to share anything about my pregnancy until at least twelve weeks. The only people who do and will know are you both, my girlfriends, and Archer.”

“Jon shouldn’t know either. It would be unfair and awkward as fuck if he did. Having to coach and keep it a secret from Jack—I know he’d hate that,” Mum says, and relief floods through me. “Plus, you are my daughter, and you come above everything for me. Always. So, if you want to wait on telling people, then we wait.”

I twist my hands around in front of me. “Do you think Jack will go crazy?”

Mum shrugs. She isn’t dismissing my worry, but she clearly doesn’t see it the same way. “Probably. But that’s something the boys have got to work through. You are your own woman, making a decision for yourself, your pregnancy, and for your man. If Jack wants to get into it with his friend, then that’s on them. As are the consequences that the new GM will rein down on anyone who steps out of line.”

I wince. “He rules with an iron fist?”

Mum raises her brows. “Between the three of us, Jon isn’t so sure about him. He’s making some changes that aren’t going down well with the non-playing staff, and his ideas for the direction he wants the team to go in aren’t exactly conducive with Jon’s. I don’t think the GM has loyalties to anyone onthe team, regardless of how long they’ve been working with or playing for the Blades. So, if Jack and Archer want to get into it over their egos, then let’s just say, it might not sit well, and they could find their asses on the bench, on the farm team, or worse still, on the trade list before the March deadline.”

In a roundabout way, Mum’s only confirmed what Jenna said to me, and my stomach rolls. The thought of Archer being shipped off to another team, maybe even the other side of the country, brings a whole new level of fear.

And comprehension—Kate’s right. I don’t just need Archer; I want him too.

My mobile pings on the table next to me. It’s face down as my eyes fall to it.

“One hundred dollars says that’s your obsessive baby daddy.”

I roll my eyes at Kate. Giddy excitement courses through every artery as I pick up my phone and open our message thread.

Thigh Boy: That’s so weird because Mom likes you too, along with the fact that you’re having my baby.

Thigh Boy: Anyway, enough about parents. When can I come get you and take you back to bed? I have Taco Bell on speed dial and an entire night free to be at my girl’s beck and call.

CHAPTER THIRTY

ARCHER

“This is craziness. I thought we were pushing our luck at Fort Greene Park, but the movies?!”

Darcy takes a step back and looks at me beneath the thick scarf and new yellow beanie I bought her. I can only see her cheeks, nose, and eyes as she peers up at me.

I thumb over my shoulder toward the theater entrance. “Your favorite movie is showing as a rerun, and I knew you’d want to see it. This is the only night they had tickets left.”

Her eyes flare wide, and I can’t help but laugh as I pull my cap lower.

It’s true; I am a fucking idiot for doing this. Crazy comes naturally around this girl.