A Bad Boy's Gift

Chapter 40

Instead of going straight to my house, Archer drives into town, and before I know it, we're pulling up outside of the bar we had our first date at.

He sees me frowning.

"They do lunch and coffee through the day, then dinner at night. I need to keep the two of you fed." He smiles at me before looking towards my flat stomach and placing his hand on it. "I can't wait for you to grow."

I place my hand above his and look down at our hands before looking to him, a tear escaping me as I grin at him.

"You're so beautiful," he whispers, "come on, I'm starving." He opens his door and comes round to open mine, since I'm in a daze.

"My Lady," he offers his hand to me, I take it and climb out of the car.

Archer locks the car and leads me to the door of the bar. We are shown to our table, the same one we sat at for our first date.

"I hope it's okay that I called ahead, I thought this might make you happy?" He says as we take our seats, indicating that he'd booked the table on purpose. I nod at him, encouraging a smile to form on his lips.

When we've ordered our food and drinks, Archer reaches into his back pocket and takes out a little white envelope.

"Molly asked me to give you this, I think it's a get well soon card." He smiles, passing me the envelope.

On the front is my name, written in what is clearly an 8 year old's handwriting. I open it and on the front, Molly has drawn four people, all with their name above their head; Molly, Jack, River, Hudson. She's drawn our little family, I wish we weren't so early in our pregnancy that we have to wait so long to tell her. I just know she will be over the moon. Alas, I'm sat here looking at the drawing when another little tear escapes me. I open the handmade, hand folded, get well soon card and written inside, in Molly's handwriting is,

"To River. I hope you feel better soon! I miss you already, lots of love from Molly XXX P.S. Please will you be my brother's girlfriend!"

I immediately start sobbing, Archer's face going from a cute smile to horrified almost instantly.

"Yes!" Is all I can manage to say between sobs.

"What do you mean yes? River, what's the matter?" He takes my hand in one of his and the card from my other hand, reading it quickly. "Fuck, I knew I should've checked what the little bugger had written before she licked the envelope." He almost looks pissed, as though he doesn't want this.

"Do you not want me to be your girlfriend?" I say, but it only comes out as a whisper.

"What?" He asks, before realising that his response isn't what he intended. "No no no! River, of course I want you to be my girlfriend! I just wanted to do it much more romantically than this." He waves the card and squeezes my hand simultaneously.

I just cry even more, not knowing what to do, I get up and go to sit next to him, and envelope him in a hug, he kisses my cheek and rubs my back, telling me not to cry in my ear.

Why is he just so perfect?

---

After we finish our lunch, it's almost time to pick the kids up from school. We go to Molly's school first. We stand by the gates, and when she sees us, she starts running. She doesn't even acknowledge Archer before giving me a hug; a hug so tight I can feel her restricting my breathing.

"Hey Molly, how was school?" I ask, trying to peel her arms from my waist.

"It was boring until I saw you here," she just fights my untangling efforts and holds me tight. "Did you get my card? I made it specially for you last night while I was with my Dad."