Page 36 of Zone Protection

His eyes are still closed, but he nods and gives me a thumbs-up.

I go into the bathroom across the hall and take care of my business. When I get back into my room, Archie has one arm over his eyes, and he’s not quite snoring, but breathing loudly.

Walking over to the bed, I lay the clean towel I brought from the bathroom and spread it on the wet spot. I guess I’ll have to scoot really close to Archie to avoid it.

Damn.

My phone is sitting on the nightstand, and I double-check my alarm. Then I curl into Archie. Even in his sleep, he wraps an arm around me and pulls me closer. I cuddle in and find I like being in his arms. The sound of his heartbeat is the last thing I remember.

CHAPTER

EIGHT

ARCHIE

It’s beena few days since our doctor’s appointment, and I haven’t seen Emma since I left her house the next morning. But we’ve been talking every day. She is starting to feel better and is able to eat a little more.

She still hasn’t told her parents or friends, aside from Livi. I plan to tell my dad this weekend when he comes up for my game tomorrow. To my friends, on the other hand, I haven’t really said anything about my whereabouts and don’t plan to until Emma is okay with telling everyone. And I haven’t said much to Liam about it since he found out.

Hanging out with Emma, talking to her, fucking her … better than I could have imagined. But this is something bigger. We aren’t just hanging out casually. We’re having a baby. And I’m stoked about it, truly, even though it doesn’t exactly fall into my timeline. It’s happening, so I can embrace it for the gift that this baby is or freak out. And I’m not the type of guy to freak out. Plus, my dad would kick my ass.

It will still be good to talk to him about this. I think I justneed to make sure I’m doing all the right things to support her. And if anyone knows how to treat his lady, it’s my dad.

I’m walking back into the locker room from the practice field when Casey comes up next to me.

“Hey, brother. Are you gonna be home tonight, or are you going out?”

It’s Halloween tonight, but since we have a game tomorrow, none of us are really planning to do anything. Or at least I’m not. My plan was to go home and drop my gear, then grab some food and crash. I need to check in with Emma too.

“I’m coming home, but I want to shower first. You aren’t going out, are you? You’re starting tomorrow.” I pat his chest.

“Oh, yeah. No, I’m not doing anything. I think Charlie’s cooking for us tonight and then handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. We were going to watchScreamafter. She just texted me to ask if you would be there or not since you haven’t been around a lot lately.”

I push open the locker room door and head to my locker to undress. “That’s my plan. But, dude,Screamis lame. Let’s watch, like,The Shiningor something old school.”

Casey shakes his head and moves to his locker three down from mine. “Nope, no way. Charlie can’t handle the really scary stuff. She’ll be up all night, and Beck needs some sleep. I can’t babysit her either.”

“Charlie is scared, or you are?” I look over at him and laugh.

“Fuck you.” He laughs. “I’m not scared, but I can’t have creepy shit in my head all night either.” He tosses a dirty towel at me.

“Uh-huh. That’s what I thought. It’s okay that you’re a little bitch baby, King.” I love to rib my guys.

“Who’s a bitch baby?” Beckham walks in with Callaway.

“Your boy here. I didn’t know he was afraid to watch scary movies.” I nod to Casey.

Beck barks out a laugh. “He and Charlie are both big babies. They can’t handle it, and honestly, I can’t deal with either one ofthem tonight, so whatever we watch needs to be on the lame side of scary.”

I finish pulling off my shoulder pads and then strip off the rash guard I wear. I undo the belt on my pants and push them off my legs. Then I toss my practice gear in the laundry bin and walk into the shower room.

A few guys are in there, shootin’ the shit while they shower, and I hear Casey, Beck, and Bo following behind me.

After a quick wash, I grab a towel on my way back to my locker and scrub it over my head first before wrapping it around my waist. My phone chimes from the top shelf in my locker. There are a few texts from Emma, my mom, and my brother Aiden. I check Emma’s first.

Emma: Hey. Hope you had a good day today. Just wanted to see what you were doing tonight.

Archie: Hey, darlin’. I just got out of practice and showered. I’m still at the field house. I was going to go to my place and eat with my roommates and watch a movie. What are you up to?

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