Guided Love (Prick #1) (39 page)

“Okay, handsome, firsts I’m taking a shower and then I’ll get Ellie up and ready for breakfast.”

“Thanks, baby, you’re truly a blessing to me, you know that, right. You are everything to me.”

She winks at me and heads out the door.

I can hear my girls come down the stairs as I am getting the omelets ready. The music starts to blare and we are blessed with another oldie but goody: “The Twist” by Chubby Checker. I set the plates on the table and see Ma and Samantha walking through, Samantha gives me a little nod.

“Oh, look at my boy getting breakfast ready for us, Sam. Isn’t he just the sweetest man you have ever met? He will make a good husband, this one will. Wouldn't you agree, Sam?” I look up and see Samantha is blushing and helping Ellie with the chair.

“Absolutely, Ellie. Axel is the sweetest man I have ever met. His future wife is one lucky lady.”

Ma starts to pat Samantha's hand as she sits down next to her.

“Yes you are, dear, yes you are.”

Samantha starts to bite her lip, trying hard to hide the smile she is sporting. I pour us all a glass of orange juice.

“Morning, Ma, how are you feeling today?”

“Oh sweet, Axel, I am fine dear, don't you worry about me.” I kiss her head, sit down, and have breakfast with the two women who mean the world to me.

Throughout the morning, Ma has no spells. She is here and present and it’s amazing—just like old times. Samantha and I clean up after breakfast and I am getting ready to head to the shop. Samantha is rinsing off the dishes when I walk up behind her, wrap my arms around her waist, and nuzzle into her neck.

“I am heading to the shop, babe, are you going to be okay here?”

She turns her beautiful eyes to me and kisses my mouth. With soapy hands, she brings them up, grabs a hold of my face, and laughs as I just keep kissing her. “I’ll be fine, Axel, it’s a good day. Don’t you worry. Will you do me a favor? When you see Gabby, have her call me. She is avoiding my calls now that I asked her about Allen being at the apartment with her.”

“Allen was with Gabby? When did you find this out?”

She looks down and starts to pull the shy eyes towards me. I tickle her until she tells me.

“Okay, I called her for a confidence boost when you were in the shower.”

I grab her chin and kiss those beautiful lips.

“Baby, you never have to be nervous and you never need a confidence boost. You are absolutely gorgeous, do you hear me. I am the luckiest man alive that you chose me.” I lower my head and kiss her and I can feel her melt in my hands.

“Axel Davis, you are such a charmer—definitely a panty melter.”

“I only want to melt yours, Samantha.” I give her a wink and head out to say goodbye to Ma. I grab my keys and walk over to her chair where she is sitting knitting.

“Okay, Ma, I’ll be back soon. I’m heading to the shop. Samantha will be here with you. If you need anything, remember Samantha is here with you, okay?”

Rocking in her chair and not lifting an eye to me she responds, “Axel, baby, you need to stop worrying. Go be successful. Everything here will be okay. I am going to be, Axel. No more worries, all right. Have a good day, my boy, tell all of the pricks I said hello.”

I kiss her head and start to open the door when I hear her call my name.

“Hey, Axel, will you please tell Camaron things will get better. That boy is hurting right now and the hurt is only going to consume him when he finds out that Samantha loves you. Be his friend, Axel, okay?” All I can do is nod and head to my car, where that came from, I have no idea, but this is Ma and she knows everything and she is always right—who am I to argue.

I show up at the shop and things are back to normal, well, mostly. Camaron controls his own schedule now so he isn't always here like before, especially when he is with Roni. But other than that, Gabby coming here and helping with the office work and helping Carrie with the front desk, I can look around and say that things at Two Pricks are going great. Business is booming and the second store is making a profit—all in all, things are great.

I head to my office to complete paperwork and call to schedule Ma's follow up appointment with her doctor. I am just about finished and I hear a throat clear. I look up and see Allen standing in my doorway with a smug grin on his face.

“So, you and Rice Cake finally, huh.”

“Fuck you, Prick,” I laugh as he walks in and shuts the door. He grabs a seat in front of my desk and I can see concern on his face.

“No, really man, I am really happy for you. You have wanted RC for months, but I am a little nervous about Camaron.”

“What about Camaron? Allen, he never wanted her. Hell, you know what the fuck he did and how he treated her. Why the fuck would you be concerned about Camaron?”

“Fuck man, I agree Camaron is a fucking asshole, when it comes to what he did to Sam, but I tell you he may not have wanted her but there is no way in hell he is going to want any of us to fucking have her. Just sayin’, man, this news is not going to go well.”

“He’s with Roni again, why the fuck should it matter? She makes me happy man. There’s no way I am going to lose that.”

“Not saying you should, man. All I am saying is Camaron is not going to take this well, that’s all. No one knows right now, just Gabby and me, and our mouths are sealed.”

“You and Gabby, huh? Is this the one that will tame the untamable?”

With my question, he stands up and heads to the door. He opens it turns back to me, “Fuck you, man. Axel, I am happy for you.”

I walk behind him and head out to the shop to get my station ready for my first appointment. We pass Gabby. Allen and Gabby ignore one another, but as she passes, Allen turns and watches her ass. Yep, she may be the one that tames this prick’s ass.

“Sam, let’s head out and sit under the tree, it’s a gorgeous day out. Let’s not waste the sunshine by staying in the house, sweetie.”

