Help Our Heroes: A Military Charity Anthology

by T. L. Wainwright

  “Here,” Lisa says handing me another glass after I shove my previous excuse for a drink at Frankie. I sniff it this time, just in case, but I know I’m safe because I can smell coconut.

  “Thank you,” I say, before quickly taking a swig to hopefully remove the lingering aftertaste of the Jagerbomb.

  The three of them stand and shout at each other for a few minutes. Every now and then, Tara and Lisa look around, I guess hoping to spot their soldiers. I can see Frankie’s excitement waning as the minutes go by. I told her not to get her hopes up.

  When the latest Pitbull song starts pounding through the speakers, Frankie perks up, grabs mine and Lisa’s hands, and pulls us to the dance floor. We end up in the middle of the of the crowd, exactly where I don’t want to be, just as the smoke fills the dance floor, blocking my vision of what people are doing around me.

  I stand and dance a little but I’m still relatively sober compared to my friends so I don’t quite get into the flow of it like them. When the smoke begins to lift, all three of them are bumping and grinding away without a care in the world. As I stand and watch, I realise I’m jealous. They are all able to put everything to one side and just enjoy themselves. I need that; I need to forget everything for just a few hours and chill out, but no matter what I do I can feel it all weighing down on my shoulders. Mum’s business isn’t really my problem, but I’m not the kind of person who can just let her deal with it. She’s been my rock my entire life, and now I feel like it’s time for me to return the favour.

  I’m smiling at my friends’ antics when I feel the need to look over to the bar. I don’t know what it is but it’s like something’s calling me. When I look over, there’s a guy staring right at me. Thinking I must be wrong, I look over my shoulder expecting to see someone looking back at him, but everyone’s too engrossed in their dancing.

  When I glance back, he’s still looking my way. I’m just about to turn when one of his friends put his hand on his shoulder and distracts him.

  I continue watching them for a few seconds before I hear Lisa. “Oh my god, they’re here,” she squeals, making Frankie immediately stop dancing and look around.

  “Where?”

  “Over there, by the bar. That group of lads.”

  “The hot ones?”

  “Yes. Let’s go.”

  I stand back and allow Frankie and Lisa to force their way through the crowd towards the bar. Tara and I follow behind, neither of us sharing their excitement. Tara has a serious long-term boyfriend and only comes out to spend time with us, unlike Frankie and Lisa, whose only reason for coming is to pull.

  I watch from a few feet away as Lisa walks directly up to the guy who was just staring in my direction. I’m not going to say staring at me, because that can’t possibly be the case, unless he’s also amused by the girl wearing the bright pink sash and flashing badge. Frankie latches herself onto his friend and leans into his side shamelessly.

  Tara and I continue to stand slightly out of the way and just watch as Frankie and Lisa make drunken fools out of themselves.

  The four of them stand together talking, or shouting, for a few minutes before I see Frankie look up and point our way. It’s the first time the guy has glanced up since they approached, and when he does, his eyes widen slightly as he looks at me before they drop and run down the length of my body. Tara moves when Frankie gestures for her but I’m frozen to the spot as the guy continues taking me all in. Usually, I hate being ogled by men but there’s something about this one that doesn’t want to make me kick him in the balls for looking at me the way he is.

  Frankie scares the shit out of me when I feel her slide her arm through mine and tug me towards the group.

  “What the hell is up with you? I know you’re not interested in a soldier, but they won’t bite,” she says, coming to a stop when we’re directly in front of him.

  “I…I know,” I stutter when I look up to find him still staring at me. Lisa’s practically dry humping his leg but he doesn’t seem to be noticing it.

  “Bax,” one of the guys shouts. “Hey, Bax,” he repeats, until the guy looking at me rips his eyes away.

  “What?” he snaps.

  “Here,” his mate says, handing him a small glass full of golden liquid.

