He’s mere feet away from me, an actual man in uniform—a baseball uniform, anyway. He’s sweaty from running around catching and hitting balls, and he looks different than he did in the Bahamas. There, he was relaxed with me. He was himself. Here, he’s putting on the act for the reporters. He’s serious even though he must be thrilled to be back. I know him well enough to know that.
He’s uncomfortable, answering questions in the way clearly the PR director told him to, constantly throwing his praise to his teammates and organization.
He hasn’t seen me. He’s focused on the reporters asking him questions, first the TV broadcasters, then the beat and local reporters. He has no clue I’m here, anyway. He wouldn’t even know to look for me.
“Thank you all,” Natalie says, dismissing the reporters, and I think for a moment that maybe she forgot, but then she nods at me as the others walk away. “We have one last question, Archer.”
My heart races. A flutter rises up in my belly.
It’s just the two of us here on the field. No cameras. No phones. Just us. And Natalie. And the thousands of screaming fans still in the stadium.
His eyes fall to me, and he freezes.
His jaw slackens, and his eyes widen.
“Millie,” he whispers. “What are you doing here?”
I lick my lips, my entire mouth suddenly drier than the desert. “Welcome back,” I say softly.
He’s about to respond when Natalie—who must not know why I’m here—interrupts. “Did you have a question?”
I nod. “Can I ask a question off the record?”
Archer glances at Natalie. “Can you excuse us, please?”
She narrows her eyes at Archer, but she relents, walking away.
Another player in a Heat uniform walks by and slaps Archer on the shoulder. “Great game, man! Glad you’re back!”
Archer nods his thanks, but his eyes don’t leave mine. His mouth opens and closes a couple of times as if he’s grappling with what to say. Eventually, he lands on, “How?”
“Cooper,” I admit.
He clenches his jaw and nods as if that makes sense.
“I’m so, so sorry, Archer. You matter more than my content. I panicked, and I didn’t get the chance to explain.I chose wrong, and if I had the chance to do it all over again, I’d choose you.”
He blows out a breath, his eyes focused on mine. I see pain there in his, pain I caused…pain I wish I could take away. He hesitates, and I’m afraid I’ve lost my chance.
“I can’t do this right now. I’m sorry.” He presses his lips together and nods once at me, and then he jogs to the same spot where I walked onto the field so he can exit it.
My heart drops into my stomach.
I’ve made contact. He knows Cooper has my information.
I guess from here…the ball’s in his court.
CHAPTER 48: Millie Monroe
Promises Can Be Broken
I head out the same way I came in, and I call for an Uber. It pulls up a moment later, and I head back to my hotel, tears blurring my vision the entire way, giving the lights of Las Vegas Boulevard a bokeh feel to them.
What a hell of a way to spend my first time in Vegas.
I’d rather be getting drunk on the Strip and celebrating, but I guess that wasn’t in the cards for this trip. Maybe next time.
Right, as if I’ll come back here again someday. Why would I ever even think about coming back to a place that holds only a terrible memory for me?
