I grimace, averting my gaze. “No.”
He blurts out a chuckle. “You really don’t want to come to the match, huh?”
“Sorry. It’s nothing personal,” I say, angling myself to face him. “It’s just… not my scene, you know?”
“Well, if you had an equivalent, and I could come watch you perform surgery, I totally would. I’d cheer you on, clap, chant—the whole works.”
A vivid image of Archie cheering me on as I perform an emergency thoracotomy comes to mind, and I smile, because I know he totally would.
“Come on,” he says as we climb out of the car. “You’ll have fun.”
I shake my head, pulling my bag over my shoulder as we head toward the lift. “I don’t know…”
The doors slide open, and the familiar scent of green tea air freshener takes over.
“You know,” he continues, leaning against the wall as we step inside. “There’s a strong possibility that you’ll end up at the stadium anyway.”
I arch an eyebrow as the lift starts going up.
“Would you prefer to be there as a VIP attendee, or because a stand collapses, and you’re dispatched to the scene to treat the victims?”
“Whoa,” I breathe out. “You’re a real bundle of joy, aren’t you? Here I thought you were the funny one.”
He chuckles as the bell pings at our floor, and we step out. “Yeah, but I can also be pretty dark. One of the many,manythings that make me interesting.”
An unrestrained laugh filters out of me.
“So, you’d literally be saving lives by agreeing to come,” he says as we reach our doors.
And I don’t know if it’s the soft lighting on the landing, the way Archie’s deep green eyes trap me, or the lingering cloud of patchouli perfume impairing my decision making—but I find myself nodding.
“Fine, I’ll come. Only because saving people is my thing.”
His casual smile transforms into a full-fledged grin, and I almost lose my footing. “Can’t wait. I have a feeling you’re going to love it.”
“I’ll keep an open mind,” I say, swallowing hard.
“That’s all I’m asking,” he breathes out. He’s closer now. And for one deranged second, I genuinely think we’re about to kiss—right here on the same landing where we’ve argued a dozen times before.
I clear my throat and step back. “Well, see you. Thanks again for coming tonight.”
He nods, slipping his hands into his pockets. “I had fun. Good night, Kat.”
I unlock my door while breaking multiple speed records, hurry inside, and lean against the wood as if I just escaped mortal danger. At least I’m safe now. Who knows what he’d have had me agreeing to next? Clearly, Archie Wilcott has some mysterious powers when it comes to convincing Lennox women, and I don’t trust myself around him.
Chapter 15
"He’d be a fantastic lover, I’m sure of that."
Archie
Training has gotten easier with each passing day. A week has passed, and I’m now buzzed for our first match of the season. We’re playing Wexford, which is not our biggest threat. A nice way to kick things off. Kat and Gilly both confirmed they’re coming—Oscar is apparently out of the picture already—and they should be arriving in the VIP box right about now. I resist the urge to text her, though. She said she’d come. She’s here, I’m sure of it.
I yank on my boots, then glance down to double-check my socks: one white, one blue.
Callum grunts from two stalls down, taping up his ankle like he’s preparing for war. “You do realise it doesn’t actually change anything, eh?”
“Sure it does,” I say, adjusting my laces. “We’ve never lost a home opener when I’ve worn mismatched socks.”
