Page 202 of The Archer Brothers

“Aren’t you tired of trying to figure it out?”

He sighs and sets his hands on the table. “I hate it. I hate that I miss my job and would go back in a heartbeat if I could. I hate that my government—the one I pledge to protect—didn’t protect my teammates or me. I hate that some piece of shit got to dictate our futures. Shit, Nate, the list goes on and on, but I’m alive. You’re alive. I’ve got Ryley and EJ. You’ve got Cara. We take shit one day at a time until it’s over. If it’s ever over.”

“I know I haven’t said this before, but I’m really happy you’re back. Losing you . . .” I pause and gather my words. “It was like I lost a part of me. And the stuff that happened with Ryley, I know now that it was wrong, and I’m sorry.”

“I forgive you,” he says straight away. “I probably would’ve done the same thing in your shoes. I asked you to take care of her, and you did. You were both hurting. It makes sense.”

“EJ calling you dad really capped your wedding reception off.”

Evan laughs. “He told me afterward that he’s been fighting saying it for some time because he wanted it to be special and something I would remember. I told him every day with him is special, and there doesn’t need to be an occasion to tell someone how you feel. Life’s too fucking short to wait around.”

Evan’s right. I don’t want to wait to ask Cara to marry me. “I’m going to ask Cara to marry me. I’ve just been to the jeweler and bought her a ring. I’m going to do it tonight.” Evan smiles. He comes around the table and hugs me.

“I’m happy for you, man. Cara’s awesome. If it wasn’t for her . . .” his words trail off. We all know there isn’t a need to finish what he has to say. She uncovered the cover-up and helped McCoy find his family.

“Our lives are finally falling into a happy rhythm.”

“Makes you wonder what lurks around the corner.”

I bring the beer bottle to my lips and take a long drink. “Nothing we can’t handle.”

Evan offers me his fist, and I bump it. “Help me wire the house,” he says. “I feel like it’s time I sit at a desk and watch the people in my neighborhood.”

“You need a hobby, man. Something that doesn’t involve guns, spying, and watching endless hours of surveillance videos.”

“Ain’t that the truth.”

Maybe we need our own book club?

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