  He nods his chin at him before bringing his gaze back to me, continuing to hold my eyes as he slowly tips the glass up to his lips and drinks it down in one. My eyes break from his as he swallows, distracted by the movement of the muscles in his neck. I continue downward, taking in his grey striped shirt, stretched over his shoulders and chest, before dropping down to his black, almost skinny, jeans. I’m not interested for two reasons:

  he’s a soldier, and

  I have enough drama in my life right now,

  but even I can admit this guy’s hot.

  Telling myself those things is all good and well, but I don’t think my body believes a single word of it. My pulse is racing and my palms are sweating from just looking at this guy. When my eyes connect with his again it’s like everything around me fades away and it’s just me and him.

  “OH MY GOD!” Frankie squeals as the four of us walk into the toilets a while later. “Dean’s so fucking hot. I mean, have you seen those arms? What I wouldn’t give to see him in action, all army man,” she says as she fans herself in front of the mirror.

  I leave her to it and make use of the toilet. I smile to myself the whole time when she doesn’t even stop for breath talking about him. Lisa is much less enthusiastic because, after getting the cold shoulder from Bax, she moved onto another of his friends, who also doesn’t seem all that interested.

  An hour or so later, I leave everyone dancing in favour of getting a glass of water. Frankie and Lisa managed to convince Bax, Dean and their friends to join us all on the dance floor. It’s clear Dean is loving all the attention from Frankie, and Lisa has at last found herself a friend who is interested. Tara and I have kept ourselves to ourselves and danced with each other, but that doesn’t mean I’ve lost Bax’s interest. He still seems way too intrigued for my liking. I could feel his gaze while we were dancing and every time I looked up those dark eyes were on me.

  “Thanks, E, I needed that,” Frankie says, taking the glass of cold water from my hands and downing it in one. “Bax totally has the hots for you. You should go for it.”

  “I’m good, thanks.”

  “Oh, come one. You need someone to pop that cherry. I think it’s got his name written all over it. Plus, not every woman can say she had her cherry popped by an incredibly sexy soldier; I bet he’s well good with his hands.”

  “Enough,” I snap. I really don’t need her shouting the details of my love life—or lack thereof—out to all the strangers I’m stood at the bar with.

  “A night with him will chill you right out.” At that moment, Dean appears from nowhere and runs his hands down Frankie’s sides. She spins in his arms and they both disappear into the crowd together. I shake my head and turn back to the bar to order another glass of water.

  Chapter Two

  I continue standing at the bar, watching everyone for quite a long time. I don’t see the girls or any of Bax’s friends—not that I’d recognise most of them—but this is fairly standard procedure. Eventually, I’ll get myself in a taxi and head home, leaving them to party the night away.

  I’m just getting myself ready to go when I feel something. I look over my shoulder and find Bax right behind me.

  “Oh hey,” I shout over the music. His eyes are intense as he stares into mine. Feeling awkward I smile at him and I’m just about to excuse myself when he speaks.

  “Your friends just left,” he says, leaning into my ear. His warm breath caresses my neck and makes me shiver, even though it’s swelteringly hot in here.

  “Oh, I’ll just get a taxi.” I turn to leave but stop when I feel his hand wrap around my wrist. I look back to see his eyes once again boring into mine. I’m not sure whether I should feel intimated by his intensity, but I don
’t, not one bit.

  “No,” he states before stepping up to my side, placing his arm around my waist and pushing me towards the exit. I feel his thumb gently stroking my skin and it ignites butterflies in my stomach, but not the type I’d expect to feel whilst being touched by some random guy in a club. I’m not scared, and I don’t want to cause him physical harm; I actually kind of like it.

  He directs us to the coat check in and hands over a ticket.

  “You don’t have one?” he asks when I don’t make a move.

  I shake my head and we wait in silence for the girl to return.

  When she hands his jacket over, he drapes it over his arm, and with his hand in the small of my back, he gently moves me towards the exit. His touch burns and sends tingles racing around my body.

