I glance up from the menu at my brother. “Decided to tackle college sports betting and addiction.”
His brows shoot up. “Bro, are you serious? You’re tacklinggambling?”
I lift a shoulder. “I’m tackling something personal. I want to replace the evil it’s caused with something positive.”
He shakes his head, his brows still up in surprise. “I commend you for that. But your agent is okay with this?”
“Not in the least,” I admit.
He and Tatum both laugh.
“I gotta hand it to you,” my brother says. “You sure have perfected the art of giving zero fucks.”
I glance over at Tatum, who’s been uncharacteristically quiet during this exchange.
“I think it’s great,” she says softly.
I tilt my head and study her for a few beats, and I realize that she lookshappy. Happier than she looked overthe last couple years, anyway. She looks like she’s thriving now.
“Thanks,” I say, matching her tone. And then I change the subject. “So what are you two up to when you return home?”
“The draft is coming up, and I have a few team meetings in the coming weeks,” Ford says. “And Tate—”
“I have this huge wedding at Winston Manor I have to get back for. Kenzie has completely taken over my Vegas weddings, and I need to schedule a trip to Chicago to check the progress of the renovations at the Bradley Mansion, but that should be ready to go soon. It’s been a whirlwind few months.”
“Sounds like it,” I murmur. “And it sounds like you’re both doing well.”
They sort of lean in toward each other, I think just out of habit more than anything, and it strikes me that they’re really in tune with each other—maybe more than she and I ever were.
Ford is more serious, more practical. She’s more flighty, more of a dreamer. And somehow, they complement each other. He supports those dreams and grounds her in a way I was never able to.
It’s not to say I didn’t try, but he’s helping her make her dreams come true, whereas I was more limited in the time I could allow to help those dreams since my offseason is only three months long.
Someday I’ll retire from the game I love. Someday I’ll have the time to focus on someone else.
Or maybe someday I’ll be with the right woman who will understand the sacrifices we both have to make because of my profession. Sitting here with Tatum and Ford, seeing the easy compatibility they have together…it’s just making me see that they’re more right together than she and I ever were.
However they got to this moment doesn’t really matter anymore. Time heals wounds and all that bullshit, but I think it’s true in this case. We broke up over six months ago. They’ve been married four months.
Everything feels like it’s as it should be.
Except, you know, the whole suspension thing, and also the fact that my dad is still roaming free instead of locked up where he should be. But that’s coming. Of that I’m certain.
Millie asks Tatum about Winston Manor, and Tatum launches into all the details of her business. I learn things I never knew despite living with the woman for years and years, and I love the ease with which Millie seems to fit into this picture, here by my side, as my date, as mygirlfriend.
I feel relaxed with her here beside me, and that’s a damn scary thought since in just two short weeks, she’ll be gone.
CHAPTER 32: Millie Monroe
This is Falling
I can’t sleep.
Archer’s breathing evenly beside me in the bed in his suite, and I’m tucked into his side. I tilt my head up so I can look at him, and he’s so peaceful. So relaxed. So at ease.
So different from the man I met a mere two weeks ago.
Even at dinner, it felt like something was different.
