by Watkins, TM
I wiped the tears and sat upright, muttering my sorry as he shrugged.
“Best friend, bi-atch.”
His stupid grin made me giggle as I choked back another sob.
“I just want everything to be out there, you know? No secrets.”
He nodded in agreement, pressing his lips thin as his grin died.
“I know but I don't think it's as bad as what we think. The porn part, not the secrets. He doesn't strike me as a liar, just a guy that doesn't always think ahead, you know?”
“Yeah.” I offered as I sighed.
“Maybe he thought you wouldn't care, maybe he didn't think of it as a secret, maybe he's just a little stupid.”
“I heard that.” Archer grumbled from the other side of the door.
Eddie rolled his eyes and turned his head to the door. “Do you want my help or not? Shut up if you do.”
Silence, meaning he did want Eddie's help. The man was smug in his attitude, happy that he was now the relationship fixer, the problem solver.
“I'm going back to make sure they don't steal anything from his house while you two sort out this little mess.”
With another hug he stood from the lounge and walked to the door. A few soft but heated words were exchanged as they passed each other, Eddie closed the door with Archer on the inside.
At first he seemed a little wary of me, walking over with a lot of caution.
“Didn't participate.”
“You've said that already. I told you what my issue was.”
“Yeah, just making sure you know.”
“Any other secrets that you're keeping from me?”
He shrugged as he sat on the lounge, leaning side on against the back of it. His arm propped his head as the other took my hand, lacing our fingers together.
“Probably lots Rox, I've lead an interesting life so far. So that kind of thing, I've been renting rooms for about six months now. It's pretty lucrative and they don't like it when they're watched. They don't care if you're in the house, they just don't want people in the room. I think it freaks them out when the house owners sitting there, jerking one out. Then all the groans and noises.”
I chuckled, shaking my head.
“I've been trying to separate myself from the club Rox, finding work when you've got a record isn't easy.”
Whoa, what?
“What did you do?”
“The stuff they know about or the other stuff?”
Do I really want to know? Part of me was screaming no rather loudly, the other part was saying yes, it was wise to know what I'd laid down with. Archer sighed.
“We'll stick with what they know for now, okay?”
I nodded warily.
“Armed robbery, got five years.”
God, he's been in jail.
“Bits of things associated with rivals, aggravated assault, unlicensed firearms, illegal weapons, selling drugs which wasn't me but I couldn't get out of it.”
He shrugged like it didn't matter.
“That's why I moved, I was sick of being accused of things I didn't do. Sure there are some things that I would have happily taken on as being done by me but things like that, no way. They said I was selling them to kids. I don't do shit like that but the cops, they didn't listen so I did six months for that. When I got out I packed everything up and moved. My father understood, he was livid that I did time for a drugs charge that wasn't mine. He was always really strict about those kinds of things. The demons don't deal in drugs, end of subject. Get caught and you're out. He believed me because he always knew where I was but no one would listen to him. Even the lawyer could make the judge see reason.”
Archer lifted my hand to his face, kissing the tips of my fingers.
“I try to make money in a legitimate way, renting out rooms isn't the greatest but it's honest money. Well, reasonably honest.” He said sheepishly.
I huffed a laugh, shaking my head as I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him. He was right, it wasn't the greatest way to make money but at least he was trying.
Chapter Fifteen
Even though we were in a dial it down situation, Archer had decided that I needed to relax. I was so strung out about the uncertainty of our future that I was pacing the floors, muttering and frowning a lot. We were now in the bath, a long soak in the warmth of water and body heat. Archer was in between my legs, laying back against me as he rubbed my rather sore feet.
The two women and the guy that was filming the little video were long gone, Eddie had stayed and ensured that everything was to his satisfaction and considering that the man was a stick in the mud when it came to caring for other people's possessions, I knew that Archer had no worries about what went on over there. Though he didn't seem too fazed by it considering that he was in the shed.
In a few hours' time we were going out, dinner with the in laws. Well, to be more specific, we were going to Kira's house and Archer's father was going to be there as well. As for his mother, well I was going to meet her tomorrow, along with his brother Kellen who was in the grave beside her. His mother had been gone for a few years now, Archer said nothing about her death other than it wasn't biker related. Which to me spelled out that the man wasn't over losing his mother. I can't say as I blamed him, I'd be lost without my mother.
He'd not said a word since stating that was our distraction for tomorrow, remaining quiet as he rubbed the tender soles of my feet. His body was heavy against mine but it was a wonderful feeling, the soft dewy skin under my fingers, the wet hair against my neck as he leaned back onto my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around him, not wanting to let go.
Could we make it to forever? I didn't have an answer, at the moment our lives were day by day, trying to figure out what we were. Archer spoke of us as an unwavering force, that we would prevail over our issues no matter what. But me, I was uncertain of everything.
The alarm on Archer's phone went off, with a sigh he reached for it and turned it off. It was time to get out, time to get ready and face the in laws. I don't know who was more anxious, me or him. Or maybe it was the uncertainty that was us, the situation that might be growing inside of me and the other little niggling issues that we had. They were small but they were significant.
