Page 4

CHAPTER

TWO

ARCHIE

Nothing is better than a win. Well, nah, wait.

Pussy is better than a win. But tonight …

I got the win, and I’m going to get the pussy.

Or I hope to anyway. Ever since that night after our first game, I haven’t been able to find Emma.

I should have asked for her last name, but I’m a certifiable idiot.

When she left that night, I didn’t think I’d be feeling her the way I was the next morning and the morning after that. It’s been almost four weeks, and I still wouldn’t mind seeing her again.

There’s another party at Chris Schuster and Dan Smith’s house, the same house we met at, so I’m really hoping to see her there. That girl done rocked my world.

I drop the towel from my waist and get my jeans from the dresser drawer, pulling them on. Am I going to put boxers on? Nope. I like to let my balls roam free after a game. Besides, I don’t plan to have the jeans on for long if Emma is there.

I grab a pair of socks from another drawer, then move to my closet and take a T-shirt from a hanger. I put the shirt on, then walk over to my bed and sit down to put my socks on. My boots are sitting next to the bed, so I reach over to grab them and slide them on.

I’m a Texas boy through and through. I love football and my family—especially my mom. Not saying I’m a mama’s boy though. I just love the shit out of that woman. She’s put up with six rowdy athletic boys while my dad worked our family ranch.

With one last look in the mirror, I run my hand through my wavy blond hair, spray one puff of my Nautica Voyage on my neck, and walk out my bedroom door and down the hall.

“Pitzy,” I yell.

Liam Pitz is one of my roommates and the starting quarterback. We’ve been living together since our freshman year. I have a feeling this year is going to be tough on him though. Our rookie QB is gunning to start, and honestly, he’s damn good.

We have two other roommates.

Beckham Linson, who’s also become a good friend. I took him under my wing, so to speak, when he came to Walker last year. Kid’s wicked talented, and he will definitely make it pro.

Casey King is the other, and he and Beckham grew up together. He’s a chill guy and easy to hang with.

Oh, and plot twist … his twin sister, Charlie, moved in with us because her housing fell apart. Not only is she King’s sister, but she’s also Linson’s ex-girlfriend. He still has a thing for her though, so I love fucking with him. I flirt with her just to get under his skin. It’s fuckin’ funny.

I find Pitz in the kitchen, eating something over the sink. “Dude, just get a plate. That’s gross.”

“Nah, I’m good,” he says while shoving another bite of pizza in his mouth.

“You comin’ out with me tonight?” I ask with a nod of my head toward the door. “I think I’ll head over to Schuster and Smith’s again.”

Pitz looks over at me and grins.

“What, asshole? ”

“Dude, I see you. You’re going to look for that girl again, aren’t you?” He laughs.

I scoff. “No, I mean, I wouldn’t be mad if she was there. But I’m not going for her.” Lies.

“Okay, buddy. Keep telling yourself that. You know, it’s okay to like someone as more than just a fuck.”

Shaking my head, I turn to walk into the living room and toward the front door. My favorite cowboy hat sits on a hook in the entryway, so I head over to grab it. I brush the hair back from my face and put the hat on. It’s a hat night.

“Arch, you know I’m just fucking with you,” he yells from the kitchen.

I sigh and walk back into the kitchen. Pitz looks at me.

“Look, if you’re coming with me, let’s roll.”

“Okay, give me five. I just need to change my shirt. A pepperoni fell off my slice and the grease stained it.” He pulls his shirt off as he walks out of the kitchen toward his room down the hall.

While I wait, I check my phone and see a few texts from my brother Aiden. He plays hockey in a major junior league in New England, but it looks like he’ll be getting drafted this year too. He’s not even eighteen yet, but he will be by spring and won’t be playing college hockey.

Aiden: Sup, brotha?

Archie: Yo. Where are you? You’re on the road this week, yeah?

Aiden: Yep, we’re in sunny Wisconsin. We have a two-game series here, and then we’ll head back to NE. I didn’t catch your game, but saw the score. Congrats.

Archie: Yep. Thanks, bro. I have a feeling it’s going to be a good season.

Aiden: You heading out to celebrate?

Archie: Yeah, we’re just leaving now. I’ll text you tomorrow night.

Aiden: Later. Be careful. Gotta keep everything on the straight and narrow.

Archie: Where’s the fun in that?

I pocket my phone when Liam walks back into the kitchen.

“Let’s go, Griff. I’ve been waiting on you for hours.”

I shake my head and laugh. “Let’s do it.”

“What, no pre-party speech tonight?” he asks.

“Nah, I probably won’t stay long. Maybe just a few beers.” In truth, if Emma isn’t there, I’ll stay for a beer and check in with my teammates, but I won’t hang around.

I walk out first, and Liam shuts and locks the door. We don’t have far to go. Our friends live pretty much around the corner.

“How you feeling about the last few games?” I ask Pitz.

Our coach has been playing our rookie more and more in games, but Pitz got the win tonight.

He shifts his head from side to side. “I don’t know, man. I’m psyched that I got the win today, but it’s pretty clear that Coach is going to be using Callaway more. And I get it; I want to go all the way this season too. Just sucks for me if I don’t get the playing time, you know?”

I nod.

“I need to do some serious thinking about it though. I can’t sit on the bench this season if I want to enter the draft next year.” He looks over at me. “No joke though, it’ll kill me to leave Walker if that’s what I need to do.”

“Listen, try to stay focused on one game at a time. Keep working hard and prove to Coach you are a killer QB. Because you are. I hope you aren’t doubting yourself.

Callaway is good—I can’t deny it—but you are too.

Coach will do what he thinks is best for the team, but whatever he decides, try not to let it get in your head.

