A Bad Boy's Gift

Chapter 22

As always, I fell asleep through half of the film, with no idea how it ended. 

Hudson is playing a game on his phone while Gemma braids Lexi's hair. 

"What would you like for dinner guys? Shall we order something or would you like me to cook?" I ask, getting up and folding my blanket.

"Can you make risotto?" Hudson asks. "With prawns?"

I smile, "Of course, I can. Will you tidy up?" I ask him.

He nods, and I make my way to the kitchen when I hear the doorbell ring. Turning around I can't see who's behind the door, it's really dark outside, so I make my way over to it. 

I open the door slightly, "Hello, can I help?" I ask as I look into the darkness.

"River?" What the fuck?

"Archer?" I squint, trying to see him, "I can't see you."

He comes out of the darkness, with the cap on that I'd seen earlier. It was him at the gym. 

"What did you do to your face?" I can't see the damage, but I recall the gash on his lip.

"Oh, erm, it's nothing." I see him turn away, "I was wondering why you didn't reply to my messages this afternoon." 

What? I am so confused.

"What messages? I've been spending time with Hudson, we were watching a film. I haven't checked my phone since early this afternoon." You don't need to explain yourself to him. In fact... "Hang on, what makes you think you can ask me about my response when you didn't reply to my message last night."

"I'm sorry, I had somewhere to be last night." He remains in the darkness. 

I don't say anything, I can't let my emotions get the better of me.

"Anyway, would you like to go for dinner tonight?" He asks me.

"You won't even tell me what happened to your face, and yet, you want me to go for dinner with you?" I frown, "I'm sorry but I have a friend round, I can't go out tonight. Anyway, you have Molly to look after. I'll text you later." I close the door and walk away. My heart beating hard in my chest. I look at my feet as I turn the hallway light off. 

I am a strong woman. I can do this.

*****

The risotto goes down well, as do the cookies Hudson made. 

"Who was at the door Riv?" Lexi asks while we do the dishes, the children watching some shitty talent show in the snug.

I sigh, "Archer." 

Lexi stops what she's doing to give me a sharp look. "I saw him while I was doing a set earlier, completely forgot to tell you." She puts the tea towel down to give me her full attention. "He'd got a cap on, but it was definitely covering a bruise over his eye and cheek, I nearly asked him if I could palpate it; I've seen patients who've had severe head injuries that look like that." She's going off on a tangent, I give her a raised eyebrow to hurry her along; "Sorry, there was also a gash on his lip, but he looked like he was guarding his wrist and hand, thinking about it, he'd got lifting gloves on, but wasn't lifting. He was doing PT for a weak-looking man, so can't imagine he would be demonstrating deadlifts or snatches." She seems to think.

"Don't worry, I asked him about the lip; I couldn't see his face, and he refused to tell me about it, but the bastard still thought he'd be able to take me out to dinner." I roll my eyes and unplug the sink, giving it a rinse and a wipe down. "I don't know what to do about him, he was so gentle when we were together, and so kind. He's great with Hudson and with Molly, I just don't know whether I can trust him with this suspicious activity."