Authors: Melissa Phillips
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Contemporary, #Romance, #Contemporary Fiction
“Give it some time. I’ve got your back.”
I heard Davien’s amazing voice as he spoke into the mic “How’s everyone doin' tonight?” The crowd whistled and clapped. His voice sent emotions through my body. For one night he felt like he was mine. But I was taken. I was pushed away and he wanted nothing to do with me now. In my thoughts, that was a ‘tease’. A week ago, there was a possibility that I would screw up my life with Anthony to have one night with Davien, a week later he was treating me like he had no idea who I was. Obviously he was a player, a man that took any woman that he wanted... as he had already told me. But he didn't want commitment. It was obvious that since Anthony and I were no longer in a relationship, I was available and that was a threat to Davien's lifestyle.
I watched the entire show through invisible tears. I held back my pain when I watched him smile at each girl in the crowd. He reached out for their hands and made each one feel loved, except for me. He never once made eye contact with me. He purposely looked above my body when his eyes came close to my direction. He wasn’t mine though, I had no reason for jealousy, but it was still there… right or wrong.
☼
As soon as the guys were done with their show, Natalia jumped from her seat to greet her sweat covered man. “You guys were awesome.” Natalia gripped onto Scott’s arm, wiping the glint of sweat from his forehead using his sleeve, he bent down to press his lips to hers. Justin and Vince decided to follow Davien around the bar. For the first time I saw Vince drunk off his ass. He had a line of shots down the bar, each of different colors. He threw each back like a pro. “Happy Birthday, Vinny boy!” Natalia yelled over the crowd. He stood up with a fist high in the air.
“He’s gonna feel that in the morning. Thank God Justin drove his ass here or he’d be pulling a cot out from the backroom for the night.” Scott joked “You girls ready?”
I was left at the awkward moment at the end of the night. “You okay staying at Scott’s tonight?” Natalia asked.
I guess it was my only option. I couldn't go with Natalia where she had a shared apartment through the college, strict rules of no over night guests. She couldn’t afford to screw things up. I looked around the bar and saw Davien grabbing a shot glass with his teeth as he pressed his mouth between a busty blonde’s chest. “I guess… do I really have another choice? I’ll do it tonight then we’re figuring out something tomorrow!”
“Look, Avery, I know it’s not what you want but you have to leave Anthony.” Her brows shot up and surprised me with words. Her words weren't soft and soothing they were harsh. “We’re trying, Avery, we can only do so much in one day. I’ll be there tomorrow and Scott has already promised to get you a couple outfits to start out with.” Her voice was far from comforting. She spoke with annoyance.
Scott grabbed her shoulder, warning her to chill as he pulled her backwards. “C’mon we’ll talk more in the morning. I’ve gotta drop Natalia off at her place, then you can come back with me.” I didn’t even think about the fact that I would be going home in an uncomfortable way with Natalia’s boyfriend. Scott jumped off his chair and nodded his head to direct us out the bar. We followed him. I was almost out the door when I looked back and saw the swarm of women around Davien. He took a long look at me, but never left his seat. His eyes watched my every move as he checked my body from head to foot. I shook my head with pity and he dropped his eyes.
When we arrived at Natalia's place, I felt awkward when she stepped out of the Jeep. She left her door open and forced me to move up with Scott. She gave me a tight hug. “You better take care of Avery.” Scott smiled. Honestly it was an amazing feeling that she trust me to spend the night at her boyfriend's house.
I reached over pulling my seat belt in place as Scott pulled from Natalia’s apartment. “You hungry?”
“I’m fine.”
“What do want to eat? I’m stopping somewhere. You’ve gotta eat.” My stomach was still in knots, no longer worrying about Anthony, but my mind had changed over to Davien. I wondered which of the groupies would he sleep with tonight. As he told me a week ago he had sex with ‘as many of the girls as he wanted’. Would he bring any of them home tonight? Natalia told me that the guys don't bring girls home, but would Scott necessarily tell her the truth?
If the two guys could let me spend the night, twice, who knows how many girls came over on a daily basis and me coming over wasn't gonna change any of their normal routine. A tear dropped from my face and Scott saw it fall to my lap. “Things will get better, Avery.”
Natalia was such an awesome person and the best friend I could have ever asked for, but I was still jealous that she had the most amazing boyfriend. Everyone thought he was the bad ass guitarist from The Pits. He really did come across as a tough guy... he almost looked like that type of guy you could imagine walking out of a biker bar. But he was very well kept up with awesome tan skin and very clean cut. Only a handful of people knew that Scott was the sweetest guy in the world. I truly was jealous. She had the best of everything. She was able to go out and have fun, she had her own place still and he gave her all the trust in the world. She knew that he would never betray her and he would always be there for her.
Scott pulled into the nearest drive-thru. “Either you order or I order for you. I’m buying you something to eat whether you like it or not.”
“A burger.” I answered shortly. I was embarrassed that Natalia left her boyfriend to take care of me. He had done enough for me over the day and I was positive he was ready to go home and relax.
As we drove off with our food, he pulled my burger from the bag. “Here eat.” I took the paper wrapped burger and took a bite. We sat in peace as he drove. But out of no where ,he asked the secretive question “It's not Anthony is it?” Scott surprised me with his words. I wasn't sure if it was really a question.
I didn’t answer right away. I looked out the window as I picked at my emotions. No it really wasn't Anthony anymore. Although Anthony was important, I was more worried about Davien now. Then I whispered. “No, it’s not.”
