“What areyoudoing?” I asked against her lips, my hands still anchored tight around her ribs.
“Setting the record straight,” she whispered.
Chapter Thirty-One
Archer
My house was full. Of people. Laughter. Music. Food.
Sitting in one of the dining room chairs, an iced tea in hand, I couldn’t help but marvel at the bizarre scene taking place in my home.
Pops sat between Coach and Pearl. He was telling a story that made them both laugh. Ness was in the family room with four of the offensive players, talking them into adopting dogs, and her animated hand gestures brought a smile to my face.
Gavin, who’d gotten picked up early from school because Remi didn’t want him to miss this, was outside with William, Brooks, Smith, and my QB coach, teaching them the sounds of different birds. At the moment, he was perched on Smith’s broad shoulders, pointing frantically at a grove of trees behind my house.
In the kitchen, Lily King was dishing up pieces of pizza for anyone who hadn’t eaten enough already. Not two minutes earlier, Remi had been by her side. The two had met last year when Coach brought his family by to adopt a dog.
Analise was holding court with the rest of the players, discussing their social media strategies.
For the moment, at least, I was separate from what was happening. Not because I was punishing myself, but because I needed to sit back and soak this all in.
For two hours, I’d watched Remi circling around. She always found herself back by my side, checking in to see if I needed anything, tucking herself under my arm for a hug. Or she’d walk past when I was in conversation with Pops and Coach, and do nothing but lay her hand on the back of my neck and squeeze.
This moment of separation, the first for me since everyone had arrived, was necessary because the enormity of it short-circuited my brain. Not simply because of all the teammates, the coaches, and her family.
It was her.
Remi in my home set my entire fucking soul at ease.
I wanted to keep her here. Wanted to keep her, period.
Lily moved away from the island to find her husband, perching herself in his lap and winding her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. But Remi didn’t follow her in from the kitchen.
I looked around but didn’t see her anywhere on the main level, so I set my drink down and wandered off to find my girl.
She wasn’t in my bedroom or bathroom, or the fireplace room off the kitchen, where I’d thought I’d find her.
When Williams had walked into the house earlier, he’d stared at the roaring fire there. “It’s eighty degrees outside,” he said slowly. “You have the fireplace on.”
I merely glared at him. “So?”
From where she was tucked underneath my arm, Remi turned her face into my shoulder and laughed.
His eyes widened, his brows shooting up like I’d lost my mind. “It’s ... nice.”
I kissed the top of her head and squeezed her waist. “Don’t touch it, rookie. She likes it.”
“Right.” His throat worked on a nervous swallow. “It’s perfect. I love a hot, cozy fire at the end of May.”
Once I’d looked through all the rooms on the main level, I made my way downstairs, smiling as I reached the bottom. She was in the middle of the second family room, her hands on her hips.
“There you are.”
It was my first chance to be alone with her, and while the caveman part of me wanted to drag her into the closest room and lock the door, I’d happily settle for just having her in my arms again.
My hands eased around her hips, tugging her back against my chest, and when she tilted her head to the side, I brushed her hair out of the way and kissed the soft skin on her neck. Remi slid her fingers over mine and settled into my embrace.
“You have a whole other house down here.”