Artful Attractions (15 page)

I rear back like he’s just smacked me in the face. “I’m always honest, Brad. If I find a man attractive I don’t mind stating it. I’m not going to lie. I never lied to you. I just never came out and said directly what I do for a living.”

He rubs his eyes and scrubs his face. “So does Amy know?” His face unreadable. 

I nod. “Yes, for a long time now and so does your mother.”

He chokes and coughs loud. “My mom?”

“Yep, your mom too. They love me regardless. I am who I am. Sleeping with men for money doesn’t change me. It just means my job is a little colorful,” I chuckle.

“It’s not funny at all Alexis. I liked you a lot as a friend. Now I find you utterly disgusting. No offense. Do you have diseases too?” His head rears back as the word diseases, trails from his lips. 

I roll my eyes and I smack him hard in the chest. “I’m a human fucking being, Brad. Not a piece of meat. I’m not a hooker who opens her legs for anyone. I have Brian who only sticks me with high-class men who are clean and I never go without a condom. I’m cleaner than most women and tighter too. So thank you for being a judgmental asshole. So much for friendship.” I flip him the bird and stalk off in the opposite direction. And find my seat and sit down next to Joseph. Fuck Brad!

“You okay?” he asks, worried.

I’m on the verge of crying. My chest is killing me all of a sudden and I think I just died inside. I should have never told Brad. But I’m sure he’d find out eventually. Damn-it!

“I’m fine.” I cuddle into him and swipe the tears from under my eyes. I feel like shit. I want to go home and snuggle up in bed alone and cry for the next ten days straight. My life sucks right now. You live in this bubble where everyone accepts you for who you are. You don’t tell anyone outside the circle about your career path and you think that it’s the norm for everyone to love and accept you for who you are. But then you breakdown and admit the truth and you get a bad batch of fuck you and the world comes tumbling down. Especially when the guy you like is the one who’s stabbing you in the chest and making you feel about an inch tall.

Becka comes and waves me over. I get up and kiss Joseph on the cheek. He’s engrossed in some conversation with a business man at our table.

I follow Becka into the bathrooms furthest from the main area so they are less congested and I hug her. The water works start pouring out in full force. She pats my back, trying to calm me. I choke back a deeper sob and I’m so thankful for water proof mascara and eyeliner.

“Brad was mean wasn’t he?” she asks softly.

I nod into her shoulder. “Very,” I cry.

I let go and dig into my small purse and pull out he credit card I was going to use to help him decorate his apartment. So much for that now. I disgust him. I hand it to her.

I pull out my phone and call Amy’s private number, not the B&B

“Hey girl,” she answers, chipper.

“Hi, Brad knows,” I sob.

“You told him?”

“Yes,” I choke and I go into the entire story about what happened including the apartment thing and helping him decorate and all of it. She listens and chimes in occasionally. I sit on the bathroom bench in a small bathroom sitting area. And Becka the wonderful best friend she is waits with me. Supporting me the whole time. I feel terrible for leaving Joseph but this is not a good time to put all this on him. It’s better to get it out now and go back to the hotel later to make it up to him with some ball crushing sex.

“I’m so sorry Alexis,” Amy apologizes sincerely. “Just come here tomorrow and we’ll make a weekend of it and have some girl time. Mama is coming so she’ll cheer you up. Mean ol’ Brad is a stick in the mud and obviously not a very loyal friend to females. I love my bro but I’ve honestly not spoken with many of his friends. He’s a loner mostly and he has serious trust issues. That all stems back from is early twenties. Anyhow, just come and we’ll say fuck men and have a good old time.” She’s upbeat and full of life. God love her. I wish I had a quarter of her positive optimism right about now. But all I see is the darkness at the end of the tunnel.

I agree and hang up. I go back out to the party and hang with Joseph who didn’t even realize I had gone. Which I’m relieved to hear. We eat our four course dinner. I don’t say much and afterward Joseph and I exit and bump into the dreaded Brad again on the way out. I can’t even look at him directly but I can feel his eyes boring into me like lasers. His body bumps into mine and he caresses my arm quickly and I jerk away, staring at the ground. Joseph protects me and helps me into the back of the limo. My phone vibrates.

I pull it out even though I know it’s the impolite thing to do. But Joseph is messing with his phone too. And his phone actually rings.

“Yes I was at the event. I was with a friend. So what if I took somebody else? My trip isn’t until the morning now. You want me to come home?” Joseph must be arguing with his wife. I knew him taking me into public was a bad idea. I guess I never figured it would be bad for not only him but me as well.