I shut my laptop, help Ellie off the couch, and we head out to the chairs beneath the tree. This day has been a true blessing. Ellie has been with me the entire day and she hasn't had any spells. It truly baffles me, as the doctor said that the situation would just worsen, not improve. Yet, having her here and listening to her talk to me has truly been a gift. We sit underneath the tree and she points to the initials that are carved into the trunk.

“Tony was such a charmer. That’s one thing I think Tony passed on to Axel. I remember one day, I was in the kitchen making dinner, and Tony came home, turned up the music, grabbed my hand, and twirled me around the floor. I tried to pull away and tell him that dinner was going to burn, but he wouldn't let go. He just held me tighter and whispered in my ear that he would go hungry as long as he got to hold me in his arms. From that day, that’s what we always did, he would take me in his arms and we would dance around the kitchen. Before every meal he held me and we danced.”

“Aww, Ellie that is so romantic.”

She smiled up at me and shook her head in agreement.

“Yes, he was a romantic, he loved me. I mean he really loved me. Now a days, young people throw that word,
love
,
around so freely. Back in my day, when you told someone you loved them, you were in it for the long haul. Loving someone, Sam, people think it’s easy but it’s not. When you love someone, when you love them with your heart and soul, you love them unconditionally. You love the good, the bad, and the ugly. Sometimes you may not get along, you may not like them a whole lot, but when you love them that love never stops. When Tony and I married, it was expected that you marry and have children. I will never forget the day when we sat at in my doctor’s office and he broke the news that I was unable to have children. It was never going to happen. I remember crying. I remember Tony grabbing my hand, pulling me into his arms and holding me tight. I was broken, devastated that I was never going to have a baby of my own, that I was never going to give my husband a son to carry on his name. Before I could say anything, Tony looked me straight in the eyes and told me he loved me. That this was GOD's way of letting him have me all to himself. He never cried about it, he never held that over my head, all he did was love me. Yet, when we finally met Axel, he saw the love I had to give to him and Tony finally felt the love as well. He loved our boy. He taught him everything from building tree houses to building decks. He also taught him how to love a woman. My boy he has never loved, not until you.”

“Ellie, Axel doesn't.”

She cuts me off with her stern look and corrects me.

“Oh, you silly girl, I know my boy and he does love you. He has loved you since the day he met you. When you left, he felt the emptiness. I remember he came here and I told him that you needed to go and find yourself. You needed to find you and until you loved yourself, there was no way anyone else could. I am so happy you came here, Samantha, I am so happy. Will you do me favor?”

With tears in my eyes and a simple nod, she continues.

“Love one another. Love one another with all you are. Tony carved our initials into this tree because he said that no matter what weather we faced, we would always be together. I need you to promise me that you will love our boy with all that you are. I know Camaron hurt you. I know, in some way, you did love him. But the love you had for Camaron doesn't compare to the love I see between you and Axel. That love, that love is rare—you need to hold onto that and enjoy every minute, every day because, sweetie, life it goes by so quickly.”

She smiles at me and pats my hand. This woman sitting next to me is the most amazing person I have ever met. Taking her hand in mine, we sit and enjoy the sunshine. I look over and see her looking up to the sky and it hits me, this amazing woman has impacted my life in so many ways. She inspires me to be more: to be a better woman, friend and a better partner. She has taught me so much in such a short amount of time. I am battling with my thoughts because I feel like she is saying goodbye and I am so not ready to let go. Quietly the tears start to fall and I feel her gently squeeze my hand. She looks at me and smiles.

“Everything will be okay, dear, No tears, alright. Times like this you need to stay strong and smile. Everything will be okay. Just make sure of one thing, okay? Make sure that if anything does happen to me that Axel cleans out the closet in the hallway.”

I can't help it I laugh. “Nothing is gonna happen, Ellie.”

“Well, just in case, just make sure that he cleans out the hallway closet.”

“Okay, I promise the closet will be the first thing he does.”

Laughing and shaking my head, she pats my hand and we get up. She leads us to her garden where the flowers are in bloom. She is looking all around, taking it all in.

After a while, we head into the house and have lunch. She seems a little tired and has a headache, so I help her up to her room so she can lie down and I head into my room. I grab my cellphone and see a missed call and a text message—both from Axel.

Axel: Hey beautiful hope you’re having a great day.

I can't help but smile and hit reply.

Me: Hey gorgeous, I am having an amazing day I hope you are as well.

Axel: Oh really?

Me: Yep, I woke up in this hotties arms and then I spent all afternoon outside soaking up some sunshine with Ellie. She hasn't had a spell yet! Really it truly is a great day.

I hit send and immediately my phone starts to ring; it’s Axel.

“Hello?”

“Hey, beautiful.”

“Hey yourself, gorgeous. How is your day?”

“It’s good, I scheduled Ma's appointment with the doctor for this Friday. I have three more appointments and then I am heading home to the sexiest woman I have ever seen.”

“Really? Well, Ellie will be happy to see you too.”

“Wow, that’s just . . . WRONG.” He laughs so hard I can't help laugh along with him.

“No really, you’ll be so happy because she is really having a great day, Axel. She hasn't had a spell at all.”

“That’s amazing, babe. I am going to get these done and get home as soon as I can.”

“Okay, Axel, see you soon.”

“Bye, beautiful.”

I hang up the phone and shake my head. It still makes me giddy to know that Axel Davis, THE Axel Davis, is calling me beautiful and actually means it. It’s not just a figure of speech—it’s real.