Guided Love (Prick #1) Read online

  “So, Samantha, are you going to open up and tell me what’s on your mind?”

  Samantha is sitting at the table surrounded by wings, pizza, and fries, all that she ordered and everything that Paul, Allen, and Jay have been eating. She hasn’t touched anything. She obviously is upset about something and all roads are pointing to Camaron. Yeah, don’t know what the fuck is going on there, the prick never showed up today, which never happens. He may be a prick but he has always showed up, nothing stops him from work. This afternoon Samantha said he wasn’t feeling good and went to Urgent Care and then home. She wouldn’t look me in the eye and I could tell by looking at her beautiful face that she was lying to me. Samantha looks up at me from staring at her bottle of beer that she hasn’t taken even a sip out of and she fakes a smile as she responds to me.

  “Nothing wrong with me, I’m just ducky.”

  “Damn, Samantha, you honestly suck at lying, you realize this, right?” She looks at me and looks around the table as everyone starts to laugh. Paul and Jay are sitting there agreeing with me as they shove another wing in their face.

  “Rice Cake, he does have a point. I mean, damn, you haven’t touched any of the food you’ve ordered,” Carrie looks over at Samantha and you could see that we have all accepted her into our little family and that she, too, is worried about her.

  “Chillax, pricks, I have the perfect solution to loosen our Rice Cake up!” Allen yells as he places neon green shots on the table for all of us. He passes each of us our shot and holds his up.

  “To Rice Cake, you are an amazing fuckin’ woman and I, for one, love that you are a part of our Prick family. Now drink up butter cup, we are gonna get you to loosen up.” We all raise our glasses, down the shot, and follow it with a beer. Three shots later and Samantha is wasted, she is adorable and talkative, but completely wasted.

  “You know, Care Bear, you are beautiful and the pricks . . . I mean, seriously, can you find any other men that are more freaking delicious? When I first saw them, I really think my panties melted. I mean honestly, Allen is just gorgeous with his bald head and his cocky grin, Paul is freaking lickable, dear lord, you my friend, are a lucky woman.” Samantha is cracking me up. She thinks she is whispering, but she is announcing this to all of us here at the table, while her eyes are just set on Carrie.

  “What do you mean I'm a lucky girl? Paul and I aren’t together.”

  Samantha starts shaking her head and raises her finger in front of Carries face. “Don't you say that, Care Bear, I can see the sexual tension you all have. I mean, wow, if I were you I would have ridden that fine piece of ass on my first day. I mean have you seen his ass, mmhmmm yummy.” She is quiet for a few moments and I think her escapades are over until I hear Jay egg her on.

  “What about me Sam, you don’t think I can melt those innocent panties off of you?” I literally punch him, pulling back and hitting him hard in the shoulder.

  “What the fuck, Axel, I was just wondering,” he says as he is buckled over laughing and rubbing his arm.

  “Oh, Jay, don't you worry, babe, you melted them right off. You are my quiet, dark, and dangerous man. I mean, damn, your silent confidence could melt any girl’s heart. I, for one, think you are gorgeous and I, for one, wait . . . did I just say that twice?” We all start laughing and she then hops off her stool and starts to head for the stage. “I want to dance, someone dance with me . . .” Before she could finish her sentence, some young dip shit is coming up behind her trying to grind on her ass.

  Rage courses through my veins. I slam my bottle down and see that Carrie is already looking at me with concern in her eyes. I walk up to them, grab the cocksucker by the collar, and move him out of my way. “Okay, Samantha, it’s time to go.” She starts to pout and looks up at me with those gorgeous eyes.

  “I want to stay a little while more, I think I may even get lucky! Axel, it has been months—MONTHS—since someone has wanted any of this.” She shimmy’s her body motioning with her hand as she does and she’s dead serious. I take her hand and start to lead her towards the door. I motion to the table and nod to let them know I’m out and taking Samantha with me.

  “Sorry, sexy, you getting lucky is not gonna happen with me here. That guy back there, he was nothing but a fucking piece of shit and you, for one, deserve better than that.” She pulls on my hand to stop me and I look down.

  “Really?”

  “Really what, Samantha?” She has tears in her eyes and all I keep thinking is please don’t cry. What the fuck did I say to bring tears to her eyes?

  “You think I deserve better? I don’t know what you’re looking at because all I ever get are the shitheads. The ones that use and abuse me. My heart has only ever belonged to one man and he doesn’t even know it.”

  I turn her so now we are facing one another. “What do you mean use and abuse you?” She still has tears in her eyes and she looks down at her feet.

