A Bad Boy's Gift

Chapter 21

The gym is busier than usual, but then I remember it's a Saturday morning and most of these people will have been at work most of the week. 

I give a little wave to the gym team leader, he waves back, a big smile on his face.

"I think Wilson fancies you," I say to Lexi as we find ourselves a squat rack. 

"Oh fuck off with your matchmaking!" She says bringing over some plates. 

We chatter and giggle throughout the next two hours, I get through 4 sets of back squats at 60kg, with Lexi taking a video of me so I can see my form. 

I'm pretty pleased with myself, I manage a full body workout and a cycling routine in 2 hours, having smashed my core workout, and not having any carbs for breakfast, I check myself out in the mirror; are those abs I see? 

"Show me your back muscles!" Lexi shouts, so I flex. Feeling my recently worked back muscles reminds me that I need to put a hot water bottle on my back when I get back from the gym. It helps me relax. 

I hear a whistle and in the mirror, I see a large form standing in the opposite corner of the gym. I must be imagining things because as I turn to look to wave at whoever it was, there's no one there. 

Alexa asks me if I'm ready just as her phone starts ringing. 

"Hello?" She starts frowning. "What do you mean you need to drop her off?" She says loudly down the phone, "Just because I'm not at work doesn't mean I'm available, Saturdays are your day to have your daughter all to yourself, so you ringing up and telling me I need to have her back when you literally just picked her up a few hours ago is bullshit!" She shouts down the phone.

I grab all of our stuff and scoot her toward the doors. I notice the same person I'd seen in the mirror walking down the stairs and begin to drag Alexa so I can see who it was. They had a black cap and sunglasses on, and if I'm not mistaken, a cut on their lip. It can't be Archer... Can it?

I miss my look, Alexa is now clearly having a full-blown argument with her ex-boyfriend about him looking after Gemma. 

We make it to the car and she says, "I'll be home in 20 minutes, you can drop her off then, don't be late, because I have things to do today so that Gemma and I can spend time together tomorrow." You go girl, I think in my head. 

Is that... That's his car, so he must be here. How did he not see my car? It's literally so obvious in the middle of the car park. Unless... Maybe he did see it and he didn't want to come to find me. Oh fuck, I did it again; think it's going well, then let them put their dick inside me only to be completely and utterly fucked over. 

I can feel my blood start to boil when Alexa says; "Sorry babe, I'm going to have to shoot off, the twat has made Gemma cry by what he's said to me over the phone." She bursts into tears. "I heard her crying on the other end of the phone," she blubbers, all I can do is hold her until she calms down. 

"You'll both get through this, I promise," I tell her while rubbing her back. "Why don't you both come round this afternoon, Hudson and I were going to watch the new Marvel film if you're up for that?" I smile at her, holding her shoulders. 

"I'd love to, I'll let you know this afternoon, see how Gemma is. Is that okay?" She looks at me. 

I let her drive away first, knowing she's got to get home quickly to meet Gemma. I decide I need some fresh air.

On my way to the closest green space, I think about how I knew Archer was a player; the way he spoke to me the first day we met, the rumours from school friends about how he treated girls he'd slept with. And yet here I am; driving to an abandoned quarry where green grass and trees and wildlife have started to reclaim the land, when all I can think about is the earth-shattering sex we had last night and how I'm so desperate to do it all again. 

But what do I do? I texted him goodnight before I went to bed and had no reply. I tell myself I have to let him go, just like the rest of the useless bastards I've been unfortunate enough to let into my knickers. 

The quarry is quiet, allowing me to think.

***

When I get home, I am greeted by Hudson getting the snug ready to put our afternoon film on. He's made more cookies while I was out; I'm going to end up diabetic if I keep eating this much sugar!

"Lexi and Gemma are going to join us Hud, they're having a hard time today, I thought they'd like the company." I close the curtains. 

"Okay, I love Auntie Lexi. Do you think they will like the cookies?" Hudson seems really happy that they're coming. 

I put a bottle of wine in the mini-fridge and get a bag of popcorn from the kitchen just as the doorbell rings. 

"I'll get it!" Hudson cries as I hear the sound of his footsteps running down the hallway. "Hello!" 

"Hi, Hudson! What are we watching then?" Lexi asks with enthusiasm. "I brought some chocolate for you and Gemma and some wine for River and myself." She says, wiggling the bottle at me as she comes into the kitchen. 

Gemma comes to give me a cuddle, her cheeks red from the crying. "I missed you River," she's holding me tightly around my hips. 

"I missed you too, Princess." I bend down to kiss her soft hair. "We're going to have a great afternoon." I smile at her when she looks at me; she smiles back. 

We hold hands while walking into the snug, "Hudson, you get everything ready, I want to have a chat with Lexi before it starts." He nods as we walk away.

Once alone, I pour us a glass of white; "How did things go with Gem's Dad?"

Lexi rolls her eyes, "Well, he wouldn't tell me what he was doing, but he'd been talking in front of Gemma," she sips her wine, "Gem said she heard him talking to a woman on the phone, saying he'd be going over once he's dropped her off." 

Oh my god, this poor child, "He seriously said that in front of her?" I ask while Lexi is finishing off her glass of wine. 

"Yep, she didn't even say goodbye, just ran straight in the house, crying her eyes out." She looks like she wants to hit something as she pours another glass of wine. "But to be honest with you Riv, I looked him dead in the eye as he passed me her backpack, then slammed the door in his face. I'm going to talk to my solicitor on Monday, she told me she no longer wants to see him again. Said she knows he doesn't love her. What else can I do with that?" A tear rolls down her cheek as she finishes her glass of wine. 

"Oh Lexi," I go around the island to give her a hug, "Come here, he doesn't deserve that little girl, she's so strong, and knowing what she wants is going to help her get what she needs." I step back to look at her face, "He's just a huge fuckwit, don't worry about her, she's going to be fine, she's got an amazing mother and she has me also, I love her so much and I love you too."

She holds me tightly as we both have a little cry. 

"Film is ready," Hudson pokes his head around the door.

We grab another glass of wine and make our way to the snug. While we had been out, Hudson had lit candles and decanted the popcorn and chocolates into bowls. He'd fetched blankets so we could all snuggle up under our own one. He's so thoughtful, he's definitely not our father's son, at least, he certainly wasn't raised by him.