Chapter 14
Somehow, Mila managed to push Archer into the passenger seat and climb into the driver's seat herself. His long legs got tangled and like a blind and deaf giraffe, he bumped and cursed his way into his seat. Mila patted his leg so he would know she was still nearby as she started the car and drove towards the hotel. She had no idea how she would get Drew up to her room all by herself. Archer was another headache.
Skipping out on the valet, Mila drove into the underground garage and parked as far away from the entrance as she could.
"Are we at the hotel?" Archer shouted, making Drew flinch in her sleep.
"Shhhh!" Mila shoved him. She lifted one of his headphones and said, "Yes. But be quiet. You're too loud."
"What is this song?" Archer asked, his voice still too loud. "I like it. It's very upbeat."
"Bollywood, baby," Mila laughed and then remembered he couldn't hear her. She quickly climbed out of the driver's seat and shut the door, making Archer call out her name immediately.
"Mila?" Archer sat up in a panic.
"I'm right here," Mila opened his door and helped him step out of the car. "Careful. Careful."
"Ow!" Archer yelled as he hit his head on the roof of the car.
"I said to be careful," Mila clicked her tongue.
"What?" Archer shouted. "I can't hear you."
"Hey Ram!" Mila face palmed. "Mujhe bachao." (Dear lord, save me)
"Mila?" Drew began to sit up in the backseat. "Where are we?"
"Drew, stay there," Mila ordered as she grabbed Archer's hands and steadied him.
Reaching up, she slowly removed the blindfold and held her breath to see if he would freak out. Archer fluttered his eyes once and then twice before slowly opening them and landing his gaze on Mila.
"Are you okay?" Mila asked, her hands on his arms, holding him as if he might fall over.
"I can't hear you!" Archer yelled.
"Nevermind," Mila rolled her eyes and reached for the headphones.
"No, no!" Archer backed away. "Did the storm stop?"
"No," Mila shook her head.
"I can't take these off," Archer said.
"Okay, keep them," Mila turned towards the backseat and opened the door. "Drew, let's go."
"Ben?" Drew sat up, her eyes full of tears.
"I don't know who he is but he's not here," Mila took the girl's hands and began to pull her out of the car.
"I want Ben!" Drew cried.
"Oh fuck me!" Mila groaned, trying to keep Drew from falling over.
"I got this!" Archer shouted, stepping up to the girls.
Mila looked over her shoulder and stepped back. She let Archer pick Drew up into his arms once more before she grabbed their things out of the car and locked the doors.
"Lead the way," Archer said. "But no windows....or door!"
"Got it," Mila gave him a thumbs up.
She walked them to the elevator and hit the button for the lobby. Swinging both her and Drew's purse onto her shoulder, she started to check for the weather when the elevator doors opened in the lobby, and lightning flashed.
