Guided Love (Prick #1)

by Tracie Redmond

  “Samantha? Okay, man, I am headed there now. Please, just keep her safe until I get there. Oh and cut her off.”

  “Already done man and will do.”

  With that, we hang up, I grab my jacket and head out the door. I really want to see what is up and pound on Camaron's door and see what he says, but obviously it was bad if Samantha is wasted; I’ll deal with him later.

  I walk into the bar and see that it’s pretty scarce. Just a few locals. I turn and look at Travis when he points to my Samantha sitting at the bar, laughing to herself. As I am approaching she starts to fall, I wrap my hands around her waist and put her back onto her stool. She looks up at me and then brushes her long brown hair away from her eyes.

  “What's so funny, gorgeous?”

  “Pfft, that right there. You calling me gorgeous. I am so not gorgeous. I am disgusting and pathetic. There is no way a hottie like you would ever find my curvy ass gorgeous.”

  She looks back at Travis motioning for another shot and he just ignores her. She turns around again and looks at me.

  “Oh, hey there, lucky charm. You, my friend, are here and looking just magically delicious. Can I eat your marshmallow?”

  Then she starts laughing again.

  “Well then, Samantha, let’s go; I’ll take you home, babe.”

  “Hell no! I am enjoying my time here; me and Travis, we are best buddies. Right, Trenton? I mean, Travis, we are the bestest pals there was ever.” She continues to giggle and corrects herself again, “I mean ever was.”

  Nodding to Travis to let him know I got this, I throw down some bills and start to help her put her coat on.

  “Come on, Samantha, let’s get you home.”

  She shakes her head no quickly. So quickly, she loses her balance and grabs a hold of my arms. “No, I can't go back there, not tonight I need to just stay here. Things will be better if I just stay here.”

  “What happened, sweetheart? Did you and Camaron fight or something?”

  With tears in her eyes, she nods at me. “It was horrible, Axel; I can't go back there I can't do it.”

  I pull her close to me and wrap my arm around her waist so that I can keep her steady and hold her up.

  “It’s okay, I’ll take you back to my place.”

  She looks up and shakes her head no again.

  “No, I can't be in that building, Axel, I can't. I’ll sleep here, just find a nice box and I’ll sleep here.”

  Damn, she is being stubborn. “Okay, Samantha, whatever you want darlin', let’s go this way, I’ll get you settled into a hotel.”

  She is smiling up like it’s Christmas morning.

  “Yes, I hope they have a mini bar. I definitely need a room with a mini bar.”

  She starts to stumble forward a little as she is laughing again. We get to the Double Tree and make our way to the front desk. The girl at the front is watching us as I try to get Samantha to continue to walk. She is definitely out of it. Tomorrow will be the worst hangover she has ever felt. She is making animal noises with each step and lucky me and the front desk clerk she is pretending she is a goat.

  “Good evening and welcome to The Double Tree, I'm Veronica; are you checking in?”

  Before I can answer, Samantha decides that she is no longer a goat but a very vocal woman.

  “Your name is Veronica. I know a Roni, she is a whore. Are you a whore, Veronica? Are you going to bash my heart out with each and every moan? Are you going to fuck the man I have been loving too? Are you whore . . . are you going to be better than me? He never loved me, you know that, Axel? He was never going to love me. No one will love me; I am a pathetic loser. I suck at everything I do. I gave up my dreams to come here and be with him. I gave up everything I knew. I am so alone, I am alone and fat and not a Barbie. He only dates Barbies, you know that Veronica. I know a Roni, she is a whore. You’re not a whore are you?”

  With that, I cover her mouth. “Sorry about my friend here. She is having a horrible night and she is a bit drunk.” Veronica is stone-faced staring at us. She has bleached blonde hair that is straight to her shoulder blades. She looks like she could use a good drink or a hard fuck to loosen the stick that is up her ass.

  “You think. I would say she is more than a bit drunk.”

  “Could I please rent a room for a few days?”

  After twenty minutes of Veronica typing away on her computer, she hands over the room key and to the elevator we head. We get to the room and I lie Samantha on the bed. I make sure to lie her on her side, because there is no way she isn't going to puke sometime soon. I take her shoes off and bring the covers up over her.