Whether you stay or go, you need to show the coaches you’ll do whatever it takes.

You feel me?” I put my arm around his neck and pull him in.

I rub my knuckles across his short brown hair.

“Fucker! Don’t noogie me.”

We both laugh.

When we round the corner, the house comes into view. Music is thumping, though not as loud as it usually is. A neighbor might have finally complained, or it’s not as wild. Yet.

“Okay, let’s do this. Not gonna lie—I’m hoping that girl I hooked up with last weekend isn’t here tonight,” he says. “She was blowing up my phone all week. I probably shouldn’t have answered the first text. So, if I see her here, I’m bolting, just so you know.” He looks over at me, eyes wide.

“All good. Let’s see what’s up. If it sucks, we can go home and get some food or something.” I have to admit, this is a big shift for me, but Emma blew my mind, and I can’t stop thinking about her.

The porch is empty for once as we walk up to the front door.

I open it, and because I am who I am, I yell out, “Ladies and gentlemen, I have arrived! Let the party begin!”

Pitz laughs as he walks by me toward the kitchen. A few girls try to catch my attention as I follow Pitz.

I don’t stop walking but look over at them. “Hello, ladies. How you doin’ tonight?”

“Hey, Archie! Come dance with us later,” one of the girls says.

She looks familiar, as in she’s always at our parties, but I don’t have a clue what her name is. I probably hooked up with her at some point.

“We’ll see. May just do that.” I wink, but I’m not feeling it.

Liam looks back at me with a smirk. “Not entertaining the ladies tonight?”

I flip him off.

We get into the kitchen and find Schuster and Smith standing around the island with beers in their hands. Where there is typically a bunch of liquor on the countertop, it’s empty tonight.

“Sup, fellas?” I fist-bump them both. “Quiet night tonight, yeah?” I walk over to the fridge and grab myself and Pitz a beer.

“Bro, I got trucked today. I’m so sore; I can hardly move.

There’s no way I’d be able to do cleanup and shit tomorrow.

I could use a good rubdown from that blonde out there,” Smith says, pointing his finger at one of the girls we just walked by.

“But I’m ready to kick all these people out and just play some video games and crash. ”

“I feel that. I’m not planning to stay late myself.” I look around to see who else is here.

Am I looking for Emma? You bet.

“Arch, you’re pathetic, man.” Liam laughs and looks at our friends. “He’s looking for a chick he hooked up with, like, over a month ago. Got her first name, and that’s it. Hasn’t seen her since. Dude’s down bad for her.”

I glare at him. “Fuck you. I am not down bad for her. I just had a good time, is all.”

I know I’m downplaying it, but the last two years at Walker, I’ve never tied myself to a girl, let alone had more than one night with one. I’ve never misled any chick into thinking it would be anything more either. Like I said, I love women, and my mom would kick my ass if I ever disrespected one.

“Who was it?” Schuster asks.

“Her name was Emma,” Pitz answers for me.

Schuster punches him in the chest. “There’ve probably been at least a dozen Emmas who came through here in the past month alone.”

“What did she look like?” Smith asks.

I take a drink of my beer before I answer. “Long blonde hair. Green eyes. Complete baddie.”

I could say more, but like I said, I respect women, and they don’t need to know anything else. Like how she tasted like the sweetest honey. How she rode me like a rodeo queen. How tight her body was …

Fuck. I’m gonna get hard if I keep thinking about her.

“That narrows it down. Blonde, green eyes, Emma. Yep,” Schuster says sarcastically and nods.

“Fuck you, Travis,” I say with a laugh.

He has a point though. But this girl isn’t like any of the other Emmas who have come through here.

“Go walk around and see if she’s here tonight.” Pitz nods to the other room, where we saw the girls walking in. There are also some girls dancing in the dining room. “I’ll come with you.”

“Good luck!” Smith laughs as we walk out.

We walk into the dining room first. I look around, but don’t see anyone who looks like her.

A brunette latches on to Liam, wrapping her arms around him. “Hey, Pitzy! I’m so glad you came tonight. You had an awesome game today.” She looks up at him with a very clear fuck me look.

“Thank you, babe. Come dance with me to celebrate.” He hands me his beer, then unwinds her arms from around his waist and takes her by the hand. She’s good-looking for sure—brown hair with some blue streaks running through, tight body.

One of the girls she was standing with comes over to me. “Hey, Archie. Wanna dance?”

I put both beer bottles into one hand and take off my hat with my other hand and put it over my heart. “I appreciate it, doll, but I’m not gonna stay long tonight. But next time.” I wink at her.

Placing my hat back on my head, I look at Pitz dancing with his girl. “Yo, Pitz. I think I’m gonna head out.”

He lifts his chin and smirks. “Later, lover boy.”

Fucker.

Walking back through the kitchen, I set his bottle on the counter, down my beer, and toss it into the garbage on the side of the island .

As I walk back toward the front door, I see more of my friends hanging out, talking to some of the girls who were at the front of the house when we arrived. I take off my hat again and lift it in the air.

“Boys, I’m out. Good game today, fellas. Ladies … have a good night.”

Goodbyes are said as I walk out, but I don’t look back.

I make it back home in less than five minutes.

When I walk in the door, I set my hat on the hook and kick my boots off. Our family room is off the entryway, so I make my way over to the couch and turn on SportsCenter .

The highlights are on from today’s games, and I catch some footage of one of the tackles I made—and not trying to hype myself up, but I’m one of the best tackles in NCAA football—even though the commentators are talking about Liam.

Once they move on to other news in the sports world, I pull out my phone from my pocket and scroll through Instagram. I might have looked for Emma on social media a time or two without success. But it’s not gonna stop me from trying again.