Chapter 45
Archer
You know how in romance novels where everything is going great but there is like one hundred pages left and you’re sitting there thinking.
“This is going too well, something bad is going to happen.” Like this would be the part in one of my pirate books where the duchess agrees to marry the commodore to save her beloved pirate.
Well, I’m not marrying any commodore but I did drunk post. Not only did I drunk post, but I drunk-posted a picture of Ellie.
It’s not a bad picture at all, in fact it might be one of my favorite pictures of her ever.
The Christmas tree is giving off soft lighting, she’s in sweatpants and one of my Wolves sweatshirts, and she’s slugging her Baja Blast. The problem is, I posted Ellie’s face and tagged her and then promptly fell asleep.
This clearly had to have happened after she fell asleep as well because neither of us caught it until it was too late.
She’s not mad per say, but I can tell she’s flustered.
“I gained over twenty-three thousand followers, why do people want to follow me?!” Ellie exclaims. She’s curled up on the couch, her favorite blanket enveloping her, biting her lip. A nervous tick she has I noticed.
“Maybe they’re hoping you’ll post thirst traps of me?” I try to joke.
She shoots me a look that I know has had her students scrambling back to their seats.
“It’s going to be fine right? Like women aren’t going to try to Single White Female me, right?”
“I’m surprised you know that movie, you hate scary movies.”
“Just because I know the premise doesn’t mean I’ve watched it.”
“That’s fair.” I hand her a cup of coffee and sit next to her. “I really am sorry; you just looked so perfect I clearly had to show you off to the world.”
She offers a small smile as she pulls up the photo, “I do look pretty good.” She acquiesces.
“Although…” I begin. She shoots me a look. “I do think you’re one of the popular kids now.” Laughter escapes me as I dodge the pillow she tries to hit me with.
“It was going to happen eventually.” Elle says, sipping her coffee.
“Everyone important in our lives already knew we were together so it’s not like a shock to our immediate friends and families.
” I can’t tell if she’s trying to reassure herself or me.
“I don’t think I’m that interesting, people aren’t going to be all that interested in me and my life.
The coolest thing about me I guess is that I’m dating you.
Hell, I’m not even a fashion icon, I still wear skinny jeans. ”
I beg to differ, she’s the most amazing and interesting person to me, but I keep my mouth shut because she’s clearly trying to reassure herself that this isn’t a big deal.
“Plus, like everything aside from my Instagram is private, so they can’t get major details about me.”
I nod, this is true, it’s like teaching 101, make everything private. Her Instagram was originally private too, but she turned it public at the gender reveal so her sister-in-law’s family could snag all the pictures she took and posted. She forgot to turn it back to private apparently.
“Are you going to be okay with everything?” I ask, my heart racing, anxiety finally taking hold that she might decide that the baggage of dating an NFL player is too much and end things.
“I’m going to have to be.” She smiles reassuringly at me. “I love you, and if this Instagram famous thing is a price to pay for being with you, I’ll gladly pay it.”
Relief floods through me and I kiss her cheek. “In that case, should we buy you some non-skinny jeans so you can fit in with the cool kids?”
She elbows me in the ribs, sloshing her coffee on her sweatpants. “SHIT! HOT!” she yells, I quickly grab her mug before she can spill more and help her clean up the rest.
She’s changing in our bedroom when I hear her yell, “Just for the jeans comment I will be posting thirst traps of you now.”
“My mom follows you!” I shout back.
“I don’t care!”
I chuckle and finish cleaning up the coffee mess.
The morning is slow and lazy, something both Ellie and I needed after I posted her face on the internet.
Ellie is curled up once more in her favorite blanket reading a book on her Kindle, Fish is curled up next to her.
I snap a quick picture; I’ll never tire of having pictures of my girl.
I smile and begin to pack my overnight bag for tonight.
Coach expects us at the airport at two. I’ve had my hangover cure and have been hydrating something fierce to try to remove the alcohol from my system.
If this was any other occasion Coach would have absolutely reemed us for going out like that during the season, but Coach has a soft spot for DJ.
Once my bag is packed, I kiss Ellie one more time before heading to the airport to catch our flight for the game.
Practice is smooth even in the aftermath of last night’s party.
Still riding the high of DJ’s engagement, everyone is more keyed up than usual.
Once I am in my room, I hang up my suit in the closet and set out the remainder of my personal items before showering off practice and the remaining booze I sweat out.
Once I’m clean and dressed, I head down to the ballroom for the team meetings.
I check my phone and see a text from Cassie. Cassie? My chest tightens unexpectedly.
Do I open the message? Do I just delete it? Ultimately my curiosity gets the better of me and open the message.
Cassie: I promise I only lightly stalk you every few months to see how your family is doing. Your new girl is very pretty. I’m happy for you Arch. Good luck tomorrow. We’re rooting for you.
I’m thrown off balance by the mixture of emotions that hit me. The ghost of our almost marriage and the relief that we’re both happy in our current relationships. Still, I find myself rubbing my chest trying to dispel the weird feelings.
I leave my room and walk down to the lobby with Ty, Cameron and DJ.
“You’re quiet.” Ty remarks as we sit in our usual spot for the team dinner.
“Cassie texted me; I’m trying to decide if I should tell Elle about it not.”
“What was the text about?” DJ asks.
“She was just congratulating me on my relationship with Elle, says she’s pretty.”
Ty frowns a bit.
“Do you think she wasn’t being genuine? I mean you were the one who ended things right? But she’s the one who cheated. You don’t think she’s trying to wriggle her way back in, do you?” Cameron asks. He’s only heard the story of Cassie; he wasn’t around for that trainwreck being a rookie and all.
“No. I don’t think so. She seemed…Well, I saw her at her dad’s funeral so I wouldn’t say she was happy, but she seemed content in her relationship with Doug. They were high school sweethearts.” I add. “I think” I pause. “I think she was truly being supportive.”
“You’re debating whether or not it’s worth telling Elle about it.” DJ states.
“Yeah, more or less.”
“Just tell her, or better yet, take a screen shot of the text, send it to her. Explain, she texted you out of the blue and you just wanted to let her know. Elle was super supportive of you going to Frank’s funeral. I’m sure she’ll be chill about this message.” DJ says.
“I agree with Deej.” Ty says. “It will look bad if you try to hide that your ex is texting you, even if it’s an innocent message.”
I’m only half listening to Ty and DJ as they dole out relationship advice, I’m too busy typing out the text message that is going along with the screen shot to Elle. After crafting what I think is an eloquent message I pocket my phone and turn all my attention toward my teammates.