  She grabs my hand and holds it. Looking up at me, all I can see in her face and eyes is pure sadness. I have a pain in my chest just looking at her lying there like this.

  “Why are you so nice to me? I am so broken, Axel, I am so alone.”

  I tuck the covers around her, take my shoes off, and lie down next to her.

  “You are not alone, Samantha, I am here right here for you. Rest now, just close your eyes and get some sleep.”

  Within minutes, she is snoring. Her purse that is on the table continues to buzz, I get up and grab it from her bag so that I can put it on vibrate and see she has 15 missed calls and 1 new text message. I know it’s wrong and none of my business but it’s on her screen so I look at it. It’s from Camaron.

  Sam I am so sorry about tonight please forgive me. Take some time and then come home. Please. I need you, you are my best friend

  I turn the ringer on vibrate and put it on the side table. I get back into my spot next to her and turn on the television. I’ll stay up a little while longer just to make sure that she will be okay.

  I am dying! I have this pounding in my head and a pain behind my eyes. I feel like I am spinning; I am so dizzy I have to puke. I slowly open my eyes and see a bright light coming from the windows. Where the hell am I? I am laying on my stomach in a nice cozy bed; where that bed is I have no clue. I hear a door open and shut but it sounded like a slam. I moan and grab my head, hoping that I could just die quickly.

  “Good morning, Samantha. I brought some supplies to help with your hangover.”

  With my eyes still closed, I whisper back, “Axel, what happened and where are we?”

  I feel him next to the bed. I open my eyes and see he is kneeling so we are eye level.

  “We are at the Double Tree, a few blocks down from Kester's. Travis called me last night because you were pretty out of it. I was gonna take you home, even to my place, but you were adamant that you were not stepping foot into the building, so I brought you here.”

  It’s all coming back to me now. Camaron and Roni having sex on my couch and he tattooed over my name and called her his anchor. Damn, I wish I didn't ask what happened it was better not remembering.

  “I brought you some Ibuprofen, a V8 and some other remedies that you may need all there on the table. Here, take the pills now; here is the water.”

  He hands me the pills and I lift my head ever so slightly and swallow down the pills. I pray they work immediately.

  “Okay, Samantha, you are checked in for the next three nights. I didn't know how many days you wanted to stay. If you need anything, please just text me or give me a call. As your boss, I am giving you a few days off. Stay here and recuperate. If you need me, don't hesitate to call me. I am off to work, I have a few appointments coming in this morning.”

  I try to tell him that I’ll be in tomorrow, but Axel won't hear it. He says he wants me to stay here and clear my head. He said he made sure not to get a room with a mini bar. I snicker at that, as I can't even look at a bottle of alcohol without purging.

  “Thank you, Axel. I really appreciate you taking care of me last night.”

  “Anytime, Samantha.”

  With that, he leaves and I turn over, staring at the ceiling. Slowly, my mind starts to clear a little. I think I remember calling someone a whore last night. Ugh, I just want to die. I slowly get up and make my
way to the table of “supplies,” as Axel calls them. I look and see four bottles of water, a bottle of Gatorade, a small two ounce bottle of Jack Daniels, Yeah, that isn't gonna happen, and a bag that has a greasy cheeseburger. Just the smell of the burger has me running for the bathroom. I go to rinse out my mouth and notice that he also bought me a travel toothbrush and toothpaste. Seriously, I owe him big time. I finish up and crawl back into bed. It seems like I just closed my eyes when my phone is vibrating across the nightstand. I open my eyes and realize that I have been asleep for the last four hours. I look down and see Axel Calling.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Samantha, how are you feeling?”

  “A little better, but still feel like death.”

  “Gotcha, do you want anything to eat? I am pretty much done for today.”

  “No, I get sick at the thought of eating right now. Hey, could you do me a favor though?”

  “Of course, what do you need?”

  “Could you go over to the apartment and get my laptop from my room?”

  “Sounds like a plan, I’ll be there within the hour.”

