Bound to Be His ( The Archer Family 2)

Every drop of blood in Matt's body froze over. "What?"

"I said it's just a setback. Look, I know you went through the physical therapy, but I think you need a more rigorous trainer. I'll give you some numbers and—"

"What are you talking about?" Matt said, his voice gruffer than he'd meant for it to sound.

"I..." Logan glanced over to Shay, and Matt followed his gaze, seeing her now in a whole different light.

He saw the worry lines around her mouth. The way her shoulders were hitched up nearly to her earlobes. And how, even with her hip so casually jutted out, there was a rigidity to her body that had never been there before.

"I was drafted to the minors again," Matt said, and he knew it was the truth even before he saw the look on Logan's face.

"I thought you knew. Andy told me last night."

"Last night? So this has been..." He shook his head. He couldn't think about how long Shay had known, how long she'd kept it from him.

Fuck, had she known that night? That day they'd gone to see his mother? Had she known when she'd made love to him? Had it just been a pity fuck?

His stomach twisted, and he scanned the room for his sister. She was standing beside the baseball-themed wedding cake, gesturing wildly for the reporters.

Shit, the reporters. They were going to ask him about the draft. About his reaction.

He had to get the fuck out of here.

"How long before the best man speech?" he asked Logan.

Logan shrugged. "It's cocktail hour. You've probably got some time."

"Okay, good. Don't let them start dinner without me. I need some air."

"But—" Logan started, but Matt ignored him as he shoved out of his chair and went through the fabric encasement of the tent. He needed to be away from people for a while. Needed some time to think and to shake off this hovering, all-consuming ache of disappointment and regret.

Before long, he knew the thoughts would set in. The regrets, all the things he should have done differently. The wish that he'd never been in that goddamn accident to begin with.

But most of all, he needed to be away from Shay.

Shay, who had known all this time and hadn't told him. Who'd allowed him to walk into a snake den without so much as a word of warning. Shay, who he'd thought...

No, it didn't matter what he thought. She'd made her intentions clear, and he should have listened to them.

Business and personal were separate as far as she was concerned.

It was just a matter of coincidence that she'd fucked him on both accounts.

* * *

"Where's Matt?" Shay sat the Old Fashioned down in front of the best man's empty place setting, but Logan only blinked up at her, his mouth contorting between a grimace and a frown and back.

"What?" she asked again.

"How long have you known about the draft to the minors?" he asked.

She blinked. "I... about a week."

"A week. And you didn't think to tell him before the wedding?" Logan snapped. She'd never seen this side of him before. So defensive, so angry.

"I thought it would be better to wait. Look, can you just tell me where he is?"

"No, he left. I have no idea where he is, and if my wife finds out he's gone—"