Guided Love (Prick #1) (11 page)

“Shut up, I did not.” Yeah, I bet I am completely white and I really am about to lose the soup I just had.

“Oh, babe, you did. Last night you told Allen that he was lickable and you told me and Paul that you would have ridden him the first night you arrived. Oh, and let’s not forget Jay. You told Jay that his quiet confidence melts your panties.” I smack my head and start to groan.

“It wasn't that bad, everyone found it to be funny and we all knew you were wasted. The best part was when you were grinding with some random frat boy and Axel came over, grabbed him by the neck, and took you home. It was actually kind of hot, him turning into a big Alpha male”

“Whatever, you’re crazy. He was just saving me from myself. I can’t believe that I acted that way. I was just so depressed.”

Carrie grabbed the remote again and shut off the TV. “Okay, RC, spill it. Why were you depressed? You know you can tell me anything, right?”

“I know, it’s just complicated. Camaron and I have been friends for years. Since I was in second grade. We’ve always been close, the best of friends. I have been in love with him for years. Seriously, he is the man I compare everyone to. When he moved here, the plan was for me to graduate and move with him. Obviously, I did, but it seems that I don’t know how to get him to want to be with me and only me. I know he doesn’t see anyone seriously. I mean, hell, we live together and he never brings anyone to the house. But the signs all point to him seeing me in a new light, ya know. I mean, when Axel and I painted the kitchen, he made this big deal about me falling asleep on the couch with him, and before you ask we just fell asleep. NOTHING, and I mean nothing, happened. However, Camaron put me in his bed and said he needed to be closer to me. Ugh, so yesterday all was well and when I was talking to him, his face was down, looking at his phone, and when I came out of the shower, he wasn’t there, and I get a text saying he won’t be home. I don’t know, I guess I’m just worried.” I look up and see that she has concern written all over her face. “What? Why do you have that scared look on your face, Care Bear? Oh my God, I called you Care Bear last night, didn’t I?”

“Yes, you did.” Carrie fakes a smile at me and starts to reach for her shoes. “Well, I have to head back downstairs to work, if you need anything let me know.”

I get out of the bed and walk with Carrie out into the apartment. It’s layout is just like ours. I can say that Axel has great taste. The living room is gorgeous and sophisticated. He has a huge black leather “L” shape couch, a black coffee table in front of it. He has a 60 inch flat screen television hanging from the wall and a beautiful glass shelf underneath it with an Xbox and a few pictures. Carrie opens the door and I realize I am staring at my apartment door. He is the tenant that lives in 2A, the one who has a sign that says STAY THE FUCK OUT! I laugh out loud and Carrie just gives me a questioning glance. I must look like an idiot as I replay our conversation of the mystery tenant and how pleasant he must be.

I just shake my head at her. “Well, I am going to go find my shoes and head home as well.”

Carrie waves her hand to me as she starts heading down stairs. “Talk to you later, RC,” I shut the door and take a look around again.

I am kind of in awe of the apartment. Axel has beautiful artwork hanging on each wall. Large canvas paintings of the same tree he has on his back. I see that the initials on the tree are A.M & E.M; the details to the painting are breathtaking, it looks so real. The colors of the leaves, the grass, and the sky they are all so crisp and clear. I’m standing there staring at this magnificent piece of work and I am so lost in it, I don’t hear the door open and close.

“I see you are up and about.” I shake my head and turn to see Axel is standing behind me.

“Oh, you scared me. I didn't hear you come in. Yes, thank you so much for everything. The bed and the soup, I really do appreciate your kindness, Axel.”

“Anytime, Samantha. I see you like my artwork.” I turn completely now to face him.

“You painted this?” I start to follow him into his kitchen.

I walk into a crisp white kitchen with accents of gray. He reaches into the cupboard and pulls out a gray smoky glass, fills it with ice and some water and hands it to me. I don't know why I am so surprised to see that Axel is so put together; he even has matching plates and glasses. I guess I expected him to be like Camaron and only have paper plates and a few plastic tumblers he got from concerts or sports games.

“Why do you have that shocked look on your face?” Once again, I’m standing here looking like an idiot and it seems like I always get caught by Axel.

“No, I'm not. I just really like the kitchen.” I shake my head and continue, “So you painted them?”

He hands me the glass of water and gets himself a glass as well. “Yeah, that’s the picture that Camaron used to do the tattoo on my back”

“And the initials?”

I watch as he chugs the water down and refills it.

“Those are Ma and Pops.”

“Gotcha. Well, the painting truly is breath taking. You are very talented.”

“Thanks, Samantha, that means a lot.”

I drink down the water and take the glass to the sink. I turn and see Axel looking at me.

“Well, thank you again for helping me last night. By chance, do you know where my shoes are?”

He stands up, heads to his bedroom again, and then back to the living room. I am standing in front of the shelf looking at the picture frames. There are three in total, one of I would assume Mr. and Mrs. Martinelli, one of Mrs. Martinelli and Axel standing in front of Two Pricks on the day it opened.

It is really sweet, he towers over this sweet little lady and she has her arm around his waist and is looking up at him. You can see how proud she is of him. The last picture is of Axel and Mr. Martinelli drawing at a kitchen table. I hear him heading down the hall as I turn, look at him, and point at the pictures. “Are these of you and The Martinelli's?”

He is holding my shoes as he gives me one of those large beautiful smiles. The kind where you can see exactly how he is feeling. With most people, you see those smiles every day, but for as long as I have known Axel, they are saved for special occasions— talking about the Martinelli's is one of those.

“Yeah, that’s them celebrating their 50
^th
wedding anniversary.”

“Wow, that’s great! You rarely find anyone married for that long anymore.”

“They were an amazing pair. The definition of soul mates.”