“You’re gonna be okay. We’re going home and you can relax, watch some TV and sleep on the couch. We’ll find you a place or a temporary hotel room in the very near future, but I’m not letting you go back. You know that, right?” I nodded my head.
☼
I finished my burger before we made it back to the guys apartment. I jumped out and followed Scott into his place. I felt like Natalia should be in my place, but instead I was going home with her boyfriend. The apartment was empty, the lights were all off except for a dim porch light. “I’ll grab you a blanket. You can take the couch ‘til we figure out something.” He walked to a linen closet across the hall from the bathroom. I was curious if he knew that I never actually slept on the couch last weekend. I wondered if he even knew that I had actually spent the night. He had gone to bed with Natalia before I even got comfortable and Davien took me home before they even woke up.
When Scott returned he handed me a blanket. “Want something to drink? Pop, water, beer? You know where the bathroom is right?”
“I’m okay, thank you and yeah I know where the bathroom's at.” I answered softly. “Hey, Scott, thanks for everything.” He turned and smiled.
“Sorry for being a bad host, but I’m beat.” He passed me the remote. “See you in the morning.” And he walked to the stairs. I didn’t expect him to keep me company. He had done enough. He bought me dinner, he allowed me to sleep at his place and he was willing to take me out tomorrow to buy a couple of outfits. There was no way I could complain. I never expected him to keep me company.
I pulled the cover to my chest and laid back on the couch. I found a boring rerun and turned the volume down. I laid for hours watching the hands spin on the clock. I shift in different directions on the couch that Davien had told me was strictly ‘Scott’s property’. My eyes were heavy but I couldn’t forget that I had a luxurious king size bed at home. Anthony’s home. Now I slept on a couch in a bachelor’s pad. All because of one night. No one would ever understand the thoughts that went through my head.
If only Natalia hadn’t begged me out last weekend, if only she hadn’t text me… but in reality I did it to myself. I betrayed the only thing that had supported me. He helped me when no one else could.
It was nearly 3 in the morning when the small light from the entry way turned on then immediately switched back off. The shadow of Mr. Gorgeous walked past the TV. I pulled the cover further up my chest. My heart sped and my breathing followed with it. I kept myself quiet. He hadn’t been home the entire day, I had never spoke to him since our short conversation on the phone the day before when he had snatched the phone from Natalia. He probably had no idea that I would be sleeping in his living room that night. I wondered if he even knew that I had been with Scott and Natalia and that they had taken me from my home.
I peaked over the cover and watched the dark kitchen softly light up when Davien opened the refrigerator door. He pulled a bottle of cold water from a shelf and stood with the refrigerator door still open as he downed half of the bottle. I gripped onto my cover, keeping my eyes closed just enough to squint so that I could just barely make out the shadow of Davien.
I felt his presence when he walked into the living room. The TV shut off. “C’mon you’re not sleeping on the couch.” Davien took the cover off my body and pulled my hand until I sat up.
“Just leave me alone, Davien.” I struggled for my hand “Why do you care where I sleep?”
“Just c’mon.” He pulled my hand tighter until my feet hit the floor and stood up.
“You ignored me all night, couldn’t even speak. Slept with who knows how many women from the bar.” I laughed. “Oh that’s right… as many as you want. But now you’re concerned where I sleep? You can go screw yourself Mr. Dodge!”
“Keep it down, Scott is sleeping.” He led us through the kitchen then turned the switch until the stair lights flickered on. “You want to argue, we can do that. But don’t worry about what I do as a single man. I asked you nicely to stay away from Anthony, but you told me to stay out of your business. I did exactly what you wanted.”
“You make me sick, Davien!”
“You make me sicker.” He scowled back. “And for your information I didn’t fuck a single woman in the bar if it’s any of your concern.”
I laughed loudly at his answer
“They are merely friends, Avery, fans, groupies… whatever you call it.” He clenched his jaw “If you really need to know, I’ve never fucked a single one of them nor do I plan on it.”
“Last week your crowd must have been completely different since you said you have slept with who ever you want there.” I shoved the words back in his face “I don’t need the truth, you are not my possession, but I’d be damn if you’re going to play me as a fool.” My words were growing louder by the second
“Actually my words were ‘I’ve slept with as many as I want’. I never mentioned a single number.” His words grew lighter until he yelled with whispers, reminding me that Scott was sleeping. “And let's get things straight, Avery, you're not a fool... why... because you're not my girlfriend I don't have to explain shit to you. The only fool in the picture is the one that is in love with Anthony.” His words hit me stronger then any blow that Anthony had ever thrown. My eyes instantly moistened with tears that I kept captured from falling.
When we made it to his bedroom, he turned the light switch on and pointed to a drawer. “What?” I said rudely.
“Open the damn drawer, Avery.” He demanded and I followed his orders. “Your clothes are in there.”
When I pulled the drawer out, it was filled with womens pajamas with tags still attached. “Why do you have these?”
“I bought them during the week. I knew eventually you would need them. I’ll be in the bathroom while you change.” Davien shook his head with disbelief then he stepped out and closed the door.
I sat on the edge of his bed and took my clothes off that I had wore all night and replaced then with new pajamas. I felt like I had never slept in this exact room last weekend. The memories had faded to a different vision. I heard the door open slightly “You dressed?” His voice was much calmer.