I slide open my phone and I’ve gotten two texts from Brad.

Brad- I’m sorry I called you disgusting.
That
was mean.

No shit is was mean! He just tore my heart in two.

Brad- Please text back I still want to be friends. You’re the only person in the city I want to be friends with.

Me- Please, lose my number. I don’t want to be friends. You just broke my heart into a million pieces.

Brad- My sister just called and chewed me out. I’m so sorry for making you cry. Please don’t cry Alexis. I didn’t mean to be a jerk. I’ve never met an escort before. I didn’t mean to go all high and mighty on you. I’m sure you have reasons to do what you do. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to listen to them. Please talk to me. And please decorate my apartment. I made Becka keep the card. I want your help. I trust your opinion. Just forgive me. To pay me back paint a giant cock on my wall with florescent colors or build me a plywood mattress instead of a nice one. I don’t care, just forgive me.

Me- You called her Becka.

Brad- Yes she came clean and told me her real name. Don’t worry Andrew still knows her as Anne.

“Hey babe. I’ve got some bad news.” Joseph sinks into the limo, pouting.

“Let me guess. Your wife found out about me being your date and is threatening to leave you if you don’t come home immediately,” I state forwardly.

“How did you know?” He sounds surprised.

“I’m a woman. I’d be the same way. You know you could tell her that I’m John’s girlfriend and that you were just bringing me along because he’s out of town and you stepped in for him and canceled your plans.”

His eyes widen. “You’re a genius.” He acts all giddy.

“Its fine just drop me by Astoria and I’ll go home it’s not biggy,” I smile at him and squeeze his hand.

“You’re amazing.”

The limo pulls up onto Astoria I get out and take some roses with me and the bottle of unopened Champagne and chocolates. I hit my apartment when my phone vibrates again and I go inside.

“Hey Becka I’m back. Are you home?” I kick off my black heels

“Oh shit Alexis why are you here?” she yells from the living room.

I drop the gifts on the table and find my way into the living room. You got to be fucking kidding me! This bitch is breaking all the fucking rules tonight. I’m going to kill her.

“Just listen.” Brad stands with his hands up in surrender, from my living room fucking couch. And my roomy is in her bra and panties. She better not have been thinking of doing something that I think she might have been. I will kick her out. The lease is in my damn name.

“What are you two doing?” I stare at my best friend in her lingerie.

“Brad just showed up when I was changing and I brought him in here and we were just talking. That’s all,” she states. I can tell by the look on her face she knows this doesn’t look good.

“If you were going to sleep with him. I will kill you. You get that right?” I bark at her, my words cloaked in acid.

She nods. “I know. You don’t even have to warn me. I’d never touch him because of how you feel.”

“How do you feel?” Brad asks, taking a step towards the doorway I’m standing in.

“None of your fucking business. Now leave my apartment before I call the damn cops. This isn’t right,” I yell at him.

“Tell me Alexis,” he pleads sweetly with his deep panty dropping voice.

“I feel heartbroken and torn and in pain. I feel gross and worthless and vile. I feel degraded and violated and most of all I feel like somebody stabbed me in the fucking heart with an ice pick,” I sass and drop my dress to the floor. “Guess I should act like the hooker, the disgusting one with diseases and go wash off my filth. If you could please excuse me so I can go dip myself in a vat of bleach and go to bed.” I turn and sprint to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind me and locking it. I sit on the toilet and bawl. I let it all go. Tears pouring down my face.

A knock at the door.

“Go away,” I sob.

“It’s me, honey, open up,” Becka says.

“No, make Brad leave please. He shouldn’t be here. I don’t want to see him ever again. My diseases are bad and vile. Make him leave,” I choke back and swallow hard. I wipe my eyes and blow my nose in a wad of toilet paper.

“He feels awful Alexis. Just hear him out,” she pleads through the door.

“Fuck you Rebecca Anne for taking his side,” I squeal and turn on the shower with hot steamy water.

“I’m not taking his side Alexis. I just know it’s not easy finding out about what we do at first. How did Amy react when you first told her?” she yells so I can hear her over the running water. I take off my bra and panties and jump into the shower and wash as well as I can. I need to cleanse the filth from my skin. I’m disgusting according to Brad. Every time I think of those words leaving that beautiful mouth of his, I want to vomit. It makes me feel terrible and gross.

