Guided Love (Prick #1) (2 page)

“Are you sure you want to leave, Sammy girl?” CC Jerry’s wife asks.

She is a cutie. She and Jerry moved from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, and opened Jerry’s Pizzeria, fulfilling a lifelong dream of theirs.

“Absolutely, CC! Camaron and I are going to live our dream.”

CC has a disturbing look on her face and tears in her eyes. “You go live
your
dream, Sammy girl. You need to remember not to let anyone else decide your dreams.”

“Being with Camaron has always been my dream, CC. No worries.”

After two slices of pizza, a side dish of baked ziti and four garlic rolls—
yes, I love food—
I am finally back in my tiny, over-cramped apartment. Things are starting to come together. I have the kitchen and living room packed and labeled, and just have my bedroom to finish. Gabby is loading the two boxes of clothes she is keeping into her car before she heads out.

“I’m going to miss you, Sam.  Please make sure to call me when you land. Go out and find happiness—even if it isn’t with Camaron”

Ugh, here we go again—Gabby absolutely despises Camaron for some reason.

“Gabby, you know Camaron is my happiness.”

“Yeah, I know, but he doesn’t. Sam, you’ve been friends with him for fourteen years and you have never been anything more. Just his friend, just his ‘anchor.’ I mean, seriously, you think he would’ve made a move if you were the one for him. But, no, he just makes sure to string you along. He only dates Barbie’s, Sam, he would never want someone who is . . . ”

“Is what Gabby? What am I?”

“It’s not what you are, Sam, it’s what you’re not. You’re not a mindless skank. You are smart and you are fun but you are not a size zero! You need to see the real Camaron.”

“Yeah, like you know the real Camaron, Gabby. You don't know anything. Camaron might look at the Barbie’s but he has never taken one home. They never see his place. Yeah, I might not be a size zero, Gabby, but Camaron thinks I'm beautiful, he tells me that every day”

“It’s a term of endearment, Sam, he doesn't really think you’re beautiful, it’s him being nice!”

“Fuck you, Gabby. GET OUT!”

I can’t believe I just said that. I just couldn’t take her anymore. Gabby looks shocked, we have never really fought and I don’t think she has ever heard me raise my voice. I walk to the door and open it.

“Thanks for your help, Gabby, take care.”

“Really . . . Wow, okay, I'm sorry, Sam, I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m just worried.”

“No reason to worry and you’re right, you shouldn’t have said anything. So, on that note, take care.”

I know I am being a bitch, but when it comes to Camaron and his feelings, it’s a sore spot. Gabby walks out the door and I shut it, with tears slowly falling. Maybe she is right, maybe this is all a hopeless dream and not only am I going to be heartbroken, but I also just lost a great friend because of it. Damn, I need a bowl of ice cream but I have none and all my dishes are packed. Grrr! Just then my phone dings. I run to my bedroom and grab it off the box next to my bed. There are three messages from Camaron.

Camaron: Hey Beautiful, hope you had a productive day

Me: hey

Camaron: Wow just hey? No hey gorgeous? what’s wrong?

Me: Nothing

Camaron: Tell me Sam, Ur upset so talk to me. Do you not want to move?

Me: Of course I want to move, Just got into a fight with Gabby is all

Camaron: ??

Me: We were talking about a guy

Camaron: and . . .

Me: she was just saying, because I'm not a size 0 that he doesn’t care

Camaron: Well that is a load of shit, ur awesome Sam don’t let her tell you different and if this douche doesn’t like you because you’re not a 0 fuck him, doesn’t matter anyway

Me: why is that?

Camaron: because ur mine, always will be :) Feel better?

Me: Yup

Camaron: well good bc I have to go finish a tat then meet up with the guyz what time is your flight?

Me: I’ll be arriving at 11 AM DO NOT FORGET ME!!!

Camaron: Never c u soon xoxox

He forgot me, he actually forgot me. I am standing here looking out at the crowd of people waiting for their loved ones and I don’t see Camaron anywhere. Ugh, seriously, you would think that after not seeing your best friend for the last two years, you would make sure to pick her up at the airport. I grab my phone and send a quick text, he probably is just parking.

Me: Hey Camaron where are you?

I don’t get a response back and take my bags and head outside. I look around and see tons of cars and people, but no Camaron. I decide to grab a bench and wait. I pull up my kindle app on my phone and continue to read the romance novel I started on the plane.
Leverage
by Jessica Wilde—now this story has captured my attention, especially Shades, talk about a great alpha male. He is definitely my new book boyfriend.

I am so wrapped up with the story I didn't realize that someone is standing next to me, looking down at me. I take my eyes away from my phone and realize that he is talking to me.

“Samantha . . . Samantha Jacobs.”

I look up and see a man, with dark brown hair, gorgeous brown eyes and a beard, talking to me. I must look idiotic because he laughs and gives me a smirk and says again.

“Are you Samantha Jacobs?”

As I am about to answer my phone dings and I see Camaron’s name. I hurry, nodding and look down to a message that says:

Camaron
:
Sorry babe something important came up and couldn’t make it, sent Axel to pick u up cu soon xoxox

Seriously, he couldn’t make it? Ugh, how am I even going to know who Axel is? As I sit there, staring at my phone, trying to figure out how I could kill him, when I hear that deep voice again.

“The prick sent me to pick you up, that is, if you’re Samantha Jacobs”

“Yeah, I am Sam Jacobs. How do I know you were sent by the prick?”

He laughs as I referred to Camaron just as he did: a prick.

“I guess you don't.”

“Can I see your driver’s license please?”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously. How do I know that you aren't some hot man coming over to abduct me and sell me to the highest bidder?”

He has this look of stone on his face then he busts out laughing. Like really laughing, not a small chuckle. People are starting to stare as he grabs at his stomach, laughing louder and louder.

