Last Heartbeat (9 page)

He is making me so mad that I grab him and tell him that he is to never touch Alexia and needs to apologize to her. He half-drunkenly does this, but I don’t believe him. I’m getting madder by the minute at him. Alexia touches me and reminds me that he is too drunk to know what he is doing and won’t remember his actions in the morning. Her touch automatically calms me and her smile melts the anger away, so I let go of Jacob.

I turn to her, smiling back, and let her know that, with her batting her eyes, everything would be okay. I tell her that she is going to cause so much trouble with all the guys wanting to be with her and I am going to have to keep them away. She doesn’t believe me and says that she is just plain. How can she not see how wonderful and beautiful she is inside and out? Everyone around her lights up when she is around, but she doesn’t know this. She is perfect and not full of herself like Megan.

Tyler comes over and says that he is tired, wanting to know if I was taking them home. He says the same thing Alexia does, about Jacob being drunk and he won’t remember a thing in the morning. I ask if he wants to stay in the guest room with Jacob. I know that no one can sleep with Jacob because he is like a bear wrestling in his sleep. I tell Alexia that I will help Tyler get Jacob in bed and be right back.

We drag him to the room, and I turn the bed comforter back. We lay him down, and I take his shoes off because I will have to clean the sand out off the bed if I don’t. With him settled in the bed, I turn around and find Tyler lying on top of the other one. He still has his shoes on, and I take off his too. I’m glad to have these two here and not driving. They both know I don’t like them drinking and driving so they always call me to pick them up. Maybe one day I will tell them about my brother and how he died. Alexia is the only person here that I have ever told.

I walk out the door and notice how late it has gotten. How did it get so late so fast? With all the excitement of the evening, time has flown by, and I feel guilty because now Alexia has to drive back to the dorm. That isn’t going to happen. She will have to stay and I’ll sleep on the couch. I look over at her collecting her books and see the biggest yawn. She is really tired, and I can see it.

I walk up to her and she smiles at me. My heart beats faster every time she does. I ask her to stay, but she is hesitating. She yawns again and I know she will have to stay because she is too tired to drive. I tell her that I’ll sleep on the couch and she can have the bed. She says that the couch is too small for me. I agree but don’t want to offend her with asking to share my bed. I do ask and offer to sleep on top of the sheets. I’ll even let her borrow a t-shirt. Now that will be nice to see her my t-shirt.

I show her that I have a king-sized bed and tell her that I’ll keep to my side. She says okay. I get her a shirt and I go to the bathroom. While I’m in there, I brush my teeth, wash my face and take my medication. I dig out a surprise toothbrush for her. I keep extra around in case I need a extra. I come out with my surprise and she smiles at me. She goes in and takes only a few minutes. Glad she was fast because I am tired.

While she is in there, I change into pajama bottoms and sit on top of the bed. I start thinking more about Alexia and feel nervous about having her here in my room alone. I have to keep myself in check or I’ll have my hands all over her sweet little body. She has these curves I want to hold onto. I sigh and let out a breath.
Oh no
I believe I am already falling for this girl. How did this happen so fast? I barely know her, but she feels like home to me.

She comes out of the bathroom and jumps on the bed beside me.
Wow
! I think I better leave. All I want to do is grab her and have my way with her. She looks freaking hot in my t-shirt. I start to think about how she would look with nothing on at all.
Ok
ay
now.
Calm yourself down before she runs out of here screaming. I take a deep breath and tell her I like her in my t-shirt, that I might keep her here every night.

That sounded creepy, and I hope she doesn’t think so. Then she smiles and says that if she were here every night I couldn’t have any girls or girlfriends over. I have never have had a girl over here, but she doesn’t know that. I tell her that I don’t have any girlfriends unless she wants to be my girlfriend.

I can’t believe I said that. Where did that come from? She asks me, if I’m for real about asking her to be my girlfriend and if I’m playing her now. She doesn’t know me much. I have never asked anyone to be my girlfriend. She seems mad. Then gets out of the bed and goes to her clothes. No, she isn’t leaving here tonight, and I now know what I want for the first time ever. She is here in my room with my t-shirt on. For the first time ever I want to have a relationship and with this girl only.