My mantra was, one day at a time. I'd keep that running around in my head for as long as it takes, I still had several days before I could take the test. It was sitting on the vanity, staring at me like a vicious dog that was waiting to take me down. Taunting me with its words, 95% accurate, test as early as six days before missed period, done in three minutes.
Archer looked at it as he wrapped the towel around his waist, jiggling the packet at me.
“There's three in there, why'd you get so many?”
“It's all they had.” I shrugged.
As I dried myself off and pulled the plug from the bathtub, I heard Archer opening the packet. When I righted myself he was reading the instructions, then he held one out.
“Take it now.”
“It's not six days Archer, it won't work.”
He jiggled it at me until I took it.
“Fine, get out. I don't pee in front of people.”
“Okay but we're looking at it together, right?”
“Sure.”
Once he was out the door, I closed it and tried to mentally will myself to need to pee. It wasn't working.
“I have no pee.” I called out.
“Yeah you do. Think waterfalls, dripping taps, rain falling onto a tin roof. Drip, drip, drip.”
“Not working.” I said sweetly.
He continued with the drips, thumping one finger against the door with each word said. I groaned when the fullness finally hit me.
“Bastard.” I groaned. “You can go away from the door now.”
Archer chuckled and walked away, leaving me to take the test.
When I was done I opened the door and walked out, dressing into the suggested jeans, shirt and jacket. We were going on the bike tonight and the car tomorrow.
Archer was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me as I moved around the room, getting ready to leave.
“It's just dinner.”
“Yeah, I know. I dress nice when I go out you know.”
“Unlike the other morning when you crossed the road in your pajamas.”
“Shut up.” I snapped back, unable to stop smiling.
With a heavy sigh I put the perfume bottle down and turned to face Archer.
“Okay, let's get this over with.”
He nodded as he stood, looking at me with a subdued smile.
“It's probably a negative.” I said. “Way too early for it.”
Archer said nothing as I crossed the room to the bathroom, bracing myself for the worst. I picked up the test and looked at the one line, a little relieved but still so unsure.
“Too early, right?”
I looked up to Archer, seeing something rather odd. It was like he was actually disappointed that it was a negative result.
“Yeah, too early.”
He nodded and walked away, I looked at the test again and felt a little sad. Dumping it into the bin I followed after Archer and hoped that the next few days would be less stressful than the past couple of days.
Elise and Ken were walking up the stairs as I closed the door, Archer looked at me with a sneaky grin.
“Another drunken Friday kids?” Ken offered with a little glee.
I knew he was secretly jealous, I'd seen the wishful looks he'd give as Pixie and I trotted off to Honeys. Ones that silently pleaded for us to take him with us. Elise was so rigid, there is no way she'd want to go anywhere like Honeys. I couldn't figure out what attracted those two together. Often I wondered if Elise would lay in bed and let Ken have his fun. Would a stiff board on a bed be that much fun? I seriously doubted it.
“Off to visit my family for dinner.”
“Ooh, meeting the in laws Faith, how scary.”
You have no idea Ken, you really don't.
“Oh well, you two have fun now.”
Elise's nose actually twitched with a sneer. It was so small but it was there. Archer smiled and took my hand, pulling me away.
“Thanks, we will. Enjoy your quiet night at home.”
Ken laughed, a humored chuckle that was like he got some little joke that I wasn't a part of. As I reached the bottom of the stairs and Archer opened the door for me, I flushed with pure embarrassment.
“Oh my god Archer, do you think they heard us?”
A might grin crossed his face as he wrapped his arm around me, pulling me in to whisper.
“Baby I can guarantee they heard us. Do you know what I heard after you fell asleep?”
“What?”
“Their bed creaking.”
“Oh lord.” I groaned.
A minute later, I'd ignored his dark laughter and tried not to be more embarrassed. Now we were by his motorcycle, Archer stuffed a helmet onto my head. Thankfully I'd not put a lot of effort into my hair otherwise I'd be rather pissed off right about now.
Archer swung his leg over the beast, it looked immaculate with its gleaming black paint, chrome parts and leather seats. He turned back to me as he patted the leather behind him.
“Come on to my bike baby.”
Gripping his back I swung my leg over and looked down.
“Feet up there, you can hang on there or to me if you'd prefer.”
“You.”
“The handles would feel better, if you're feeling brave enough.”
“No thanks.” I said sweetly.
He chuckled and turned around, one hand still on the long handle bar.
“Don't your arms get tired?”
“Nah. Ready?”
“Sure.”
He turned the ignition over and I nearly shrieked, it was so loud. And, it was like sitting on a giant vibrator. As much as that sounded like a lot of fun, it wasn't. Archer flicked the stand up and the beast lurched forward. This time, I did shriek and, I held onto Archer with every ounce of strength in me.
Eddie and James were on the balcony, waving madly at us. There was no way in hell that I was letting go. I'd rather apologize later for being rude.
By the time that we had made it to Kira's house, ten scary minutes had passed. We'd moved through traffic, stopped at lights, turned corners, overtaken cars and trucks and anything else that Archer tried to scare me with. It was like he had tried to take the longest route possible, all to freak me out.
