Page 36 of Archer
“What if I made you another drink? To take to your room?” I asked, determined to offer something that might make her feel the slightest bit at ease, even if I wasn’t around. The situation she was in was so scary, I couldn’t imagine the stress she was feeling. Thankfully, that made her laugh.
“Sure,” she said. “That, I will take you up on.”
Although it wasn’t much to give, I happily mixed her another cocktail. When I handed it to her, our eyes connected, and she said, “Goodnight, Archer. Thanks. For everything.”
“You too, Rose.”
Chapter Eighteen
Rose
I was having a truly amazing night. Then the tidal wave of emotion came over me, so much fear and confusion and… this weird euphoria from my night with Archer, all wrapped up into one.
I closed my door and the moment it shut, I broke down into sobs. Struggling to keep them quiet, not wanting to worry him, I crawled to my bed and rested my back against the headboard, pressing the pillow to my face to muffle the noise.
Why did my dad need to screw everything up so bad? Who the hell gets themselves into life-threatening situations? Who was foolish enough to associate with those people in the first place? “Dad,” I cried into the pillow as tears streamed down my face.
Although my stress for my father was my biggest concern, there was another worry that tugged at my heart. Before that night, it didn’t exist. In fact, it never existed inside of me. The emotion was confusing, exciting, and it unsettled me in a way I didn’t expect.
During that encounter with Archer, something changed inside of me. I wasn’t sure if it began during our fooling around, before, or after, but it was here now. I was the one who warned him not to get attached to me, I was the one who insisted that I would never give him a chance. But there I was, wishing I had indeed taken him up on the offer to watch the movie because I wanted to be near him.
There was something about our connection. It must have just been because he was the first person I experimented with; I heard it always started a sort of bond. But still, he was so funny. Once I got over the dislike toward him, I began to appreciate our banter. I’d never met anyone who I could just freely express my annoyances to without fearing that I’d offend them.
“And he’s so sweet.” I muffled into my pillow before flopping my back onto the mattress, feeling like I got all my tears out.
As much as it surprised me, and I tried to deny it, he was so kind-hearted. Evelyn wasn’t lying when she said that. I could see it in his eyes, when he shared the news about my dad. When he assured me that his friends would protect them.
Even when he saw the candles and rose petals. He should have laughed, said I was crazy, then ripped down his pants. That would have made sense. But instead, he showed tenderness. A sensitive side that I hadn’t seen before. An appreciation for the small details that make things special. Bikers weren’t supposed to be sensitive.
“He’s wrong for you…” I told myself. That fact didn’t change. I had a way I imagined my life, my future, and it wasn’t supposed to be with someone like him.
Will I meet someone like him again? Who can I feel this connected to?
“Yes,” I said to myself and sat up, grabbing the vodka slime off the side table to sip. Guaranteed I would find someone else like Archer. I was simply inexperienced, but once I put myself out there, I was positive that I would meet someone else.
My cell phone began ringing. Surprised that someone was calling me, after there had been no activity since I first arrived at Archer’s. I jumped from my bed. When my dad’s name flashed across the screen, my heart skipped a beat and I swiped to answer. “Dad? Oh my gosh, hi! What’s going on?”
“Rose,” he said. “Hi sweetie, how are you? I miss you.”
“I miss you too, Dad. I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. What about you? How are you?”
“Oh, I’m… I’m fine. I’m great. Business has been great, actually…”
“Dad…” My lips turned to a pout. “Why aren’t you telling me the truth?”
“I am telling you the truth. Can’t you hear me, huh? See? I’m perfectly fine!”
“Okay… why are you calling, then?” I asked in a flat voice, unable to hide my frustration.
“Oh, I just wanted to remind you to keep safe,” he said. “Don’t forget to keep the doors locked. Windows, too, can’t be too safe!”
“Oh my god, Dad,” I raised my voice, practically yelling. “Do you think I’m an idiot? I’m not twelve years old anymore, something is obviously very wrong! Please, Dad. Please, just tell me anything.” My tears returned to my eyes, quickly spilling over from the heightened emotions. “Why won’t you tell me anything?”
“Rose…” he said, and I heard him sigh. For a second, I thought he was going to open up, to show some honesty. But instead he just said, “Stay safe, Rose. Please. Just keep everything locked. I love you.”
Then he hung up.
Staring at my phone, I squeezed it in my hands, shaking as I restrained myself from smashing it into the wall. Instead, I threw it to bed, bouncing softly to the pillow. Grabbing my drink again, I slugged it all back in two gulps. The bittersweet liquid numbed and burned my throat simultaneously, and the anger inside of me loosened.