“That was a good one, darlin’.”

He grabs the wallet that is attached to a chain and pulls out his license. Looking at his hands, I see that he has tattoos. I look down at the license he’s holding up and see that, yep, this is Axel, Axel Flash Davis, to be exact.

“So, you think I'm hot?”

“Excuse me?”

“You just said that I could’ve been a hot guy trying to abduct you and sell you to the highest bidder.”

I feel myself turning red, I have nothing to say. I could say no, not at all, but he is right—I just called him hot. He starts to chuckle and shakes his head.

“Relax, Samantha, I’m just playing. Come, let’s go. I want to get the hell out of here—traffic is gonna suck”.

He picks up my two bags as I grab my carry on and start to follow him. We make our way through the parking garage and stop in front of a 1967 candy apple red Camaro.

“Wow, this is a beautiful car.”

“You know cars?”

“Well, I'm not an expert or anything, but I know a little. Camaron would always want to go to car shows and I learned a lot by going.”

“I see, well, I love this car more than anything or anyone.”

“I can understand that. If I owned it, I would love it just as much.”

When he starts up the engine, I feel her purr and it’s heaven to my ears. I have always wanted a 67 Camaro. That is one of my dreams; a dream that I’ll hopefully fulfill here on the East Coast. The ride wasn’t that bad, quiet. I can tell Axel isn’t really a man of many words. Sure, when he does respond, it’s usually with a grunt or a smart ass comment that has me blushing.

After a fort-five minute drive, we finally pull up to the tattoo shop that Camaron and Axel own together, Two Pricks. Yep, they named their shop Two Pricks.

I open the door and stretch my arms above my head. It feels so good to finally be here. As I look around, I see we are right in the heart of Philadelphia, or Philly as everyone else calls it. There are small shops and restaurants up and down the street and the smell makes my stomach rumble. I look over and see Axel standing against his door with his hands clapped on top of the roof just staring at me. Again, he catches me looking like an idiot, smiling ear to ear and smelling the air like a starved cow. I roll my eyes and start to head toward the shop. A high pitched whistle hurts my ears, and I turn and see him shaking his head at me once again. Seriously, I am starting to feel like a freaking dog.

“The shop is closed, Samantha.”

“Sam, it’s just Sam, and if the shop is closed why are we here?” I see Axel grab my two bags from the trunk and close it and start heading toward me.

“Well, you see, this is your new place.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re gonna be living with the prick, right?”

“That’s the plan.”

“Follow me.”

We head off in the direction of the shop but stop at the black door right next to it. He opens it up and motions for me to start to climb a flight of stairs. Axel follows behind until we are at the top. To the right is a white door with a sign that says 2A ‘
Stay the FUCK out!
’ And to the left is a white door with 2B. I chuckle as I read the sign on the 2A’s apartment door and say, “Yeah, whoever lives there must be a ray of sunshine.”

“Believe me, he definitely is.”

He grabs the handle to 2B and opens the door to what will be my new home.

The apartment is nice. It has an open floor plan so when I walk in, I see the kitchen off to the right. I am currently standing in the living room. To the left, there is a hallway with three doors. I am assuming that they are the bedrooms and the bathroom, but all I can do is stand in place and take in the sounds of high pitch moaning. My stomach instantly turns to knots. Axel makes his way to the third door and bangs on it.

“Wrap it up, Prick, Samantha’s home.”

I can hear a muffled voices and Axel laughing as he is walking back toward the kitchen. He opens the fridge and grabs a beer, offering one to me.

“It’s only one in the afternoon.”

“True, but it’s Sunday,” he says, like that should mean something.

“I don’t consume alcohol so early in the afternoon.”

He chuckles again and shakes his head.

“I'm glad I amuse you”

“Oh, Samantha, you definitely amuse me.”

I am about to question him, but I suddenly see a blonde haired Barbie prance down the hallway with Camaron following behind.

“Hey, beautiful, you’re finally here!”

He comes barreling, over pushing aside Barbie to get to me. He grabs me in a huge hug and kisses my cheek. Normally, I would be swooning at this, but I can’t soak it up because he smells like sex and white diamonds. Yeah, I admit I know what white diamonds smells like only because my grandmother wears it. I hug him back and pull away and fake a smile.

“Hey, Camaron, thanks for picking me up.”

“I know, I’m sorry, Sam. Something came up and I couldn’t make it on time.”

“Yeah, his five inch dragon wanted to have a play date so he sent me to get you,” Axel chimes in as he lifts the beer to his lips.

“Fuck off, prick,” Camaron replies.

I stand there and watch the banter between them and feel so out of place, as Barbie still hasn’t moved. She is just standing there, staring at me. “So, who are you?” Barbie actually asks me this with what would seem a snarky attitude.

Before Camaron or I can answer, Axel takes it upon himself to. “Oh, you see, Mindy, this is Camaron’s better half, Samantha Jacobs.”

“Better half?”

“Yep. Camaron has a clone to harvest extra organs just in case he ever needs them. With Camaron being a pussy and all he decided a female would better suit his needs.”

“Oh, I saw a program about that once in school,” Barbie says.

I can’t hold it in any longer I start to laugh, I am laughing uncontrollably while Barbie is staring.

“Want a beer, Mindy? Oh wait, you are underage . . . sorry, babe,” Axel chimes over my laughter. When he says that, I laugh even harder and look to see Camaron smiling ear to ear at me. I have tears running down my face and can’t stop.

“Well, babe, it’s been great but now that Sam is here you need to go.”

“Oh, okay, I guess you have to get her harvested and all?”

“Yeah, babe, something like that.” Camaron walks to the door and opens it for Mindy. I am still laughing hard, once she’s gone, I can’t breathe.