Chapter 25 #2
I can see and sense the uncertainty as it manifests in her brain.
Fear of the unknown. Who can blame her? She’s just had her whole world flipped on its axis.
It’s understandable that, one minute, she feels steady and okay, and the next, she feels like life is anything but.
My job right now is to help stop her head from spinning and give her the love and stability she and our baby need.
“You don’t need to worry, Darcy. I promise everything is going to be okay.”
Her hand cups my elbow, being careful to make sure it’s the one closest to the bar so no one can see.
“This is really complicated for me, Archer. My head is telling me so many things; my emotions and hormones are everywhere. Then Liam decides to get in touch, and it’s like I’m reminded of the reasons why I walked away from him.
I guess you could say he’s triggered me.
” She drops her eyes to the floor. “Add to that, it feels like I’ve got no control over my own life when I came here to get exactly that.
I moved to escape the toxic people from my past and be closer to those I love and care about. ”
I edge even closer, desperate to wrap her in my arms. “You’re doing so well though, Darcy.
You’re killing it at work, taking everything in your stride.
Do you know how much respect I have for you?
I could never move to a new country and fit in so seamlessly, so quickly.
I’ve never met a person like you before.
It’s like you have this aura that encapsulates people.
Liam and your dad either couldn’t see that or didn’t want to because they felt threatened, and that’s on them and their insecurities.
I see it though, and I want more of it. I want to watch you soar in your career and live out all of your dreams. You make me want to better myself on and off the ice, and now that you’re carrying my baby … those feelings have only intensified.”
When Darcy’s smile reemerges, warmth floods my insides. I helped to put that back there, on her lips, where it belongs.
“Thank you, Archer.” Her voice is soft, but I’d hear it over the loudest music. “I can’t explain how much that means to me.”
If I cupped my hand around the back of her neck and pulled her smiling mouth to mine, I wonder how many seconds it would take Jack’s fist to connect with the side of my face …
Like I can sense eyes on us, my attention snags on the team booth, and I look straight at Jack. He’s staring right at us, a beer to his mouth and Kendra’s hand on his arm.
Offering a salute to my center, I hope that will be enough to placate him.
“What did Liam say to you exactly?” I try hard to keep my voice gentle for Darcy’s sake when all I want to do is rip her ex’s head off.
Darcy chews on her bottom lip. “It doesn’t matter because I have no intention of engaging him in a conversation. We’re done, and that’s all there is to say.”
“Jack says he wants you back.” This time, I’m working even harder to keep my voice calm, to keep my jealousy and rage simmering below boiling point.
Darcy doesn’t say anything as she takes another sip of water, clearing her throat.
Fuck. All I want is to throw her over my shoulder and take her away somewhere, anywhere, where it’s just the two of us and no one else. Fuck hockey, fuck Glide and chess club and anyone else who wants to get in our way.
“Liam says a lot of things, most of it being bullshit. God, Jesus. Why is life so complicated?” She pushes out a frustrated breath.
“If anyone can figure it out, I know you can.”
I wink at her, and she does a double take before a rogue grin pulls at her top lip.
Darcy sets her glass down and straightens on her stool.
“Is that so, Thigh Boy?” Her voice takes on a bratty tone, and I fucking love it when she’s like this.
Challenging me. “Please do enlighten my masterful problem-solving brain. How can this be uncomplicated?” She subtly circles her lower stomach, and my chest swells.
“We can work as a team. Your brain is built to break codes and mysteries. Mine is designed to care for you and our child.”
Her face softens in the wake of my words, shoulders relaxing. I know she wants to say more.
When Darcy slides off the stool and heads for the restroom, I can tell that she needs a minute. I’ll always give her the space she needs.
“Don’t suppose you have any teammates who want to be obsessed with me and break a few rules along the way, do you?”
Jenna’s half laughing, half serious. That much is obvious as she pulls my attention back to the bar, and I rest a foot on Darcy’s stool, playing with the strap on her wrist bag.
I’m surprised she left it behind since all girls like to powder their nose and shit when they take an hour in the restroom.
Especially British princesses.
“Why? Are you hoping to snag a hockey boyfriend too?”
Jenna scoffs. “Yes, no, maybe. What with Kendra, Collins, and now Darcy dating a Blades boy, I’m the odd one out. As per fucking usual.” She breathes the last part quietly, and I’m not about to correct her on my relationship status.