I get up and move behind her, pulling her back close to me so that she is touching my chest. I let her know that this feels right, and I mean it. Everything I say to her, I mean it. This girl has taken me over completely. I don’t want to scare her off. I tell her to think about it and not rush anything. I kiss her and my heart explodes in my chest. I know she can feel it because I feel hers beating as hard as mine. I better stop now, because if I don’t, I will have to do more than kiss her.

I tell her that it’s late and pull her back to bed. I ask what time she needs to get up and set the clock. I pull her close to me and cuddle her up next to my chest. She doesn’t fight me and relaxes into my arms. This feels like home to me, and hopefully I don’t mess this up with my girl. That makes me smile. She hasn’t said yes yet, but she will.

I hear her breathing change, and I know she is already asleep. I lie there for a while, watching her and she really is the most beautiful thing I have laid my eyes on. I can see her face with what little light is shining through the window, and I know that she really is my angel. I don’t know how long I lie there watching her, but when I fall asleep, it is the best sleep I have had since my brother died.

I wake up earlier than she does, because I want to make her breakfast before she leaves. I can’t cook much, but I make some eggs and bacon. I put on a pot of coffee. I think she likes it. If not, I will find out what she does and fast. It is time for the clock to wake her, so I put the eggs and bacon in the oven to keep warm. I run back to the room and get back under the covers. I want to her to wake up in my arms. I make it just in time. The clock sounds and she turns over and tries to smack at it. I laugh, and she turns back around. She looks at me and laughs because she must have forgotten where she is. I turn the clock off and tell her good morning. I kiss her on her sweet face. She smiles at me. I wonder what my beautiful blue-eyed girl is thinking. I hope she can see how awesome I think it is for me to wake up next to her.

Chapter Thirteen

Alexia

I hear the alarm clock go off and think,
Ugh,
give me five more minutes. I turn to hit the snooze button on my clock, but I miss it somehow. Then I hear someone laugh and I remember where I am. I slept so well last night. It was the best I’ve slept in forever. I turned back around and see Phillip smiling at me. My heart rate picks up as soon as I lay eyes on him. He is turning me into one of those girls who you read about in books. You know, the girl whose heart beats fast and breathing becomes difficult. I really get it now that it is happening to me.

He kisses me on my check and I smile at him. I like waking up in his bed. Is that bad of me? We didn’t do anything but sleep. This feels so natural, and like I should be here. Now I believe I am getting ahead of myself, because he can’t feel that way about me -
yet.
He did ask me to be his girlfriend last night. I think he did or maybe it was a dream. I was awful tired last night.

Phillip rises up and says, “I made you breakfast and coffee. We better go eat it while it is still hot. I made coffee, but I’m not sure you like coffee. I will learn what you like and soon.”

He pulls me out of bed and I notice that he looks down at my legs. I then look down and see that the t-shirt has slid up to my belly button. I quickly pull it down. I am embarrassed and my checks are on fire. He puts his hand on my check and that calms me down.

“Hey. Don’t worry that I saw you like that. You are beautiful and have nothing you should hide because every bit of you is something amazing.” He looks into my eyes and moves closer like he is going to kiss me.

Before he does kiss me, I remembered my morning breath. I step back out of his trance and move toward the bathroom. He yells at me to hurry so that we can eat and leaves the bedroom. I yell back that I will.

I look at myself in the mirror and my face still has a crimson color. I then notice my hair.
Oh no
! Look at my rat’s nest. He must think rats have taken up in my hair and are never going to leave. I try to smooth it down. Then I brush my teeth and use the bathroom. I reach over to grab my shorts to put them on, but I keep his t-shirt on. I hurry out of the room and head to the kitchen.

As I reach the kitchen, I see the outside balcony table set with plates of food, coffee, and orange juice. It looks picture perfect and the ocean background is what makes everything so peaceful. I feel as if I am in a dream and when I wake up, something bad will happen.