  “Axel, I know that I am nothing to look at. I’ve accepted that and it just seems that the only ones that ever want me are the ones that need something from me. The ones that take all of my money and my attention and who never can or will love me back.” She starts to walk off so I catch up and just let her talk. “I remember one shithead used me to pay for all of our dates. He was a total douche.” She hiccupped and then started to giggle.

  “What do you mean he made you pay for all of your dates?” I couldn’t let this go, needing to know what these assholes did to her in her past.

  “He always wanted to go out and he always was broke. It always seemed that he would snuggle up next to me when the new phone model came out or if he needed a new wardrobe, but, oh, if I needed something, even if it was to just have him over for dinner and a movie, he was always busy. Come to find out the one night I called and he said he couldn't come over, because he was studying for his exams. I went over there to surprise him and he was fucking our English professor. He actually stood there and blamed me, could you believe that?” I could tell that she is trying to laugh this off but the hurt shows all over her face. I stop her from walking and lift her chin so I can look into her eyes.

  “What do you mean he blamed you?” I can tell that she is uncomfortable and I don’t want to push her, but I need to know how he blamed her.

  “He blamed me for him cheating, he actually laughed at me and said at first it was just a bet between him and his buddies to see how could bag the ugliest cow. Then, when he realized that I cared and he could use that to gain things, he stayed with me. He pretended to care. He got so angry that I just showed up at his apartment unannounced and I saw him fucking our professor, that he pushed me. Nothing that bad but hit my head against the shelf and cut my forehead. He said that he cringed each and every time we did anything sexually and that, unless I was paying someone to love me, no one would.”

  “He fucking pushed you? Please tell me that Camaron kicked his ass to the point that he cried like a little bitch. You know that he is just a lying cocksucker, Samantha. Any man would be the luckiest man in the world to have someone like you.” She starts to shake her head at me again and looks up to the sky, trying to not show me that her eyes are filled with tears.

  “Thanks Axel, really, but it’s okay. Some have it and some don’t, I just have come to accept that I don’t and live my life to the fullest it can be. I have great friends and love all of you so much.”

  “We love you too, Samantha. Please tell me Camaron kicked this guy’s ass.” She looks at me and grabs my hand, her face is pale white, and it looks like she has seen a ghost.

  “No, absolutely not, I never told him about this. Camaron has always been busy with his life. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love him, but when it came to stuff like this I never wanted to burden him.”

  She obviously was feeling the buzz as she starts to take off her shoes, saying that she’s tired of wearing them and tries to sit on a fire hydrant because she’s exhausted. I can’t help but laugh and grab her to help her stand.
/>   “Come on, gorgeous, I’m going to help you back to your apartment. Do you have your key?” I look up, her eyes are shutting, and she’s yawning. “No, I forgot it inside the apartment”

  “Well, come on, Camaron should be home already and he will be able to open the door.”

  “No, I’ll sleep in the hall it’s okay, Camaron isn’t coming home tonight.”

  “Well then, you, Samantha, are going to come home with me.”

  I end up carrying Samantha the last block and walking up the stairs to my apartment. I open the door and take her back to the bedroom. I start to take off her shoes and pull the covers up over her but she stops me by grabbing my hand.

  “Axel, do you know what I thought of you when I first saw you?” I look down and see this gorgeous girl lying in my bed and it just feels right.

  “What did you think of me?” She starts to giggle and looks me straight in the eyes, “First off, Axel Davis, I love when you call me gorgeous, that makes me tingle.”

  “Oh really, does it now?”

  She nods her head and continues, “Absolutely, definitely gives me tingles.” I stand there and wait for her to continue to tell me what she thought of me but she closes her eyes. I head towards the door and shut off the light and am about to shut the door when I hear very faintly. “I thought I finally found a man who saw me.” I look back at her to see she is sitting up, looking right at me. Louder this time, she says, “You see me, Axel.”

  I nod and respond, “Yeah, Samantha, I see you. Goodnight, sweet dreams.” With that, I shut the door and head take a very cold shower because damn, this is going to be a long night.

  Who the fuck is hitting my head with a hammer? Just stop, please stop. I try to open my eyes, but the light is too bright and I immediately close them. But when I close them, I feel like I am on a merry go round which makes me feel so dizzy I want to throw up. I let out a loud moan and crack one eye. What the hell is wrong with me? I immediately panic and sit up—yeah, not a smart move, but where the fuck am I? I look down and see I’m fully dressed but I’m in an unknown bed. I look around, still holding my head as the pounding is killing me. I’m in a king size bed that feels heavenly but, again, not mine. The covers and sheets are black and next to the bed is a black end table. I see a remote control that has to go to the huge flat screen TV that is hanging against the wall in front of me. There also is a large glass of water, two Advil’s and a note.