I get out and dry off. “Amy loves me. She never degraded me or talk bad to me. She asked a lot of questions and never made me feel horrible for what I do. She’s one of my best friends and I love her. And mama Ruby. Also knows and seems to accept me,” I yell, drying my hair.

“I’m sorry Alexis. I know my sister and mom are great. They’re better than me. But let me make it up to you and let’s talk about this,” Brad nearly begs.

“No, now please leave Brad. I’m not leaving this bathroom until he’s gone, Becka.” I sit on the floor naked. I’m exhausted.

I open my eyes. What the hell? I sit up and peer around. Fuck, I fell asleep on the bathroom floor. It’s light outside and I have to be packing and leaving soon so I can make it to Lolita’s at a decent time.

I unlock the bathroom door and pull it open and a body falls inside. And son of a bitch it’s not Becka, it’s Brad sleeping against the bathroom door. His eyes shoot open and find me naked standing beside him.

“Hi,” he says with a sleepy smile.

I kick him in the side making him grunt and then I step over him. I go into my bedroom and shut my door, which I rarely do.

He knocks. “Please talk to me Alexis,” he begs from outside my door.

I pull my door open so I’m standing buck naked in front of him.

“What do you want to talk about, Brad?” I put my hand on my hip and cock my head to the side, in full bitch mode.

“Can you please put some clothes on first?” he asks politely.

“Why? Do I disgust you that much?” I rub my sides.

“Um… No… But you’re hot and you’re naked and this is supposed to be a normal conversation where my manhood stays asleep,” He blurts out in his deep bellowing voice. I close my eyes and soak it in. I love listening to him talk. Except when he says I’m gross.

“Well, too fucking bad. I need to get packed to leave and then I’ll get dressed. So you better talk fast. I’ve got to go.” I peek at the clock and it’s nine thirty. “In thirty minutes,” I add and angrily pull my red rolling suitcase from my closet.

“Why, where are you going?” His voice is low.

“To stay with your sister for a few days. I’ve got to run and get a rental car down the street and then I can leave from there.” I tug clothes off the hangers. My casual clothes. I throw in some shoes and moccasins and comfy pj’s that I probably won’t wear. I tuck in the Saks bag with all the gifts.

“I’ll drive you to Lolita’s,” he offers.

I shake my head. “Nope. I’d rather not sit in a car with you for an hour,” I express rudely. Truth be told, if I had an hour I’d probably forgive him. He has that personality that’s hard to stay mad at.

My new phone rings, telling me it can only be one person.

I put Brad on ignore and answer it.

“Hi, Joseph. Can I help you?”

“Can I see you today?” He sounds desperate.

“No, sorry, I’m taking a three day siesta. Why, what’s up? You okay?” I ask genuinely concerned, he doesn’t sound normal.

“Yeah I just fought with my wife all last night and all I could think about was how much I miss you. I need some of that beautiful pussy baby. Please come see me,” he whines.

“I wish I could Joseph but I have a date with a little B&B for me, myself, and I.”

I toss my clothes into my suitcase and zip it and sit it up onto its wheels. I’m all packed. Now all I have to do is get dressed and leave Joseph’s phone behind this weekend without pissing him off. I need a damn break.

“Not even an hour?” he pleads.

“No, I’m sorry. I have to go now. I’ll talk to you next week,” I say sweetly trying to coax him off the phone without erupting a giant problem. I’m desperate to get out of this apartment. I need to get to Lolita’s. Then maybe I’ll feel better.

“You’re not taking my cell?” He’s frantic.

“No, Joseph I’m not. I need some me time. I’ll text you when I get back. Goodbye, hope you have a wonderful few days,” I say and hang up.

“He loves you,” Brad declares for the second time in two days, leaning against my door frame eavesdropping. His arms folded over his chest. Looking fine as ever. Does he really have to be that damn handsome? I’m supposed to hate this man right now.

“Yeah, well I don’t care. He’s married and I’m single and disgusting with diseases.” I yank open my dresser and pull out a pair of red panties and matching bra to wear today. I packed the rest already. I clasp my bra and slide on my thong. Brad watches me the entire time. I hope he enjoys the show because I’m done with his ass. No matter how sexy he is.

He sighs running his hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean it.”

“It doesn’t matter; you said it. So in a sense you did mean it. People mean a lot of what they say and take back. I’m fairly certain that wasn’t you faking it. It was being real,” I state a-matter-of-factly.