He pulled into a driveway of a modest house, moving down the driveway at a slow pace. We passed a pretty garden out the front with a large tree that overshadowed the house at one end. It was a low set brick house with bay windows, two white wood Adirondack chairs on the patio and a tire hanging from a sturdy branch of the tree. Picturesque was an appropriate term.
Two men stood by a motorcycle, one of them a little older than the other. Okay, so that might have been a term used a little loosely. One looked like he was in his mid-thirties, the other looked like he was in his late fifties. The elder fellow was a robust figure, salt and pepper hair that was roughly flicked back over his head and a neat beard. Mathias Morrison was a handsome fellow, his son had taken after him rather well.
Archer turned off the engine and flicked the stand down, waiting for me to get off the bike. It wasn't easy, my body had constricted itself into one tight ball of anxiety, my limbs were attached by an over wound string that was ready to break at any point real soon. As he lifted his helmet off his head Archer chuckled, removing mine as well.
“Thanks for your confidence in me Rox.”
“Give me a break, it was my first time.”
He relented with an amused huff, dumping the helmets onto the handles of the bike. Taking my hand he tugged me over to his father and to the other guy that I assumed was Dane, Kira's husband.
Archer gave them a nod, uneasy as he looked from them to me.
“Roxy, this is my dad Mathias and this is Dane.”
Awkwardly he gestured to me. “This is Roxy.”
His father looked down at our connected and hands and tilted his head, looking up at his son expectantly.
“Girlfriend.”
Maybe mother of your grandchild as well. Relax Faith, it's cool, not pregnant. I smiled, removing my hand from Archer's tight grip to offer an appropriate greeting. The man looked at my hand and then back at me with a smile. Before I knew it I was engulfed in a rather large man's arms, being hugged hard.
“Great to meet you Roxy.”
“Faith.” I mumbled against the soft cotton shirt.
He pulled me out with a frown, looking at his son.
“She likes to pretend that Faith is her first name but it's her second name. Roxy is her name, so make sure you call her that.” Archer offered.
“I see.” Mathias said. “Well Roxy, welcome to the family.”
I looked at Dane who offered an amused chuckle, walking away.
“Come in and meet the rest of the tribe.”
If I thought that I was getting away, there was absolutely no chance of that happening. Mathias wrapped his arm around me and held me tight, like he feared I was going to run away. It was an option that was fluttering through my mind.
“Poppy!” A little girl shrieked.
“Jasmine.” He crooned as he scooped up the child.
She was like a little doll, so sweet and perfect. Big brown curls framed a pale face with big blue eyes. Eyes that stared at me.
“Jazzy, this is Roxy. She's Archer's girlfriend.”
Those inquisitive eyes turned to her grandfather, pulling on his beard to whisper in his ear.
“Do I call her aunty?”
“I'm sure Roxy is fine for the time being.” I said.
Two big blue eyes searched me, quietly making an assessment. Her little fingers twirled in the whiskers of her poppy's beard.
“Oh hello.”
Jasmine lifted her head as I turned to the soft voice.
“I'm Kira.”
She was just as b
eautiful as the picture had shown her as, if not more in real life. And what I didn't notice from the picture was the mound on her stomach.
“Hi, Roxy.”
Because trying to tell you that my name was Faith was pointless. She smiled more, Dane returned with another child in his arms. A little older than Jasmine, this one scrambled out of his arms, preferring to hide behind his legs.
“This is Georgia, she's always a little wary of strangers. Give her ten minutes and she'll be braiding your hair and discussing baby names.”
Georgia was different to Jasmine but looked a lot like her mother. Waves of mousy brown hair and hazel eyes, a pale tan to her skin.
“Sure.” I offered, still wishing I could escape Mathias's grip.
Did his son never bring girls home? Was I the first? Surely it wasn't possible.
“Dinner is almost ready. Jaz, why don't you take Roxy in to meet Batman and Robin?”
She nodded and wriggled her way out of her grandfather's arms, taking my hand. Snaking our way past Dane and the shy Georgia, Jasmine took me into the lounge room to a tank that sat against the far wall. Two little fish inside one enormous tank, it was ridiculous. They were no bigger than my thumb yet they had something that could house a python.
“That one is Batman.”
Jasmine pointed to the black one her finger slid over the glass to the white fish.
“And that's Robin.”
“Wow, they're cute. And so lucky to have such a great home.”
She nodded and looked at me.
“Daddy used to have big fishies in here. Mommy didn't know how to care for them and they died, she said they're in heaven with daddy. He's going to look after them now.”
I bit back the pain, feeling my heart crumbling.
“Jaz, why don't you go and wash up for dinner?”
Jasmine turned to Archer, offering a slight nod as she walked away.
“I can't do this Archer.” I whispered.
“It's only dinner Rox.”
“No I mean this.” I gestured to the fish tank, to the house. “I can't raise a dead man's kid.”
He wrapped his arms around me, engulfing me in his strong embrace as he whispered that I couldn't get rid of him that easily.