  Samantha—You didn't have your key so you stayed at my house. You were completely wasted so I put you in the bed and took the couch. You will feel like shit, make sure to drink the glass of water and take the Advil and relax. Don't worry about the shop, take the day off. That is an order!

  If you need anything, I am down stairs.

  Axel

  I immediately grab the glass, pop the pills in my mouth and drink the entire glass of water. I haven't been hung over in years. I know I should get up and find my shoes and somehow head home, but this bed is too comfortable and I just need to rest for another minute, I tell myself, and I lie my head on the pillow, pull the warm comforter up, and close my eyes. It seems like I just closed them when I hear my phone ringing. I crack my eye open and see that Axel must have put my phone on the pillow next to me, because it has stopped ringing but the damn light is blinking. I roll to the side, grab the phone, and roll back into my spot. I try not to move to quickly because, honestly, I feel like I am going to lose whatever I had last night. I type in my security code and find that I have three missed calls along with six text messages, all from Camaron. Before I get to read them, my phone starts ringing again. I don’t know the number, I answer just in case it’s an emergency.

  I whisper, “Hello.”

  In the quietest voice, I hear Axel on the line, “Good Afternoon, Samantha, how are you feeling?”

  “I feel horrible,” I say as I close my eyes and continue to snuggle into my spot.

  “I bet you do, you had a very fun night. Well, I just wanted to check on you and make sure you were doing okay.”

  “I am, thank you, Axel. I hope it’s okay that I am still lying in your bed. I haven’t had the energy to get up at this point.”

  “You can spend as much time there as you need, Samantha. If you need, anything give me a buzz.” I nod and realize that he doesn’t see my nod through the phone. Yeah, I’m definitely a little out of it.

  “Thanks again, Axel.”

  “Alright, beautiful, relax and feel better. Call me if you need anything.”

  With that, we disconnect and I look down at my phone. Axel is such a considerate guy, he spoke in a whisper because he knew I was in a bad place this morning. I notice the light is still blinking so I look down and pull up the text messages from Camaron.

  Camaron: Good Morning Beautiful 9:30 A.M

  Camaron: Hello? R U Pissed at me? 10:45 A.M.

  Camaron: Sam where the fuck are you? I am standing in ur office and you aren’t here

  Camaron: Carrie said that you got wasted last night and are at Axels. Why did you get wasted? 11:14 A.M.

  Camaron: Are you that wasted that you aren’t coming to work? 11:30 A.M.

  Camaron: Wow, ok I don’t know why you aren’t responding to these messages. Why are you being such a bitch?

  Did I just read this right? Did that prick just call me a bitch? Well, that is just fucked up. What the fuck is going on with him? Seriously, he has never called me a bitch before. I grab my phone and start typing away.

  Me: Sorry Cam I just woke up and yeah I don’t feel well at all, I will NOT be coming into work. Unlike you, I am sick! But thank you so much for your concern.

  By the time I hit send, I hear someone coming through the bedroom door. I turn and see Carrie standing there with a brown paper bag and a bottle of soda.

  “Mmm, that smells delicious.” I can’t help it, I know I shouldn’t be hungry, but, damn, that bag smells divine.

  “I come bearing gifts.” Carrie takes her shoes off and actually bounces on the bed next to me. I grab my head and she immediately stops and apologizes. “I am so sorry, RC! Here, I brought you soup. Well, actually, Axel ordered it and told me to bring it up to you but, still, I brought you soup.”

  She is smiling ear to ear and starts to take the soup and the crackers out of the bag. “That is sweet, thank you.” She nods at me.

  “Yes, it was very sweet that Axel thought of it, wasn’t it?”

  I giggle and shake my head. “Don't go there. Yes, it was a very sweet thing, but Axel, yeah, that would never happen.” Carrie grabs the remote control off the nightstand and turns on the television. She settles on Coyote Ugly, as I start eating the delicious soup. I must look like a hog, but I can’t stop shoveling the vegetables into my mouth. “I love this movie! I wish I had the guts to do something like that.”

  Carrie looks over at me. “Like what?”

  “Confident enough to just let go and enjoy—maybe get up on a bar and dance,” I start to laugh but immediately stop when I hear what Carrie says.

  “Oh, Rice Cake, you were like that last night. After your second shot, you were telling everyone how hot you thought they were.” She is laughing so hard I can see she has tears in her eyes.

  “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.”

  C
arrie 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?”