Guardian Angel

Chapter 17

It's only 7 in the evening when there's a loud knock on the apartment door. Everleigh sits next to Veronica on the couch, cuddled into blankets.
Archie is out with his friends.

Veronica furrows her eyebrows before she gets up and walks to the front door. Her daughter follows her slowly.

"Archie" the little girl giggles when she sees the red head in front of her but she steps behind Veronica quickly. He seems different. He is holding on to the doorframe. He has stains on his shirt and he smells like tequila.

"Baby!" Archie mumbles, reaching his arms out to Veronica but she pushes him back.

"You're drunk"

"No, I'm- I'm not"

"Oh yes you are" she says. She lifts Everleigh into her arms before she grabs Archie's hand and pulls him inside the apartment. He stumbles and almost falls.

"You're so hot, kiss me babe" he grins. He cups her cheeks but Veronica once again pushes his face away. "No!"

"HEY!" he yells "I - I don't like that. I want to kiss y-you. You're mine"

Everleigh clings on to Veronica tightly. She hides her face in the crook of her mom's neck.

"Everleigh" he says rather loudly while tapping his fingers against her head. His other hand is placed on Veronica's shoulder so he can keep his balance. "Can I kiss you instead? Mommy is MEAN!"

"Mama" the little girl cries.

"Archie stop! can't you see that she's scared of you?"

"She's not" he laughs "we're best friends"

"Not right now"

"Ronnie baby, we're friends" he says again, still taping his finger against the little girl's head.
Veronica takes a step back and holds Everleigh closer to her. "Archie Andrews if you don't keep your hands off my daughter, I swear I'll kick you out"

"Okay, okay, chill baby" he chuckles and holds his hands up in a defending way.

"Sit" Veronica says, pointing to the couch. "I'll be right back. Don't you dare touch anything"

He rolls his eyes but sits down. Veronica walks to her bedroom with Everleigh in her arms. She lies her down in the bed and lies down next to her. She wipes her daughter's tears out of her face before she kisses her head. "You okay sweetheart?"

The little girl nods. "Mommy why is Archie so scary?"

"He's drunk a little too much alcohol"

"But why?"

"You know my love, when some adults are out with their friends they drink a little too much and don't notice until it's too late. Alcohol makes people act different but honey even though he seems a little scary you know that he would never hurt you or me right?"

Everleigh nods.

"Good sweetie. Stay here and close your eyes. I'll check on Archie and then I will come back okay?"

"Okay, night night mommy"

"Good night mi amor" Veronica smiles and kisses her daughter's head a couple of times before she walks back to her drunk boyfriend.

"What the fuck were you thinking?!"

He groans and covers his ears. "Don't yell. That hurts my head"

"Well that's your own fault" she says and sits down next to him. He wraps his arm around her and pulls her closer "You're so pretty" he grins and leans in for a kiss but Veronica presses her finger against his lips.