I shake my head, and we carry him back to his motorhome. I fumble around in his pockets and dig out his keys. He tries to talk, but all that’s coherent is ‘no’. He retches then. “No one cares.” All I can do is feel sorry for him. I know he’s been vile, but I don’t like seeing anyone in this state and alone at that. We drag him tothe room at the end and toss him on the bed. I strip his shoes off and then start to roll him over.
“What are you doing?” Jay whispers out.
“I can’t stand the cunt, but I don’t want him choking on his own vomit,” I whisper back. He’s out cold, so we leave him on his side and close the motorhome backup.
Waking up the next day, I didn’t sleep well. I was worried about Arch. I know, I know, the guy’s an arse, but to be drinking like that alone, and the state he was in… I kind of feel bad for him, so I pull on a pair of joggers and head over knocking on the door. I hear a shout of, “Go away,” before I hear retching.
Pushing in the door, I shove through into the bedroom, and he’s on the floor, puking. “Fucking hell!” I stalk over to him and lift him up, dragging him into the bathroom.
“Leave me alone!” he grumbles out as he’s retching again into the toilet. The smell is horrific. I push out into the kitchen area, get some cleaning supplies, head into the bedroom, and clean the puke up. I came over barefoot, so I mind my step, grimacing as I strip the bed, too, and throw it in a bin liner.
I stalk back into the bathroom, and he’s asleep, hugging the fucking bowl. There’s no way he’s going to be able to race today. So, I fire up the shower and turn it to cold. This is gonna fucking suck, but I can’t leave him like this. I wrench him up in my arms, and he mumbles, but he still doesn’t come around. I smile. I might actually like this. I hold him against my bare chest and step into the shower with him in my arms. He’s fullyclothed, and his eyes fly open, gasping as I shove him against the wall and pin him with my body.
I grin down at him as he gasps and chokes on the water. I can’t help but laugh as he tries to push me away, but as I step back, his legs buckle, and I grab him again and wedge him. His head sags and rests on my chest, and I can feel his heart pounding and his breaths coming in short and stuttering. His hands come to my waist, and his hold on it tightens like I’m the only thing holding him up, and I think I am.
“You okay?”
He shakes his head but doesn’t look up. I reach up one hand and push his hair back from his face, pushing his head back at the same time.
The look on his face is scared maybe, I leave him in the water and go to step back, but he tightens his grip on my waist but still doesn’t speak.
“Arch?” I slide my hand down to his jaw and tilt it to look up at me. “Are you okay?”
He sighs, and the corner of his mouth kicks up slightly. I stare into his eyes, and they’re glassy. I’m unsure if it’s the cold water, the hangover, or even if he’s crying. I look into his eyes deeper, trying to figure out what’s going on, but he moves his hands slowly up my body to my chest and pushes slightly against my pecs, and I take a step back. His eyes trail down my body to my wet grey sweats and back up, and his throat bobs.
“You… you brought me back last night?”
I nod. “Me and Jay.”
He pushes against me again but sighs. “I’m okay, erm…”
I step back and sharpen my gaze on him, “Don’t worry about it,” I say as I stalk back to the van. “Fuckingdick. Should have left him on his face in the bar last night!”
Arch
Chapter 13
When I finally come around from the shock of the cold from the shower, I’m pressed against the wall by a strong, firm body, and I rest my head on his chest. I thank whoever I need to for the freezing cold water; otherwise, I would have the biggest hard-on, and I’m embarrassed enough. I can’t focus while he’s this close, all wet muscles and tattoos, and as I lean against his hard chest, I can’t help but hang on to his hips, gripping tight. My heart is racing, and my breaths are stuttering, and the whole time, I’m hoping he doesn’t notice it's him, not the cold that’s making my heart pound in my chest. He tilts my head back, asking if I’m okay, and I shake my head because I’m not. I’m not even remotely okay.
I have to push him back, and he steps away. He’s barefoot and only wearing grey joggers, which are wet through and honestly, my mouth waters at the sight. I can see the fabric clinging to everything, and I sigh. “You… you brought me back last night?”
He nods. “Me and Jay.”
I push against him again but sigh. “I’m okay, erm…”
He steps back and sharpens his gaze on me, “Don’t worry about it,” he says as he stalks out and slams the door behind him.
I stand there, shell-shocked, for the longest time before I peel my clothes off and warm up the water. Once I’ve stopped shivering, I wash myself off, slide down the wall into the bottom of the shower, and curl up, hugging my legs. I feel like death, and I can’t feel anymore mortified at the reaction I just had to him being so close to me, to the way his body makes me feel, and to the way he makes me feel something, anything. I don’t know what it is, but it’s something other than being alone.
Once I finally rise from the bottom of the shower, I head into the bedroom. The bed is stripped and in a bin bag, and the floor has been cleaned. I can’t believe he would do that, and now I’m even more confused than ever. What does it mean? Why did he look after me, and why did he do… everything else?
I don’t know if I can face him, and I’m not sure I should be riding today, but I also can’t bear to hide away in the motorhome, so I grab some food and try to hold it down, and I try to calm my breathing. I look out of the window and can’t see anyone, so I try to slip out of the motorhome, but as I close the door, I hear his friend.Jay, was it?
“Hey, princess, how are you feeling this morning?” He chuckles.
I spin around on autopilot to be my usual obnoxious self, but Ryder is standing beside him. He doesn’t say anything, but he crosses his arms over his chest, and I let out a breath. I take a step towards them and then another.
Looking down at the floor, I rub my hand up the back of my neck as I feel the heat rise up my cheeks. I glance at them through my lashes but drop my eyesback down again just as quick. “Erm… thank you.” I slide back and go to turn, but Ryder’s gravelly voice rings out.
