I sit in the car with my hands gripped tight over my ears. I can still hear Miss Mimi’s shouts.
“Whore.”
I tighten the grip on my ears and lift my feet onto the seat, burying my head into my knees as Echo speeds away. Mimi’s words hit hard. It’s only words screamed by an angry, bitter old woman, but I can’t shake the insult.
“Sugar, you okay?” Echo asks. I shake my head and pull my knees up closer to my chest, curling into as tight a ball as I can. An arm reaches across my shoulders, drawing me into the safety of his embrace. His touch and the heat of his skin calms me, and I unfurl, climbing into his lap as he drives.
“It’s okay, sugar. I didn’t realise she hated the club so much. Fuck, it’s been ten years since her old man left with one of the club skanks,” Echo says as he soothingly strokes my back.
The car falls into silence as I sit with his arms wrapped tightly around me, holding me close to him. My heart gradually slows, and my muscles relax.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
His hand tangles in my hair, his arms holding me tight. “What you thanking me for?” Still clinging to him, I softly kiss his neck. “You stepped between us. I should have walked away, or told her to fuck off, but I just froze. I’ve never been called a whore before. She was just so angry and mean.”
Echo’s body stiffens beneath me. “You don’t need to thank me. She shouldn’t have said a word to you. I should have sent a prospect to collect your stuff, and none of this would have happened.”
I lift my head from his shoulder as we pull onto his driveway. He turns off the engine and starts to open the door, but I reach for his hand, stilling it. “Echo, you protected me from her. I’ve never had someone other than my parents do that for me.”
His fingers lift my chin till our eyes lock; intensity and possession flare in his. “I’ll always protect you, Livvy, always. It’s my job to look after you, to keep you safe.”
I nod, understanding for the first time what his claim really means. He lifts me, and I wrap my arms and legs around him tightly. Our lips meet and we kiss. His lips don’t dominate me; instead they reverently whisper his promises. That he’ll look after me, protect me, and keep me safe.
Echo carries me upstairs and sets me down on the bathroom counter, kissing me quickly before he turns on the taps and starts to fill the gloriously large claw-footed bath. “Strip.” For once, it’s not an order. His voice is soft, and his eyes are filled with concern. But one word is all it takes; my breathing shallows and my heart races. I watch him, then slowly remove my clothes so I’m standing naked, waiting for him. Heat fills his eyes as he takes in my bare skin, my breasts heaving, aroused.
His hands slide along my skin from my hips and over my ribs. Holding me gently, he lifts me into the bath, and I submerge into the water. Echo kneels on the floor at the side of the tub, his rough, callused hands cupping my cheeks. He takes my lips, claiming me, owning me.
Desperate for more, I track his movement when he stands and turns to leave. “Aren’t you getting in?” I ask, panting.
He smiles but shakes his head. “Not yet. You relax. I’m gonna get your stuff out of the truck. Then I’ll come wash your back.”
He winks at me and heads to the door. Pausing, he looks over his shoulder. “Welcome home, Livvy.”
The hot water soothes my muscles, my tense body sinking deeper into the warmth.
Home.
I close my eyes and lay my head back against the side of the bath, smiling widely.
My phone rings, shattering the silence. Blake Shelton’s “Kiss My Country Ass” blares loudly, refusing to be ignored. Groaning, I lean over the side of the bath and grab my phone from the pocket in my dress.
The screen flashes “James Calling.” I squeal with excitement; it’s been far too long since I spoke to anyone from back home.
“Bestie,” I say as I answer the call.
James makes an audible sigh. “Thank fuck, Liv we thought you’d been murdered or abducted by aliens or joined a cult or something. It’s been nearly two weeks since the last time you called.” The relief is obvious in his voice, and I feel like the worst kind of friend.
“Shit, I’m sorry, hon. It’s just been an insane couple of weeks.”
James’s reply is instant. “Why, what’s been going on?”
With a groan, I sink back into the water. “God, I don’t even know where to start. I’m not sure you’d believe me if I told you.”
