Outside the Box (25 page)

She opened the shower door and sat down beside me, “You did not just get naked and get in here with me.” I said with a laugh. 

“I did, (she laughed), we’ve both changed a little since our boobs sprouted.”

“Are you two uhm in the shower together?”
Williams’s voice broke through the bathroom. 

“If you even think you’re getting in here you’re sadly mistaken.” Destiney told him.

“Fun haters.” He told her.  “What’s wrong Lex?”

I told them about my evening out with Spencer, “Jesus that’s hot!” William said.  Destiney rolled her eyes again.  “Lex, you said that no other guy makes you feel like that.  You’re not being fair to Derrick, yourself, or this other guy.”  William told me.

I looked at Destiney she shrugged her shoulders, “He’s right, I think you do love him.  You’re just throwing a wall up and he’s pulling the bricks down as fast as you put them up.  He sounds like he really does love you.”

“It’s sooo fast!  That’s what worries me the most.  You only read about it in romance book
s, they meet they fall in love they live happily ever after in just a matter of weeks.  He’s so good looking, so rich, he could have any woman he wants.  She could be skinny have perfect boobs, perfect lips, perfect everything.  Instead he thinks…”

“You
ARE
his perfect Lexi, he sees it but you don’t.  Let him prove it to you.” William told me. 

“I think he’s right.” Destiney told me. 

I leaned my head against the wall, “Between college, beauty school, and his work, we’ll never see each other.”

“Oh my god, you will too, quit trying to make up excuses.  You love him and you know it.”

I stared at the water coming out of the shower head, “I think you’re right.  I’m going to leave him alone for a few days.  If he really wants me he’ll find me…right?”

“Thank god!  The water is freezing!” Destiney said and exited the shower. 

I waited for them to get out then I shut the water off, wrapped myself in a towel.  I pulled on my pajamas and laid down in bed.  When I plugged both of my cell phones in there was a new message on his cell phone he had given me.

S
: 
I meant what I said, I do love you.  Trust me I didn’t think I could after Tiffany, but you’ve proved to me that I can.  P.S. are the twelve kids all girls? All boys? Or half and half?

L
: 
Here is a list of things that worry me, 1) there is almost 10yrs difference between us 2) You are far more experienced in life than I am 3) I just started college and still have hair school to finish why would you wait that long for me? 4) I don’t want twelve kids, maybe 2 but not for a very long time 5)  What happens when you find somebody better than me?

Almost ten minutes passed before he replied;

S
: 
1) We are both over the age of 18 so I could give 2shits less about the age 2)  Not sure why you think I’m more experienced in life, until I met you I treated women like they were trash. 3)  I run a business that has the same hours you are in both schools 4) I’m still trying to think of 12 names, only thought of 2 (you’d be a beautiful pregnant woman) 5)  I’ve found the one that is better than me, that’s all I need.  You !  Alexia I’m not saying lets run off and get married tomorrow, next month, or even next year.  I’m just saying that I need you, I love you, and I want you to trust me when I say I’m not going to hurt you.  We’ll have our ups and downs, I can be an asshole, I can be childish…just give me the chance to prove that I can love you even more.  Outside the Box…Please.  P.S. that has to be the longest text I have ever typed out
;)
Names I thought of our Lilly and Daisy by the way LOL.

I read the text numerous times before I finally replied;

A
: 
I want to trust you, I want to be with you, you make me feel things that no man has ever made me feel.  I think I’m in love with you I’m just scared.  By the way you said you hate cats, I have one, her name is Frank … that’s strike 1 for you HA!

S
: 
I can make an exception for you, as long as it doesn’t scratch on my legs like they are a scratching post I’m fine.  I’m not going to make you choose to be with me, you “think” you love me?  I know you do, I can see it in your eyes.  Trust me when I say I’m probably more scared than you are.
 

A
: 
I’ve got a busy week with tests at both schools, let me get through this week then we’ll get together and hash all of this out…okay
?

S
: 
You don’t want me to talk to you the rest of the week?  Not gonna happen sweet heart!

A
: 
I didn’t say we couldn’t talk, I meant I can’t go out in the evenings this week.  I’ve got a study group through lunch hour
.

S
: 
Okay, promise me we’ll get to see each other at least for five minutes?