  With that, Axel hangs up. No goodbye or see you soon, just hangs up. I laugh that I am annoyed by this, it’s always been a pet peeve of mine. When I look at my screen, I see a text message from Camaron. I click on it and see he sent it an hour after I left the apartment.

  Sam I am so sorry about tonight please forgive me. Take some time and then come home. Please. I need you, you are my best friend

  Yeah, what a freaking liar! He hasn't even messaged me asking if I am okay, or where I am and why I didn’t come home. Damn, I thought I meant something to him. I am his best friend for crying out loud. I should hold some type of priority in his life. I mean, honestly, he has known me for years; he just met this evil Barbie a few months ago and he chooses her over me, really. Yeah, I am completely replaceable.

  I get up, grab the bottle of Gatorade off the table, and flip on the television. I am flipping through the channels and settle on Beaches. Yeah, this wasn't a smart decision. I am a sobbing mess when the door opens and startles me. Axel is walking through the door with my laptop under his arm and a KFC bag in his hands. I haven’t eaten all day and the smell of chicken makes my stomach actually growl. Axel looks at me and then the TV and grabs the remote from the bottom of the bed.

  “Yeah, no more sad movies for you, young lady. Get over here and have some food. I got a little of everything.”

  I get up and slowly make my way to the table and wrap my arms around him.

  “Thank you so much.”

  I can feel him nod and kiss the top of my head.

  “Anytime, babe.”

  We sit and dig into the food that he brought when I hear a bang on the door. I look up and Axel sees the fear on my face. I am so not ready to face Camaron, not yet.

  “No worries, Samantha, Carrie asked me where I was going and I didn't think you would mind having her come over. Hope that was okay?”

  “Absolutely, thanks, Axel. I really can’t stop thanking you for all you have done for me. I am going to owe you big time.”

  “Well, when you write your first novel, I want that one dedicated to me, got it?”

  With that, he winks and opens the door. Carrie comes barging into the room and hugs me without saying a word.

  “Well, ladies, enjoy your dinner. Samantha, if you want, call me later.” Axel grabs a chicken leg, bends down, and kisses my head.

  “You're leaving already?”

  I can’t help but have a little ache in my heart knowing he is leaving. Why, I don't know, I just have it.

  “Yeah, gorgeous, this is a girl’s night and I am not hanging out with all this estrogen.”

  Carrie starts laughing and I do too. It feels good to laugh even if it’s just for a moment.

  “Thanks for the chicken, prick,” Carrie yells as Axel is walking out the door.

  “Anytime, prick,” Axel yells from outside the hallway.

  “Okay, Rice Cake, you need to spill. Why do you look like death? Why are you in a hotel room?” Carrie grabs a biscuit, starts to eat, and looks at me waiting for answers.

  “Is that all you want to know?” I laugh and she has her mouth full and she is nodding. “Well, where do I start?”

  “You start at the beginning.”

  We finish the chicken and all of the sides, the water, and Carrie enjoyed the small bottle of Jack. After telling her everything, not leaving a single detail out, I look at her—she is staring at me with tears in her eyes.

  “I am so sorry. I didn't know that you truly love him; I mean, with your soul love him. Sure, I thought you kinda wanted him but damn, Sam, you have given up everything for him and this is how he repays you? I want to beat his ass and Roni! Ugh, I want to punch her in the cunt. Really, I am not kidding.”

  I am sitting there laughing at her. Honestly, how could I take her seriously?

  “Thank you, Carrie, but don't feel bad. I did this to myself.”

  “NO . . . No, you didn't, you thought he felt the same. He gave you the idea that there was a chance. That you were important to him.”

  “Stop, it wasn't him. Maybe Gabby was right, I should have seen this awhile back. He was . . . no, he is my friend and I expected more than friendship. It’s on me, I take full responsibility for this.”

  “Stop it! You didn’t deserve to be treated that way. If he is a friend to you, IF he is your best friend, he should never allowed her to treat you that way or do what she did to you. He is a selfish bastard! Now that I have cleared that up, what are you going to do?”

  I take a drink of my water and ponder on that one.

  “Honestly, I have no idea.”

