Page 30 of Full Tilt
I try not to melt and wish I had the same.
“When I left to head here, Tommy was being summoned to Coach’s office. Postgame meetings like that usually mean only one thing.” Archer slides the edge of his hand across his throat. “He played like shit tonight, and I’m pretty sure he’s finished.”
My stomach flips. “You think he’ll be forced into the farm team?”
Archer just shrugs, not seeming bothered either way. “I mean, if he is, then it’ll probably be for the best. Not a single guy on the team likes him.”
A hint of sadness on Tommy’s behalf creeps into my conscience, and I quickly push it away, remembering the way he spoke to me outside Rise Up.
He deserves everything coming to him, I remind myself, downing the rest of my cosmo.
Darcy takes my empty glass and sets it on the bar behind her.
I decide to switch subjects, a gnawing discomfort settling into my bones each time I think of Tommy.
“Does your mom have Emily tonight?” I ask her, plastering on a faux bright smile.
She sees straight through it, but doesn’t call me out. “Yeah …” She chuckles. “For saying she didn’t want to be called a grandma, she sure has taken to the role like a duck to water.”
Archer loops his arms around his wife’s waist, setting a kiss into her hair. “I think we should have more babies. We can sneak off, and I’ll put one inside you right now, if you’d like?”
Another pang of discomfort hits me straight in the chest, knocking the wind right out of me.
Darcy swivels in his arms, swatting him on the shoulder. “Archer, I swear to God, if you’ve tampered with my birth control, I’ll never forgive you.”
He just smirks at her; it’s cocky, but it doesn’t carry the same edge as Tommy’s, and I find myself scanning the bar for him once again.
Archer’s strong hand wraps around my upper arm. “Are you okay, Jen? You seem … off?”
It’s times like this when alcohol can come in very handy, although it’s not a luxury pro athletes can afford to indulge in. I’m barely clinging on to my nutritional plan, let alone introducing a hangover into the mix. Another cosmo would not be a good move.
I motion to the restroom on the far side of the bar. “I need to use the bathroom and maybe get some air. I’ll be back in a bit.”
Leaning forward, I swipe my purse from the back of the barstool in front of me and catch Darcy’s attention. “I’m fine,” I reassure her. “I just need a minute.”
I push through the door into the women’s restroom, and the relative silence provides a welcome relief as the door clicks behind me, blocking the thumping music ringing through the main bar area.
I set my purse down, flattening my palms against the countertop and inviting the cold marble to cool my clammy skin.
At first, I figure I’m alone in here, but at the sound of a soft whimper echoing from one of the stalls, I realize I’m not, and it’s possible someone else is having an even worse night than I am.
Another soft whimper, and I turn to face the stalls.
“Is everything okay?” My voice is clear as it echoes in the quiet restroom, although it doesn’t receive a response.
A shadow shifts in the middle stall, followed by another whimper, only this time, it’s muffled, and it sounds more amused than upset.
I shake my head to no one and turn back around to my purse, pulling out my lip gloss and applying a fresh coat. I’m donewith playing games. If whoever’s in there needed my help, they would’ve made it clear.
A few seconds later, when I’m snapping my purse shut, the dead bolt slides across the door, but again, no one materializes.
Way too curious to ignore it, I pick up my purse and walk the few steps toward the stall door, tentatively pushing it open with one hand.
“Hellion. Fancy seeing you here.”
Now the whimpers and muffled noises all make sense as I lock eyes with Tommy, his head tipped over his shoulder to take in my reaction. With his back to me, he thrusts one hand into some random blonde girl’s hair, his postgame pants pooling around his ankles, and he pulls her head closer to his crotch.
I want to puke right here on the gross tiled floor. Instead, I force myself to look at him.