I finish getting dressed and Brad watches my every move. I put my hair up in a pony. I grab my toiletries from the bathroom and he follows me around like a damn lost puppy. I leave a note on the table for Becka and I grab my jean jacket and head out. He’s two steps behind me the whole way.

“My car’s right outside,” he says as soon as we hit the sidewalk.

“And? You should take it home,” I sass turning to find my way down the street, rolling my suit case behind me.

“No I should drive you north. I won’t stay. I’ll just drop you and I’ll come back and pick you up. I need to check in on my restaurant anyhow and this will be the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone,” he validates.

I exhale loudly with a deep huff. “Fine!” I’m about two shakes from having an all-out five year old temper tantrum because he’s driving me insane.

He smiles victoriously and his eyes sparkle in the early morning sun. I’m seriously waiting for him to break into a little jig but he doesn’t. Such a shame.

There’s a blue BMW that’s parked down the street and the lights flash when he clicks the key fob in his hand to unlock it. He pops the truck and drops my bag inside for me.

I slump into the passenger seat. The car has beautiful soft black leather seats and custom rocked out dashboard. With electric blue lights and shiny chrome. He gets in and turns on the ignition and my heart jumps in my chest as music suddenly blares, filling the car.  He quickly turns it down to a healthy level and I can feel myself breathe again.

I refuse to talk to him the whole way to Amy’s. He takes the hint and turns on his jams which strangely enough is the same music I like. A mixture of eighties hair bands and newer rock like Avenge Sevenfold, Swedish House Mafia, and
Fall Out
Boy. I try my best to not enjoy it or join in singing. Although it’s nearly impossible for me not to want to sing in a car full of sweet music I love. He sings without a care in the world and drums on his steering wheel to the beat, doing a little dance in his seat. Completely adorable and I can’t help but watch him out of the corner of my eye. His voice with its deep bass is rather beautiful to listen to. He’s not musician quality with his vocals but he’s better than most average Joe’s. I cross my legs and keep my arms tucked across my chest the entire drive facing out the side window or straight ahead just so I can eye him in my peripheral.

He must have come straight to my apartment last night following the event because he’s still in his black suit pants and a white long-sleeved dress shirt with the collar unbutton just enough to see a tattoo peeking out of the top and the sleeves are precisely folded up his forearms.

We pass the small sign leading us to Lolita’s. Then an even smaller sign at the entrance to the gravel road leading to the property in the middle of the woods. It’s amazing to me that New York City is just an hour away and here we are in the middle of the country with hundred year old trees in forests all-encompassing us. It’s beautiful and serene. The path up to Lolita’s is a single lane and in the winter is a pain to navigate without hitting a tree or bush. If I stick my hand out of the window, limbs will brush my arms. Then up the seventy five yard or so drive way the trees finally break and we are presented with the beautiful two story, all white, huge plantation style house with wrap around porches on both levels. Colossal, house tall round pillars stand out and welcome you to the best retreat on the planet. I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. Brad pulls up the gravel slowly and circles around the half-moon driveway.

I leap out of the car, leaving him behind and Amy springs out of the red double front doors and we lunge into each other’s arms. I hold onto her tight and sniff her strawberry scented hair.

“I’ve missed you.” I kiss her cheek and stuff my nose back into the curls of her perfect dark brown waist length hair. She releases me first and takes a step back so we can admire one another. It’s been probably four months since I’ve last been up to Lolita’s. Way to long of a break from my favorite place in the entire world.

“You look fabulous and so gorgeous, Alexis,” she praises with her perfectly straight ear-to-ear smile.

Ruby comes out of the house with her curly short white hair, bright blue eyes. Wearing a pair of purple slacks, a purple and pink butterfly top and a yellow apron around her waist.

“Alexis!!” she screeches and I dash around Amy to hug my favorite woman.

“Hi mama! I’ve missed you.” I kiss her wrinkled old cheek and wrap my arm over her short little shoulder. She’s tiny for a woman, no taller than four foot ten on a good day. But she’s vivacious and silly as all get out.

“I’ve missed you too, my other daughter.” She pats my tooshie. And I can’t help but giggle.

Brad comes around the side of the car, surprising his mom and sister and Amy hurls off the three front steps into her favorite brother’s arms. He drops my luggage and catches her, laughing as he pulls her into a hug. He pats her back and puts her down to the ground, kissing her forehead. 