A
: 
I’ll let you know when I am going to have a break in the evening, you can bring me something to eat
;)

S
: 
Deal!  Get some rest, if you need any help with your studying I do know a thing or two about accounting.  You’re welcome to come to the warehouse anytime.

A
: 
K.  ttyl.
 

S
: 
Later…I love you!

A
:  <3 you!

I could have typed the word ‘Love’, but that would have made it all
too real, I was still confused but I knew that I loved him. 

S
: 
Can I ask why that couldn’t have been a phone call it would have been a hell of a lot easier.  I could have heard your beautiful voice too.

A: 
Some things are just easier to say w/o being interrupted lol.  I like having it in black and white so I can throw it in your face later!  Night.

Spencer

****

I knew the very second that I told her that I loved her that she was scared, my heart was about to beat out of my chest waiting for her response.  Then when she walked away I knew that I would be doing everything in my power to get her to realize that the feelings we had for each other weren’t lust and they wouldn’t go away. 

We text for almost an hour later that night, she didn’t type the word love, only typed the little heart symbol.  I’m sure in her mind typing it back would make it all too real for her, what I wanted the most was to hear her tell me she loves me.  I was just crossing my fingers and hoping it wouldn’t end like my marriage did. Alexia was holding my heart in her hands, all I could do was hope she didn’t throw it down and stop on it, that would be my undoing for god damn sure. 

The following day at work I called Peaches to my office so I could talk to her about
it, another chic’s point of view was definitely what I needed.  She pulled her blindfold off when she walked in, “You wanted to see me?”

I laid my cell phone on the desk, “Read all that and tell me what the fuck is going through her head.  It’s all about as clear as mud to me.”  I told her. 

She spent the next ten minutes reading and re-reading all of the messages, then she slid my phone back to me.  “Well, obviously she’s worried that she’s not good enough for you, and she thinks this is all because of the sex.”

“I know that much but what the hell do I have to do to prove to her that it’s not?”

“Don’t have sex with her, just spend time with her, don’t overdo it by telling her what is so great about her all the time.  She’s afraid that, in your mind you only see the good things, we all have our flaws… she probably thinks when you start seeing her flaws you’ll treat her like you have the others.”

I looked up at the ceiling, “Why are you women so god damn difficult?  Flawless is boring!”

Peaches laughed, “I bet that ninety nine percent of what scares her is the fact that you’re so rich, so good looking, and so powerful.  In her mind she can’t figure out why you’d want a woman that isn’t flawless.”

“I can’t change any of those things about me for fucks sake!  So the other one percent is because she’s scared?”

She shrugged a shoulder, “Probably.”

I shook my head, “You have no advice at all?  How do I prove to her that even if I didn’t have all this that I’d still want to be with her and that I’d still love her?”

“Don’t flash your money and power to get what you think she wants.  If she want’ to go to McDonalds for a Big Mac…take the subway with her and go have a Big Mac.  Step outside
your
comfort zone for her.”

I smiled, “Christ she couldn’t just tell me that herself?”

“She probably thinks she’ll say it the wrong way, the whole lust thing…that’s just because you two had sex as strangers and fell for each other.  That’s what’s got her scared, once she sees that you do genuinely love her flaws and all.  She’ll open up to you.”

“I hope so.  By the way are you busy Sunday?”

She eyed me skeptically, “No…why?”

“I was going to see if you and your girlfriend or whatever would want to come to my place for a barbeque I always have family and friends over.”

“Really?”

“Yes
( I dragged out the ‘s’).”

“Sure, I’ll let Hope know.”

“Okay, be there around four.  Bring a swimming suit.”

“Sweet!  Okay, I’d better get back out to the floor there are some new recruits coming in.”

“Keep me posted.”  I told her.

“Oh and Spencer…”

“Yes?”

“I told you so!” she said with a smile before walking out and shutting my office door.

****

The week dragged on, I didn’t get to see Alexia until Friday after she was done with beauty school.  I took her a sandwich and ate at the picnic table with her, I could tell she was getting wore out and needed rest.  She told me she had passed
all of the tests and that Professor German was very pleased with how advanced she was and how quick she caught on.  I offered to give her a ride home, but her friend Julie walked up to her and asked if she could go help her hang some new signs at her salon.  Alexia said she could and stood to leave, “Hey, come here.” I said and grabbed her hand.  “I’ve missed you, Sunday why don’t you come to my place and hang out?” 