Phillip looks at me and says, “Come join me.” I go sit down beside him and thank him for the breakfast. We start eating, and when we are almost done with our food, we hear noise inside the condo. Phillip frowns. “I forgot about those two staying the night. Hope they don’t scare you off with their bad hangovers. They usually would still be sleeping in, but I guess they woke up to go to class. That is a big surprise.”

I take a few more bites and look at Phillip. “No they won’t scare me off. I have to leave soon too so I can get ready for class. This food is really good. Where did you learn to cook?”

He laughs, “This is all I can cook. I wish I could make other things, because I would cook dinner for you sometime. What time do you want to study tonight?”

“I can cook some things. Maybe if we are studying here, I can fix you something sometime. I only have two classes today and should be done around four. Let me know what time will be good for you.”

We get up and take our dishes back inside. I load up the dishwasher. When I turn away from putting the dishes in the dishwasher, I run right into Phillip. He laughs and pulls me in close enough that I can smell his wonderful scent. My tummy does flip-flops.

Jacob comes rushing in the kitchen but stops and looks at Phillip with a big smile on his face. “What do we have here? Are you two an item or just hooking up?

Phillip seems to get angry with Jacob, “We are not hooking up, Jacob. I am really interested in being her boyfriend, if she will have me. Right now we are hanging out and getting to know each other until she accepts me to be her boyfriend. I will wait on her to decide.”

Jacob turns to me, smiling wide, “Why are you keeping my boy hanging? I am waiting on an answer, sweetheart.”

He makes me angry. Phillip sees it and he tries to get me to leave, but I say, “It is a little bit too soon to answer because we just meet. Now that I think about it more, maybe I will be Phillip’s girlfriend. Only if I knew he really was interested in me, but I am sure he isn’t.” I turn to leave, picking up my backpack and purse up.

I realize that I am still in Phillip’s shirt, but I don’t care. I am leaving now. Phillip tries to stop me. I’m out the door and in the elevator before he can get to me.

What was that all about? Why did I get defensive over that question? Maybe I already know the answer. I do feel something for him. As I come to this conclusion, the elevator doors open and there stands Phillip looking hot and very sweaty. Did he just run down all those stairs?

He pulls me into his arms and says, “I meant every word and I do want you to be my girlfriend, if you will have me. I feel something for you, and it is so strong. I hate that we even have to be apart. I haven’t figured out what it is yet. I would like to really explore this feeling I am having with you.”

Before I can say anything, he reaches to cup my face tenderly and kisses me with so much passion that my legs almost give out on me. He pulls me closer so I don’t fall and kisses me like a starving man. I kiss him right back the same as he does me. Never have I felt this in my life. I never knew that a guy could make you feel like this. I can feel the heat building in the kiss and I don’t know if I will be able to stop. We kiss like this for what seems like forever.

Behind us, someone loudly clears his throat. We stop kissing and step away from each other to see who is it is. I am blushing when I look up. Standing next to us is this guy, who is smiling at Phillip.

He says to Phillip, “Some study session, I see.” He winks before heading out the door.

Phillip laughs. “Well, I see Jack liked our public display of affection.
Wow!
That kiss was intense. After that kiss, I believe you have to say yes to me. I couldn’t think I could ever accept you kissing anyone but me. I am sorry for the way Jacob acted. It was uncalled for. Please be my girl. I promise to take care of you and I love you in my t-shirts.” He pulls me close to whisper in my ear. “Keep this shirt so you can think of me today. I hope you wear it all day. Maybe when you get to our biology class you will still have it on.” He kisses me under my ear, making tingles run up my spine. How will I be able to say no to him?

I smile up to him. “
Maybe
, I will wear it all day. I will think about your question and then
maybe
by biology class I will answer.” I smile, turn, and walk out the door. Before I get too far, I hear him chuckle loud.

I get in the car with a smile on my face. I want to say yes to him really badly. He turns me into mush inside and out. This has me scared to death. How can I feel this way, knowing that I shouldn’t bring him into this mess that is my life? I am selfish for even considering this at all. As I drive to my dorm room, I am in deep thought about this. My phone starts ringing. I usually don’t answer while driving, but I see that my mom is calling. I need to talk to her. Maybe she will help me with my answer.