  I don’t feel the cold like I did waiting to get in. I try to push aside the thought that it’s because he’s touching me, but I’m not very successful.

  “Here,” he says, placing his leather jacket over my shoulders.

  “No, it’s fine, you have it,” I try to argue, but now he’s removed his hand, I’m freezing.

  “You need it more than me, Skittles.”

  Skittles? I don’t get the chance to ask, because his fingers thread through mine and he encourages me to start walking away from the club.

  We walk in silence, past the closed shops and dodging other drunk partygoers who are trying to make their way home.

  “Where are we going?” I ask eventually, not concerned in the slightest that I’m currently walking though the city in the middle of the night with a man I’ve just met.

  “Nowhere. Everywhere,” he answers cryptically, before falling silent again.

  I can’t really argue with him, because although what he’s just said makes no sense, I kind of understand it and it feels pretty perfect. I continue to hold onto his hand and walk alongside him silently through the city.

  I’ve never really spent much time out here at this time of night, but for a place that’s usually chaotic, it’s strangely calming with the orange glow from the street lights ahead and the twinkling stars above.

  Nothing’s said between us for the longest time, and it’s weird, because it’s the most content I think I’ve felt in a long time.

  Bax eventually breaks the silence. “There’s a takeout curry house. Do you fancy anything?”

  I’m not really hungry, but the thought of eating something warm gets the better of me.

  “Sure.” He changes direction and pulls me across the road.

  We both order a chicken curry and chips along with two cans of Coke before heading back out into the night.

  “Come on,” he says, and I follow along, our hands once again intertwined.

  We come to a stop when we get to the harbour side. He walks down a couple of the steps that descend to the water before tugging on my hand to encourage me to sit with him.

  “Here,” he says, handing my food over once he’s unwrapped it.

  “Thank you. Are you sure you’re not cold?”

  “I’m fine, Skittles.”

  “Why are you calling me that?”

  “Because it suits you.”

  “Why?” I ask, but he just shrugs his shoulder. After a couple of seconds of silence, I decide he’s not going to elaborate. “You know my name’s Erin, right?”

  “Of course. Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.” I’m a little surprised by his question because he’s hardly said anything to me since I met him.

  “Why did you come with me? I’m a stranger you just met in a club. You don’t even know my name.”

  “It’s Bax,” I say, trying to prove I do know something about him. “And…I don’t know. It just felt right.”

  “Hmmm,” he hums before throwing a chip covered in curry sauce into his mouth. “You should be careful who you decide to spend time with in the middle of the night, Skittles. They could be dangerous.”

  “Are you?”

  “Very.”

  For some reason, his warning doesn’t scare me off in the slightest. He might be the quiet, brooding type, but I’m not sure he falls into the dangerous category.

  Once we’ve finished eating, we continue looking out to the dark water before us. There’s no noise out here, and we’re the only sign of life. I have no idea what time it is, but to be honest, I really don’t care.

  “I used to come down here in the middle of the night when I was a kid. I’d sneak out of my house and spend hours looking out over the water,” he says quietly. I’m not sure whether he wants me to respond or not, so I decide to stay silent and listen. “It was the only peace and quiet I could get unless I was under a car in the garage. I used to sit here for hours.”

  Bax falls silent. I guess his memories are taking him far away, so I allow him to do his thing as my thoughts drift once again to Mum and her gift shop.

  “Erin?” he asks abruptly, and I turn to look at him.

  “Yeah.”

  “I haven’t wished you happy birthday,” he says, staring deep into my eyes.

  Before I know what’s happening, I feel his cold palm against my cheek and he leans in towards me. My eyes instinctively close seconds before I feel his warm, soft lips against mine. He holds still for the longest time with our lips pressed together, but he doesn’t push any further. When he eventually pulls back, I can’t help feeling a little disappointed.

  “I’m sorry. I should get you home,” he says, quickly taking his hand away and leaving me cold without his touch.