She stiffened, “I…Sunday’s I hang out with my friend.”

I narrowed my eyes at her, “The friend with benefits?”  I asked.

She nodded her head yes, “I’m going to tell him about you, hopefully he won’t hate me.”

“I don’t like the thought of you spending an entire day with another man Alexia, it actually makes me pretty jealous…I get jealous…I get pissy.”

“See you don’t trust me!” she whined.  “Spencer, this will never work.”

I cupped her face in my hands, “Don’t put words in my mouth, I didn’t say I don’t trust you.  I said I don’t like the idea of you spending the day with another man, one that you’ve fucked and one that you even told me has feelings for you.  It’s him I don’t trust.”

“I’m not going to have sex with him, I only like sex with you.” She snapped her mouth shut. 

I smiled at her, “I’m pretty partial to you too, if he gets mad just call me and I’ll come get you then you can hang out at my place.”

I leaned down and brushed my lips against hers, “Okay?”

“Okay”, she whispered and smiled.

Julie came out of the building with her bags and told Alexia she would wait for her in the car.  Alexia turned back to me, “I’ll talk to you later okay?”

“I love you Alexia.” I told her. 

She smiled against the kiss, “I love you too.”

With those four words, she about made my knees buckle and my heart jump out of my chest.  I kissed her harder, “Say it again please…”

She giggled her soft seductive giggle, “I love you Spencer.”

“I love you, you’d better leave before I drag you away from this place.  Get some rest tomorrow and don’t forget to call me Sunday if you need me okay?”

“Okay.”  She walked over to
Julie’s car, I watched as they drove away. 

Lexi

****

I had passed the Accounting tests, I had passed the tests at the cosmetology school, and admitted to Spencer that I love him.  Julie was practically drooling over Spencer, “He’s like a cross between Channing Tatum and Bradley Cooper!  How could you not love him?!” she fanned her face.  “You do know that man is in deep with you, I
can see it in his eyes.  Those, drop your panties, come ride this stallion, I’m going to have you screaming my name, starburst blue eyes!”

“Wow, I like his eyes and all but I never thought those were what made me drop my panties for him.”

Her eyes got big, “You’ve had sex?  Oh god give me details!”

“Urrmmm, do I have to?”  I could feel myself blushing.

“First you have to tell me how you met him, I mean, those kind of guys aren’t the kind you bump into everyday!”

“I don’t think you want me to tell you, you’ll think differently of me.”

“Nonsense…spill!” She waved her hand dismissively then waited for me to start talking.

“Promise not to judge me?”

She put her hands on her hips, “Woman if you knew some of the stupid things I’ve done, you wouldn’t even be asking that question.” She told me.

“Well, (I cleared my throat) have you heard of a place called “The Box”?”

She twisted her lips up as she was thinking, “Oh…ohhh that sex club down the street that way…no that way…no that…”

“It’s that way.” I said and laughed.

“You met him there, what room were you watching?  I love Box one.”

I swallowed hard, “Box…box one?”
  I stuttered out with a question. 

This time it was her that blushed, “Okay so my boyfriend and I are guilty of going, but you’ve seen what goes on in there.  This one couple…”

“When was the last time you went?”  I was hoping it had been a while.

“About a month ago.” She said. 

Nope there went my hopes that she hadn’t seen me in the box with Spencer.

I plopped down in one of the chairs, “And you don’t recognize me?”

“Uhhmmm, how could I?”

“Because it was me and Spencer in the box together when you watched.  I went by the name Ember he went by the name Jasper.”

She stood there with her mouth open, then she closed it, “OH.MY.GOD!  DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING ABOUT YOU?” she yelled.

“I probably don’t want to.” I hid my face in my hands. 

She walked over and pulled my hands down, “They were saying how great of a couple you two made, how great it was that you could feel the passion and love from you two.  Not to mention we couldn’t even get a private room the entire time when it was you two in there!  His dick must be at least this big, (she held her hands apart about eight inches so I moved them apart a little more.) And..and his body he looks like that William guy!”

“Prince William
or Destiney’s boyfriend William?”  I asked in confusion.