Chuckling, he prods, “Come on, Liv, spill. What’s happened?”
I blow out a long, laboured sigh and respond, “Okay, so here’s the short version. You know I was going to El Paso?”
“Er, yeah,” he replies, sounding confused.
“Okay, so my bus broke down. Then it left without me, leaving me stranded in this little town called Archer’s Creek, in Texas, of all fucking places.”
“Shit, Liv, are you okay?” James asks, concern edging his voice.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” I assure him. Then I blurt out quickly, “But I met a guy who turned out to be in a biker gang, who got me a job at the bar they own. Well, he’s kind of perfect, and I’m kind of falling for him. He asked me to move in with him, and I said yes, then the guesthouse I was living in, the owner turned out to be a psycho and she chased me out of the house today calling me a whore. Oh, and I guess I’m kind of a biker’s old lady.”
James’s voice rises. “Wait, wait, wait. A biker gang as in Sons of Anarchy?”
“Yes.”
Speaking slowly and cautiously, he says, “Liv, do you need to see a doctor? Are you in a hospital? Because I hate to tell you this, sweetie, but you sound like you’re living the plot of a bad soap opera.”
I laugh loudly and sit up quickly, making water splash over the side of the bath and onto the floor. “Oh my god, it does sound like a bad TV show, doesn’t it? Echo’s turned my life into a melodrama.”
I pull the phone away from my ear as he shouts, “Echo, who the fuck is Echo?”
“Echo’s the guy I’ve met.”
“And he’s a biker?”
“Yes.”
“And he’s called Echo?” James’s voice is slightly incredulous.
“Yes.”
“And you’re living with him?”
“Yes.”
James goes silent for a second. Then I hear him shout, “Dan, Liv’s lost the fucking plot! Can you see how much flights are to Archer’s Creek, Texas.” James’s boyfriend Dan responds, but I can’t hear what he says.
Laughing, I quickly reply, “I haven’t lost the plot, you daft sod. I know it sounds like I’ve made it up, but I swear to fucking God it’s all happened.”
The indulgent affection in his voice is so clear, I can picture his face. “Bloody hell, Liv, it’s only been two weeks. This could only happen to you.”
I chuckle. “Tell me about it.”
James laughs lightly. “So this guy, you like him?”
I sigh dreamily. “I like him.”
“Is that all?” he questions.
“No, I more than like him. I think I’m falling for him.”
His voice goes all girly when he asks, “Soooo, what’s he like?”
Groaning, I pull my hands from the water and cover my eyes. “He’s not my normal type at all. He’s huge, muscly, and covered in tattoos.”
He giggles. “Sounds perfect.”
My face breaks into a huge smile as I think about Echo. “He’s bossy and domineering and so intense. But he makes me feel safe, protected. When I see him, it’s like I’m drawn to him, like he pulls me in, and the thought of not being with him makes my chest hurt.”
“You love him,” James says.
“No.”
James’s voice is soft. “Liv, you love him.”
Sitting up straight, I gasp. “Fuck, I love him.” James laughs loudly, and I fire back, “Don’t laugh, you bastard. I’m leaving in a couple of weeks.”
“So stay,” he says, like it’s the simplest thing in the world.
“I can’t. It’s not like I can just stay.”
“Why not?” The question in his voice almost makes me question myself.
“My visa.”
“Oh yeah. So what you gonna do?”
“Enjoy the time I’ve got and fall apart when I leave.” My voice cracks on the word leave, and I feel my heart banging against my chest as panic starts to creep inside me.
“Oh Liv, I’m sorry.” I can hear the sympathy in his voice. Tears fill my eyes, and I nod even though I know James can’t see me through the phone. “It’s all gonna work out, Liv, you’ll see. Just please don’t leave it this long without even a text. Because we really will be on a plane to track you down next time.”
Clearing my throat quickly, I try to hide the tears that are obvious in my voice. “I promise, love you.”
“Love you too, Liv. We miss you,” James coos.
“Miss you too, bye,” I say, the words filled with emotion.
The call ends, and I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of homesickness.
I miss my friends.