Jenna’s a real enigma. Outwardly, she’s your usual girl and pro athlete.
But this conversation only proves my initial impression of her correct.
She wants a boy from the bad side of town and one who will push all her buttons and excite her.
I’m certain of it. I’ve seen enough girls to know what they want.
“Emmett Richards is single,” I suggest.
She takes a sip of her cocktail, shaking her head. “No offense to him, but he doesn’t float my boat.” She shrugs a shoulder, turning to face the rest of the room. “No one here does. I guess I’m looking for a unicorn.”
She doesn’t wait for my response as she pushes off the bar, heading for the restroom herself. I guarantee Darcy will be another thirty minutes now.
And that gives my brain just enough time to center back on Liam. It’s not lost on me that Darcy didn’t tell me what he had said when he contacted her, and a part of me wonders if her omission was deliberate.
He doesn’t deserve to lay eyes on her again, let alone have her back in his life. Rage sprouts from anxiety, fire singeing my veins.
She’s carrying my baby, and now he comes waltzing back into her life like they can just start over. Sure, he doesn’t know she’s pregnant—or at least I think he doesn’t—but who the fuck is this guy?
I stare down at her bag.
Don’t do it, Archer.
The small voice of reason loses, and I snatch up her bag, unzipping it and pulling out her phone as I head for the door, praying no one on the team is witnessing my exit.
The chilled fall air clings to my thin dress shirt as I stand outside Lloyd’s, staring at Darcy’s locked phone. A picture of her, Kendra, Collins, and Jenna on a night out fills the screen.
Fuck. I want that picture to be of me, bouncing our baby on my knee.
My first attempt to unlock her phone fails. The code isn’t her date of birth then.
I try a second—Jack and Kendra’s wedding date.
No luck.
Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I contemplate the impossible. She wouldn’t go with the first night we hooked up, would she? I try it since that’s my passcode.
The screen unlocks, and I swallow down a lump of emotion, navigating to her messages.
Shit, I know this is an invasion of privacy, but my protective instincts tell me Darcy is only letting me see the tip of the Liam iceberg.
Liam
Why are you dodging all of my calls?
Darcy
Because we’ve got nothing more to say. I don’t want to talk to you, and it’s my right to have peace.
Liam
Speak for yourself. I have plenty to say.
Darcy
Like what? I’m at work, and I need to concentrate on an article that’s due to be published first thing in the morning.
Liam
Like I want you back. Like I think we made a mistake, splitting up. You shouldn’t be in New York. You should be here with me, planning our lives together.
Darcy
Are you for real? The last I heard, you were in love with Libby. Get a grip, Liam. Does she know you’re texting me?
Liam
Libby and I are over. So, no, she doesn’t.
Liam
Are you seeing anyone right now?
Darcy
You lost the right to ask me that a while back.
Liam
What’s his name?
Darcy
This is ridiculous. Leave me alone.
Liam
Not going to happen. What’s his name?
Darcy
My life has got nothing to do with you anymore.
Liam
It will if I board a plane to New York and see you. You shouldn’t be there, Darce. And why have you suddenly decided to work for a lowly fashion magazine? I thought you had aspirations that were higher than that. You always screamed about your dreams enough, LOL.
Darcy
The only aspirations I have right now are ones that involve ending this conversation.
Liam
And there’s the problem, right there.
Darcy
…
Liam
You’ve always thought you were above me, always had the witty retorts to try and shut me down. Is it any wonder I cheated when you’re so fucking full of yourself? So fucking self-assured all the time.
Liam
Good luck to whoever your guy is. He’s going to fucking need it.
The fact that it’s Darcy’s phone I’m holding is the only reason it isn’t crushed into a thousand pieces.
Motherfucker.
I stand, staring down the lit street, cars passing and people walking by as I think over—or more try and talk myself out of—calling this prick.
Fuck it. He won’t know my voice. He’s likely never watched a hockey game in his life. Probably into some weird shit.
At the international dial tone, I can’t fight back the smug smile. Good. He’s still thousands of miles from her—exactly where he needs to be.
“Hello? Darcy?” a sleepy male voice croaks down the line.
Instantly, my adrenaline is pumping. The rage I felt before has nothing on now.
“Is everything okay?” he asks when I don’t reply.
As I hear him shift in bed, since it must be three a.m. in the UK right now, I wonder if he’s actually alone or still shacked up with the girl he claims he’s ended things with.
“Baby, are you still there?”