Page 20 of Zone Protection

“Fuck no, darlin’. I can’t wait to hang out with you. How about we meet at Scratch and get a burger or something?”

“Not sure about the burger, but I’m sure I can find something there. I can be there in five. How far are you?”

“I’m just a few blocks from there, so I’ll grab a table.”

“Okay, see you soon.” I lift my hand to press End, but Archie speaks before I do.

“I can’t wait to see you, Emma.”

My stomach flutters. “Bye, Archie.”

I pull up to the restaurant a few minutes later and park next to a big black truck, similar to the one I saw parked outside Archie’s house earlier today. And by the big decal—a69inside a football—in the corner of the rear window, I’m gonna guess it’s his.

There aren’t many people in the restaurant, but even if there were, I would see Archie over everyone. He stands when he sees me and walks over to me, wearing a smile.

He reaches for my hand. “Hey. I ordered you a club soda in case your stomach was bothering you. I searched it, and Google said that would settle an upset stomach, so if it lied, don’t be mad at me.” He laughs and gently squeezes my hand.

We reach the table, and he pulls out my chair for me.

“Thank you,” I say as I take my seat.

He rounds the table and sits across from me. The smile … it’s still there. “So, Emma, where should we start?”

His hair is damp, and he’s wearing a red Walker University football shirt with a number sixty-nine right over his heart and black gym shorts. He looks hotter than he should just after practice.

Me? I had to change into my practice uniform, so I’m in my skort and oxford shirt, withWalker Golfon the chest. Hair pulledback in a ponytail. I have zero makeup on today because I could barely get out of bed this morning.

So, he looks like a snack, and I look … like I just got caught in a rainstorm in my golf gear.

I look around and see the place is pretty much empty, but I still lower my voice and take a deep breath in. “Well, I will call and see if I can get an appointment with one of the doctors through the hospital website, but based on what I saw online, they probably won’t take me until it’s been ten weeks from my last period, which is, by my best guess, in two weeks.”

He nods and moves his hands from his lap and folds them on top of the table. “Okay, sounds good. If you’re open to it, I would like to go to your appointment with you. I don’t want you to do any of this without me, if that’s okay.”

I really don’t know what I was expecting from him, but it wasn’t this. Not that I thought he would be a jerk, but I didn’t think he would want to be so involved.

“Of course. I have no problem with that, but I don’t want you to feel obligated to be at every one. I know you have a full schedule with football right now.” I take a sip of the club soda in front of me, and it’s not bad.

The waiter comes over to us before he can reply. Archie orders a burger, and I order soup. I’m just not sure I can handle much more than that right now, and the very last thing I want to do is throw up in front of Archie. In the middle of the restaurant.

After he walks away, Archie reaches for my hands, and I let him take them. He seems to be a touchy guy. “Here’s what I would like to happen. I would like to be a part of this whole thing, Emma. I don’t want to miss anything unless I absolutely have to, meaning if I’m out of town for a game. But, if possible, I’d like to schedule anything you need to do around my commitments and yours.”

“Okay, I think we can make that work.” I smile at him.

He starts rubbing his thumb across my knuckles. It seems likea simple gesture, but it’s making me feel a little flushed. I have never in my life had a reaction to a man like I have to Archie.

“Glad we have that settled.” He smirks. “I don’t know what your reasons were for not seeking me out, but I’m pretty sure they had something to do with my player reputation. Whatever it was, the reality is that you and I are now connected. I know we only know each other from that one night, but I would really like to hang out with you and get to know you—and not just because you’re pregnant. Although that seems like the biggest reason to. Even if you hadn’t knocked on my door and told me you were pregnant, I was gonna find you, and I was going to ask you out. I don’t think that has to change. In fact, I think it’s even more of a reason why I should.”

I know I’m full-blown blushing now. I can feel a rush of heat go to my face. I’ve had guys hit on me, dated a guy in high school, but no one has ever come right out and asked me to spend time with him like this.

And I can’t deny it and say I didn’t feel a connection that night. I absolutely did, which was why I bolted before he woke up. And I had to keep my head on straight and stay focused on school and golf. He was a hookup, plain and simple, which was what I told myself—repeatedly. Guys like Archie can break your heart if you let them.

“So, are you saying you want to date me?” I smirk.

“I’m gonna date the shit out of you,” he says with a laugh, leaning forward. “And I’m not gonna lie—I wouldn’t mind getting into that cute little skirt you have on.”

My eyes widen, and I bark out a laugh. People turn to look at us then. “Oops, guess that was a little loud.”

“I like it when you’re loud.” He smiles and pulls his hands away from mine. He takes a drink of what looks like water, eyes not leaving mine.

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