“Oh my god, no…that … hang on.  She held a finger up and typed something into her phone. 
“This William, William Levy!”  on her screen was a guy that I had never seen before but his body really did look like Spencer’s.

“Close, but
Spencer’s abs are more defined.” I said with a laugh.

She fanned her face some more, “Never mind I don’t need details.  So you two are dating now?”

I shook my head ‘no’ at her slowly, knowing she was going to yell at me.

“WHY THE HELL NOT?” 

So, I explained everything to her and told her about everything that had been going on with Derrick. 

“Lexi, I’ll tell you what is bothering you about Spencer. 
You know he’s rich, handsome…no, let me rephrase that, he’s fucking HOT, and he’s got some power over people.  You’re afraid that you aren’t good enough for him because you are in college and beauty school.  But stop and think about this, he didn’t know that about you when you were in the box and you didn’t know that about him.  So the feelings are genuine and the chemistry is real.”

I thought about what she said, “I guess I didn’t think about it that way, I was thinking it was lust.”

She shook her head, “You love him, I heard you tell him.  So make sure you tell Derrick that it’s either just friends or nothing at all.”

“I’m pretty sure that when I tell him my happy bubble is going to burst.  I don’t like making people mad, I should have just told him about Spencer a long time ago.”

“Of course he might get mad, you’re beautiful, smart, funny, and down to earth.  If he truly loves you as a friend he’ll understand and be happy that you’ve found true love.” She said and smiled.

We hung up the new signs in her shop I laughed at the one that said, “I’m a
Beautician
not a
Magician
!”

On the drive back to my apartment Julie kept talking about how I shouldn’t waste any more time not being with Spencer, “
He’s probably just as scared as you are.  Just go with it, every couple will fight…it’s worth the make-up sex.  I’d be picking fights with him all the time, he’d eventually catch on though.”  We both laughed hard at that statement. 

I was dead tired when I got to the apartment, Derrick had tried to call me a few times during the week, but I was so busy I didn’t get a chance to call him back and we kept missing each other in the evening when I would get home from night classes. 

After my shower I text him that I was sorry and hadn’t been avoiding him.

D
: 
Don’t forget about Sunday
;)

L
: 
I know, I’m going to get some rest and be lazy all day tomorrow.  I’m actually nervous to meet your brother
!

D
: 
Why?  He’s cool, if he’s a dick to you just tell him to fuck off. LOL
.

L
: 
LOL, night
.

D
: 
Night beautiful
.

“Oh Derrick, I sure hope you still think that on Sunday.”  I said then rolled over and went to sleep.
 

Saturday I didn’t wake up until almost noon, Frank was pretty sure she was going to die of starvation by the time I showered and fed her.  Destiney and William sat around and watched movies with me, Destiney panicked when Frank jumped on her lap then curled up on Williams.  “Don’t move whatever you do, it’s a trap.  I bet she is plotting her attack on me.” She told William.  Throughout the movie she kept glancing down at Frank checking to make sure she was still sleeping. 

William cooked us supper that night, they said they had a party to go to the following day so they wouldn’t be around in the afternoon.  We didn’t talk about Spencer or Derrick, instead we talked about school, work, and William told me all about their trip to the Cayman Islands they had planned for two weeks over spring break.  They offered to get me a ticket but I told them I would be fine staying here for two weeks.  Destiney knew that I hated flying and that trip would be a complete disaster for me.

I went to bed about ten thirty that night, I was stressing out about talking with Derrick on Sunday but I knew that it had to be done. 

Derrick called me at nine the next morning to tell me his dad was in town so he would have to cancel our morning cuddle time, “I’ll be back here around two thirty to get you, I’m sorry I don’t get to see you this morning.”

I yawned, “It’s okay, what do I need to wear to the party?”

“Just comfy clothes, he’s got a huge pool we’ll all end up in anyways.”

“Wait your dad’s going to be there?  Derrick this sure sounds like I’m getting introduced to your whole family!”

He laughed, “I told them we are just friends, it won’t be all my family.  There will be a bunch of his co-workers and friends there too.”

I blew out a breath, “Okay I’ll see you when you get back, just call me and I’ll meet you downstairs.”

“Will do, later.”

I called Julie to see if I could come in to get waxed since I had missed my other appointment the previous week and the razor I had was barely sharp enough to shave my legs. 