  “No,” falls from my mouth, shocking the hell out of me.

  His head snaps to the side to look at me. He doesn’t need to ask; I can see the question all over his face.

  “Can we stay here a little longer?”

  “Yeah, if you want.”

  “So, are you on leave or something?” I ask after a few more seconds of comfortable silence have passed between us.

  “Yeah, two weeks,” he says, but he doesn’t sound very excited about it.

  “Would you rather be at work?”

  “Quite honestly, yes.”

  “Why are you here then? Surely you could have gone somewhere other than Bristol?”

  “It’s my home, I guess. I didn’t really think about it. Everyone goes home to their families when they’re on leave. Plus, my mate lives down south, and wanted a night out here before travelling on, so here I am.”

  “Don’t you have family?” I blurt out, and then instantly regret such an intrusive question.

  “My mum’s here.”

  “Well, she must be excited about seeing you.”

  “I doubt it. I think I might just grab my car and take off.”

  “And go where?”

  “Everywhere. Nowhere,” he says, just like he did earlier.

  “Sounds amazing,” I admit, revisiting my thoughts from a few hours ago.

  Bax’s movement as he turns to look at me catches my eye, so I do the same. As he stares at me, I can see a small smile tugging at his lips, and just like every time he’s looked at me this evening, his eyes twinkle in excitement.

  “What?” I ask sceptically.

  “Come with me.”

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  “Come with me,” he repeats.

  “Where?”

  “Everywhere, nowhere, wherever we want to go.”

  “Are you crazy? I don’t even know you.”

  “You knew me well enough to walk off alone with me in the middle of Bristol, so I can’t be that scary. You’re a student, right? So you’re free the next two weeks. We could just disappear.”

  My heart’s pounding in my chest the more he speaks. I shouldn’t be getting so excited about the prospect of running away with this stranger, but suddenly, it’s all I can think about.

  “What if I have work?” I ask, trying to play it cool.

  “Do you?”

  “Nothing I couldn’t do on the move,” I answer honestly. Yes, I’ve got an assignment to write, a
nd I’ve always got more jewellery to design or make, but there’s no reason I have to be here to do that.

  “So is that a yes?”

  “This is insane,” I admit with a laugh, but he doesn’t say anything. He just continues staring at me intensely, waiting for an answer. I quickly run through every reason in my head why I shouldn’t be doing this. Weirdly, any concerns about him being a mass murderer don’t even feature on my list. “YES!” I blurt out.

  “Yes?”

  “YES,” I scream into the night.

  Suddenly I’m on my feet, my body pressed against his hard muscles as his lips find mine again. They feel the same as last time, only they don’t stay still. I feel them part before his tongue gently sweeps across my lower lip. My mouth opens without any instruction from my brain, and in seconds, our tongues are tangling together. He steps forward and my bum hits the wall behind me, stopping my movement, but it doesn’t stop Bax because he presses further into me. His hands run from my face, over my shoulders, and skim the sides of my breasts before they come to a stop on my waist.

  By the time he pulls back, I can feel his hardness pressing into my stomach. The thought of causing that kind of reaction has butterflies exploding in my belly.

  Our foreheads rest together while he catches his breath. His eyes don’t stray from mine. “Your eyes are purple,” he whispers.

  “Violet.”

  “Stunning.”

  I can’t help looking away as embarrassment washes through me. No one compliments me like that, and I don’t know how to take it.

  “Hey,” he says, gently forcing my head back with his fingers on my cheek. “You’re going to have to learn to accept compliments if we’re spending the next two weeks together, because I have a feeling I’m going to be paying you a lot.”

  I feel heat rush up my neck to my cheeks.

  “Fuck, you look so sexy when you blush.”

  I desperately want to pull my eyes away from his, but his stare is too intense.

  “Are you sure about this?” he asks as he steps back away from me.

  “I think so.”

  “No, Skittles, I need to know you’re doing this because you want to. Do you want to get away from this place?”