“What a great surprise,” Amy smiles and turns and winks at me. I roll my eyes and wag my finger playfully at her giggling. I can’t help but be ecstatic about this place. I feel completely at home.

“Yeah well after last night I wanted to make it up to Alexis and bring her up here once I found out she was visiting for a few days,” he explains and mama Ruby won’t leave my side. Her arm is wrapped around my back, holding onto my waist for dear life.

Brad comes up the steps and drops my bag next to me. “Hi mama.” He smiles brightly and bends down far to kiss his mother’s cheek. With her free hand she slaps him hard across the face.

“That’s for treating Alexis badly,” she hisses and slaps him again. “And that’s for not coming to see me sooner.”

He kneels in front of his mother on the ground. “I’m sorry mama I should have come and visited sooner. I promise not to let it go this long again,” he apologizes sincerely, his cheek is bright red from her slaps. She taps her tiny foot on the wooden front porch impatiently. He sighs. “Fine. And I’m sorry for being mean to Alexis,” he finishes.

She keeps tapping her foot and cups the side of her son’s reddened face. “I love you my boy but that apology is not for me. You need to give it to her.” She squeezes my side. This woman demands respect and that’s why I love her so much. She’s amazing.

“But mama I’ve…”

She swipes her hand in front of his face to shut him up. “No, you do it now. I want to see,” she orders, calmly standing her ground even though she’s tiny.

He bows his head and nods understanding. She tugs me in front of him and he stares into my eyes and I down into his. He kneels like a man proposing, this is kind of creepy. His mother grabs my hand and offers it to him. And he accepts it following her quiet instructions. “I’m very sorry Alexis for making you cry and talking as badly as I did. I know my error of ways and I sincerely hope that you and my family will forgive my prejudices and we are able to mend our friendship,” he states sweetly and my heart thumps in my chest. Fuck. I hate that I like him so much.

Mama taps her foot and gives me a stern look to respond. I know not to mess with her.

“I accept your apology. But please don’t call me that stuff again and if you ever have any questions or concerns please ask me about them. I will be open to answering as much as you want to know. And thank you for driving me to my favorite place in the world,” I reply respectfully.

Mama claps her hands swiping one over the other like she’s knocking dirty off. “Good. Well now that that’s done, get your butts into that house and let us get you set up in some rooms,” she orders and Brad stands, releasing my hand. As soon as it’s gone I feels like a part of me is missing. I hate that. I shouldn’t feel anything. 

Amy comes over and throws her arm over my shoulder. “See, mama takes care of her own,” she chuckles and we go into the B&B together.

Inside it looks just as I remember. It has the wide wooden staircase next to the front door that goes up to the bedrooms. Off to the left is a pale green sitting room and to the right is the main sitting room with fireplace. If you pass the foyer, the hall takes you past a half bath, the door to Amy’s bedroom, a library, kitchen, dining room and in the far back is an office and right out the backdoor is an enclosed porch that opens into the backyard with a giant fountain in the middle, a hot tub to the side and lots of beautiful landscaping. To the right of the property is a small pond for fishing and paddle boating. It has a small dock and a large white gazebo, where weddings take place a few times a year.

We make our way upstairs and there’s another sitting area on the landing at the top and beyond that is four bedrooms all with attached baths. Each bedroom is unique and one of them is for mama when she stays. Another is the blue room which is decorated in gold’s and blues, all Victorian furniture and hard wood floors and the green room is the same.

But I always stay in the pink room. Which has dark hard wood floors, a cream Victorian canopy bed with tufted light pink fabric and cream wooden scrolled headboard. Ivory fabrics are draped over the canopy.  There’s a cream dressing table with six drawers, a matching stool with pink tufted top and an oversized Victorian scrolled mirror. The top of the dressing table has beautiful complimentary chocolates and lotions. There’s a fireplace in the room that’s giant and hand carved. It’s dark wood like the floor and my art is what sits upon the mantle. In font is a lovely Victorian pink, cream and mint green rug with a high back Victorian loveseat done in cream to match the rest of the furniture and the fabric is a mint green to play off the rug. The walls are a pale pink and wall sconces are the only light source in the room besides the lovely bedside lamps on the matching ornate curvy nightstands. There’s a small closet to store my clothes and the bathroom attached has an ivory claw foot tub, a pale pink tiled steam shower, cream tile floors and a Victorian style dresser that’s dark brown and has been converted into a single sink with a cream swirled marble top. It’s an amazing set up in both rooms and I fall in love with it each and every time I stay.