I smile up at him and take my shoes. “Well, I would love to meet her.”

I turn and make my way to the door and from behind me I hear Axel, “Sunday at two, we’re all heading to Ma's for a barbeque. You’ll get to meet her then.”

I make my way to my door and turn around to say goodbye. “Sounds good, I can’t wait; it will be fun. Thank you again, Axel, for helping me.” I open the door and give him a small wave goodbye.

My apartment is quiet; Camaron must still be downstairs working, since he’s probably overwhelmed with appointments that I had to reschedule for him. I clean up a little and head into my room to get a pair of pajamas, so I can soak in a nice warm bubble bath. I light a few candles for some light, and climb in the tub and the warm water that truly feels like heaven. Having to experience this shit feeling in the morning is the main reason I stay away from alcohol. I have only been drunk one other time and it wasn’t pretty. I really don’t understand who would want to feel like this the day after time after time.

I exhale and sink down to my ears, closing my eyes and relaxing. I have been in here a while as my hands are all wrinkly and the water is getting cold, but there is no way in hell I am getting out just yet. I reach up with my foot and turn the handle to add some hot water. I would add more bubbles since they are really gone now, but the bottle is just too far out of reach.

I turn the handle off and jump as I hear, “What the hell, Sam! Where have you been?”

I jump, splashing the water all over the floor. “What the hell, Camaron? I’m in the tub, get the hell out of here.”

Camaron walks to the tub and kneels—he actually fucking kneels. I am sitting in the tub with my arms crossed over my breasts and I have my knees up, trying to hide myself from his stare, not that he is looking. He is staring directly into my eyes and he is pissed. I can see the anger all across his face.

“Sam, seriously, why are you doing this to me?” I am shocked and I actually wince at his voice because he is being direct, very direct and stern.

“Okay, first of all, what am I doing to you?”

“Samantha, you aren’t responding to my messages, you never came home last night, and you are acting like a bitch. What have I done to deserve this? Tell me.”

“’Samantha,’ you are starting off your statement with ‘Samantha,’ really?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Sam, is Samantha only allowed by Axel? Is that the special name only HE can use?”

“Yeah, ya know what, Camaron, just get out. We can discuss this when I am OUT of the tub.”

He looks like I just kicked him and he starts to shake his head viciously. “Hell no, I am not going anywhere until I hear why you are acting like this. It’s not like I haven’t seen a naked woman before. Spill it, Sam, I can’t take fighting with you.” I’m shocked that he is refusing to leave.

I take a deep breath, become bold and lower my arms. I watch to see if his eyes move, if he tries to sneak a peek, but of course, he is still staring me down. His eyes are filled with fury and he wants answers.

“Okay, first off, yes, I didn't come home last night because I forgot my key, was wasted and my roommate wasn't home to let me in. Camaron, I’m sorry that I didn't respond to your messages this morning, I was asleep and didn’t hear my phone go off. When I did wake up, I responded. I must have left my phone over at Axel’s, because I haven’t received any further messages after the one I sent to you. Now, as long as we are being honest and getting answers to our questions, I would like to know when you started being so freaking mean to me. When have you ever called me a bitch in your life? What have I done to you that I deserve you, my best friend, calling me a BITCH?” He shakes his head and looks down, towards his hands . . . damn, then he looks up at me again not stopping to take a peek.

He looks at me, directly in my eyes, “I’m so sorry, Sam. I was just so mad thinking that you were angry at me and I lost it.” He grabs my hand, he actually reaches in my bath water where I am naked, completely naked, and he grabs my hand, linking them together. Holy hell, how I wish he would do so much more. “We are okay, right?”

I can’t help but smile. I know I should still be mad that he called me a bitch and I should stand my ground and let him know that what he said, how he acted was wrong and a simple “I’m sorry” can’t take back what he said. I did nothing wrong, I don’t understand why he thinks I would be angry with him. Yet, when I look at him here, kneeling next to my tub, truly upset from thinking that we are fighting and I am mad at him and him genuinely apologizing to me, I can’t help but forgive him. I mean this man is my world how can I not forgive him.

“Of course we are, Cam, it’s fine, we’re fine. I am sorry that I didn’t respond to your messages.” He lets go of my hand, stands, and starts to head to the door.

“I know you are still not feeling well after last night. Let’s just watch a movie and order a pizza, it can be just us. How does that sound?” I smile and nod to him.

“Nothing sounds better.”

“Okay, beautiful, get your ass out of the tub and get to the couch.” He opens the door and just before he closes it, he says “Hey, Sam, you look good,” and he winks at me and shuts the door. I have a Pretty Woman moment—I go under water and start to pound my fists and feet against the tub. I am in complete shock and I feel great. He said I look good, he said that after he sat next to the tub and I was naked. I was naked and he said I looked good. I hurry up, get out of the tub, and dry myself off. I head to my room in my towel since I can’t go out to the couch for a movie in my flannel superman pajamas. I open my drawer and pick out my pink Victoria Secret pajamas. They aren't the sexy ones, but they are the sexiest ones I own. They are cotton and the top has a thin spaghetti strap. Like I said, they are nothing too gorgeous, but they fit me well and they show off my large C cups and my booty.

I come out, grab a seat on the sofa, and arrange the pillows around me. Camaron is pacing back and forth and he is whispering something. He heads back toward the couch and says that the pizza is on its way. We decide to watch an action flick and Camaron chooses
The Matrix
. I’m not a huge fan of the movie but it’s one of his favorites so I don’t object. We are half way through the movie and my stomach is starting to growl.

“Where is the freaking pizza it’s been over an hour already? We better not have to pay for it.” He grabs his phone off the coffee table and starts typing away.

“It should be here in a few minutes. I actually have a friend of mine bringing it over.” I can feel the look I have on my face, it’s the look of confusion.