“So did you tell Derrick?” she asked then ripped some wax off of me.

I hissed through my teeth, “No, he’s out with his dad.  I guess we’ll have a talk later after we leave his brothers place.”

Another strip of wax ripped off, “I’m sure he’ll be understanding.  I’m one hundred percent sure that Spencer is going to love this wax job.”  She said with a laugh.

I got back to my apartment, found my red bikini, I put it on then wore my denim mini skirt and Harley Davidson tank top that mom had bought for me last year for my birthday.  I made a sandwich and had just finished it when Derrick called to tell me he was on his way to get me. 

I walked out of the building and there he sat in a silver Hummer, he opened the door for me and helped me climb in.  Then he ran around the front and got in to the driver seat. 

“You look smokin’ hot Lexi.”  He said and put his hand on my leg. 

“Thank you, how did your day go with your dad?”

“Eh, like usual.  He flaunted his younger
my aged girlfriend in front of everybody and let her paw at him in front of everybody, like usual.”

He asked me how my day had went and if I had gotten enough rest since my week had been so busy.  “I think so, that test wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.  Professor German wants me to help tutor some of the other student.”

“Don’t put too much on your plate, you are busier now than what you were when you babysat at night.”  He said and squeezed my leg, he left it there the entire drive to his brother’s house.

“Holy shit!  He lives here?!” I asked as he punched the code into a keypad at the gate. 

Derrick Laughed, “Yeah, I told him to sale the place since it’s just him but he won’t.”

“What does he do for a living?  This place is a huge!”

“He owns his own business.”

“Must be nice, holy hell.  I wouldn’t know what to do with a house that big!”

He pulled into a space behind the cars that line the driveway, “Looks like they’ve started without us.” He shut the vehicle off then came around and helped me out.  He grabbed my hand as we walked up the driveway, around the side of the house, and through the privacy fence gate. 

There were what seemed like hundreds of people standing around, the first person I spotted was Destiney. 

“Destiney, what are you doing here?”

“I told you we had a party to go to, what are you doing here?” she asked. 

“This is Derrick’s brother’s birthday party.”

Derrick walked back over to me and put his hand on my waist, “Glad to see you guys got invited, have you seen the big dick head anywhere?” he asked and laughed.

“I have no clue we were mailed an invite…”

“Hey little man it’s about god damn time you showed up.”  Spencer’s voice boomed from behind me and Derrick. 

I closed my eyes, “Please don’t let it be Spencer, Please don’t let it be him.” I chanted over and over in my head.  I turned around with Derrick and there he was, in a pair of board shorts, flip flops and no shirt. 

“What’s up jackass?” Derrick pulled him into a one armed hug but never let go of my hand.  My eyes locked with Spencer’s, he looked down at Derrick and
I’s hands and his eyes snapped back up to mine. His eyes flared with anger and his jaw muscle tensed.

“Uh.
  Who’s your friend?” he asked Derrick.

“This is Lexi, Lexi this is my brother Spencer.  Spencer this is Lexi.”  Spencer looked down at our hands again then looked at Derrick.  He said nothing to me instead he walked past me and started talking to a group of people that were standing behind us. 

“I told you he’s a dick head, I’m going to go find the drinks, do you want something?”

Pepto Bismo
l sounded pretty good at the moment since I felt like I was going to puke right there on the pool deck.  “Just a water please.” 

Once he was gone I walked back over to Destiney and William, “Huge problem…HUUGE problem.” I said and started shaking.

“What’s wrong?” Destiney asked me.

“How did you guys get invited here?” 

“Because we are club VIP members.” William said.  “What’s wrong, you look like you’re about to puke.”

“Um, well, that guy that you see us talking to is Spencer,
Derrick’s brother.”

“WHAT?!” Destiney whispered.  “Like THE Spencer?  Your Spencer?  Jasper?”

I couldn’t talk so I nodded my head ‘yes’.

“
What…how…it’s okay, we’ll figure something out.  Just relax.” Destiney stuttered out. 

Derrick came back, “I’m going to steal her for a few minutes.” He told them and grabbed my hand.  He weaved us through the crowd of people until
I, once again, found myself standing in front of Spencer.  He was talking to an older guy that looked like both him and Derrick. 

“Dad this is Lexi, Lexi this is my dad Randy.”