A Bad Boy's Gift

Chapter 12

"Well, I'm going to be honest, I wasn't expecting to see you here." I tell Archer.

I sit across from him, ordering an archers and lemonade from the waitress before she goes.

"Wow, you look beautiful." He tells me, I blush. 

"Thank you, you're looking pretty sharp yourself." I smile at him. "So. Mabel put you up to this?" I look at him.

"Uhm," He looks down at his hands, "Actually, I asked Mabel to set this up for me." He risks a look at me, I just smile at him.

"So that's why she was being so weird." I say, well then, let's get on with this date... "I didn't know you'd started working at the leisure centre." I say to him as the waitress brings my drink over. I smile and thank her, taking a quick sip.

"Yeah, only a week ago, I'm working out less for myself so thought I'd help others while I have the opportunity." He smiles at me, "How long have you been swim teaching?" 

 "Well, I have been teaching little ones for 2 years, bigger ones for 4 years and before that, I competed. When I decided to give it up, I still wanted to be at the pool, so I got a job there." I smile. "I love working there, but it doesn't help me save for a home for Me and Hudson. Which is why I race." I look into my glass, feeling slightly ashamed.

His fingers brush my chin, "You shouldn't be ashamed of making a living. I spent a year making money illegally to be able to afford the apartment I bought for Molly and me. I know how you feel." He looks into my eyes, smiles  and runs his thumb across my cheek.

The feeling of his skin on mine, it's like fire on ice. My eyes looking deeply into his, deep blue, like the depths of the ocean, or the sky on the horizon. I see his smile. Happy, optimistic and full of life.

"At least I don't have to wait too long to see you again, River." He says, running his fingers down my chin until the contact ceases. The loss of touch is a lack of oxygen. 

I take a deep breath, he smirks and sits back, taking a drink from his glass of beer. 

He knows he's got to me. Fuck. I cross my legs, clenching my thighs together. Double fuck, I'm attracted to him. I mean, how can I not be, he's beautiful, sexy. And I am human. This is just a human reaction. Something that is completely normal. 

I need to get over myself.

"Yes, Mr Jackson, you'll be seeing me tomorrow, at swimming practice." I sit back in my seat, pick up my glass and take a long drink. "So, where is Molly tonight?" Change the subject, woman.

He smirks at me again, "Molly? She's with our cousin. She's taking her to school tomorrow, what about your brother?" 

"Hudson? He's at home, he promised me he would play Fortnite and not burn the house down. He also said, he would ring if he did burn the house down." I chuckle to myself, "He'll be fine, he's quite bright." 

"I'm sure he is. Did you fancy something to eat?" He picks up the menu on the table, "They have a combo. Unless you fancy something you don't have to share?" He hands me the menu, I look through it.

"Combo sounds good, shall we grab some nachos too?" I look at him over the menu.

"Good thinking Batman." He grins at me, then realises something and blushes, looking into his glass. "Sorry, Molly loves Batman, I'm always saying that, just a force of habit." He looks back to me, "And you can call me Jack, no one, apart from professionals, calls me Archer." 

"Okay then, Jack, let's order some food," I say to him with a smile. "I'm just going to pop to the toilet and give Hudson a ring, I'll ask a waitress to pop over while I'm up."