  I grab the remote and flip through the channels. My mind isn't with it, I have so much to think about. How will I be able to just go back and live a normal life living with Camaron? What will I say to him? He hasn't reached out since I left; maybe this really isn't bothering him. I look up and see Carrie smiling from ear to ear and I see why, she has Magic Mike on the television.

  “Stop thinking, Rice Cake, sit back, relax, and watch Tatum Channing shake his beautiful ass. You can figure everything tomorrow.”

  Carrie is right, I grab my water, relax, and watch these delicious men shake their asses.

  Dear Gabby,

  I know you are probably thinking why in the world is Sam emailing me rather than sending me a text or a call. (Well, I hope that is what you are thinking). I am emailing you because I am not able to handle rejection right now and if I call and you hang up or look at my message and don't respond I know I couldn't handle it, not right now.

  First off, let me apologize to you. Gabby, I am so sorry for being a horrible friend. I treated you with disrespect and I never should have spoken to you that way. I should have never allowed you to leave when I was moving across the country the next day. I was a horrible friend and I own that. I truly am sorry and I hope that you can forgive me. If you do, I promise that will never happen again.

  I also wanted to let you know that, GABBY, YOU WERE RIGHT. The relationship between Camaron and me is complicated and I am so afraid that our friendship may not last a lifetime. I am spiraling down a lonely road and I know I shouldn't expect you to care, but I miss you Gabby. I know it’s a shitty thing to say, especially with how I treated you, but I wish you were here yelling at me to‘suck it up buttercup’ and force me to face this.

  I feel so lost, Gabby. I really don't know who I am anymore. Did I ever really know who I was? I have been living for this plan for so long that I don't know what else I have. I have been staying in a hotel the last two days and I need to check out in the morning. I am not sure what I am going to do.

  Please, when you find it in your heart to forgive me, to accept my apology, because, again, Gabby, I am so sorry for being rude to you and for saying what I said and for leaving you the way I left it, please call or email me back.

  Sincerely, I am sorry

  ~Sam

&nb
sp; I hit send and close my laptop. I feel horrible that I was such a horrible friend. I meant to write my apology letter to Gabby, one that I have wanted to write for months, but got overwhelmed with life. Yet, she was right. She told me that I should come here and find my happiness, find myself, really, but I argued, of course, and thought my happiness fell to one person and that was Camaron. I look at my phone and see I have a new text message from Carrie.

  Hope you are feeling better today Rice Cake, but you have to come out of hiding before I kill Barbie.

  She has been here all day and I think I may stab her with the letter opener

  Carrie is definitely one of a kind. She is such a loyal friend and always is trying to lighten the mood.

  Me: Don't kill her, orange isn't really a good color for you.

  Carrie: Oh, Rice Cake, fuck u I look good in every color I am blessed that way, now get your ass out of that comfy hotel and join the world don't let them keep you hiding

  I crack up at her response. Only Carrie would admit that she looks great in everything she wears, which she does. I think she may be right, I can't allow Roni and Camaron to keep me in hiding. I have to just suck it up. I have to go and face the fire. I gather all of my stuff that Axel was nice enough to bring me and head down to check out.

  I walk the few blocks home; the closer I get, the more nervous I feel. I am hoping that none of the pricks see me through the windows as I am passing. I want to get up to the apartment and get settled before I face them. I know they all know something went down. I haven't been working for the last two days and I know Roni is probably running her mouth, as Carrie says she has been there. I am lucky enough to get past the windows and head up to my apartment.

  I unlock the door, head in, and want to cry. It’s been two days and the place already looks different. I drop the plastic bag I put all of my items in from the hotel, on the counter and take it all in. The living room is rearranged and there are new neon blue curtains on the windows. The wall with all of the photos I had hanging up, are rearranged. Some of the photos are still there, others are missing. The missing photos are those of Camaron and me. Those are off the wall and have been replaced by pics of Roni and Camaron. I am not in any one of the photos; not even the picture I had of the staff of Two Pricks. When I look closer, I see that whoever put this photo in the frame folded it so I was not included. Wow, it’s been two fucking days and I am out of the picture completely.