I spent the evening getting myself off until my legs turned to jelly. I went to bed early that night, at around 6 pm. When I woke up the next morning it was around 7 am. I laid on my side staring into space for a few minutes before rolling onto my stomach and tried to go back to sleep. I was dozing off when I heard a knock on the door which triggered the alarm. I jumped out of bed and ran to the door. I punch in the code then look through the peephole. 

I couldn't tell who was until he started cursing at the alarm. I grinned, screaming mentally. I swung the door open and my face fell when I saw him holding two gifts. He smiled at me. His red sweater said 'No, my parents didn't go to the North Pole instead they went to Miami and all I got was this lousy t-shirt', acid-washed jeans, black Converse, and a Santa hat over his tousled hair. "Morning!" He said cheerfully.

"Morning....you're not coming in with those," I told him, pointing at the gifts. He took a step close enough to mould our bodies. He placed a hand at the small of my back as he stared deeply into my eyes and pushed his way inside. His body and eyes never left mine. I jumped when he kicked the door close. I frowned at him.

"I'm inside hun." He whispered smirking. I rolled my eyes and took a step back.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. Don't get me wrong— I'm happy you're here but I want to know why you ditched your family to come here.

"I couldn't let you spend Christmas alone," he said before walking toward the living room then he stopped at the doorway and looked at me, "oh and Happy Birthday, hun,"  he said then knocking my sock off with that panty-dropping half-smile. How did he know?

"Thank you," I said slowly.

"Come on...you have presents to open." He said holding a hand out. I took it and we walked into the living room. He helped me to sit down then placed the gifts on my lap.

"Can I go brush my teeth?" I questioned. He made a face.

"That's what that smell was?" He asked. My jaw dropped. I punched him. He chuckled. "Go ahead....put on a bottom too." He said. I looked down at myself. I'm wearing a black cami and yellow boy shirts. I walked past him and went to the bedroom.

-

I threw on a pair of black shorts and a green sweater. I stepped out of the bedroom, I immediately heard kids and Joelle's voices. I walked into the living room, Joel's shoes were off, I saw them at the door. He sat on the arm of the couch with his phone in his hand. "Uncle Joel! Uncle Joel! Look!" A little voice said. Joel gasped.

"Wow." He said smiling.

"Yes! Daddy said after breakfast we can go for a swim!"  The voice said.

"That sounds amazing." He said, he looked at me. "Ok Justin, give the phone to uncle Joelle, please." He held out a hand for me and I took it, he got up and we both sat down. He props his phone up against his glass of water. I guess Justin must have been running because the camera was going all over the place and he was breathing heavily.

"Uncle Joelle!" Justin yelled. "Here!"

"Thanks." Joelle said. "Morning!" Joelle appeared on the screen. The wind was blowing his hair in his face, he's shirtless and he seems to be laying on a lounge chair on the beach. "Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Aubrey!" He said, grinning.

"Thank you and Merry Christmas." I said. "Their camping at a hotel?" I whispered to Joel. He shook his head.

"They've stayed at an Airbnb in Montego Bay for the first night, and in the evening they'll head out to the site." He replied. Beth sat beside Joelle with a huff.

"Joey is knocked the fuck out from Margaritaville last night and Joseph is out buying groceries with Adina, Jules, and Jarrett." Beth looked at the phone when Joelle nudged her side. "Happy Birthday!" She yelled, grabbing my phone from Joelle. I chuckled.

"Thank you."

"Come on open your presents....oh shit, save mine for last when foot face isn't around," Beth said. I frowned.

"Why?"

She doesn't answer immediately. "Fuck it! I don't care if he sees it...but there may or may not be a dildo—that's all I'm going to say on that." She said. Joelle side eyed her as he tried not to laugh.

"Make her open that first, Joel." Joelle's mouthed.  I glanced at Joel, who sat back trying not to laugh. It's not funny!

"So which do you want to open first, hun?" Joelle had to turn away from the camera. Oh grow up you too.

"You're not doing your job Joel-" Joelle trailed off when Beth whispered something to him. He turned, smirking. "Ohhhhh I see! Interesting." Joel rolled his eyes, sighing. Am I missing something here?

"Which is from you, Eli?" Joel asked.

"The pink," Joelle answered biting his lip, trying not to laugh.

Joel frowned. "Two of them are pink." Joel says.

"I know! Take your pick!" Joelle said bursting laughing into a laughing fit. Beth slapped his arm and mouthed stop. He looked at her in tears. "Let me go before I start rolling in the sand. Enjoy your day Aubrey." He said getting up. Beth watched him leave and shook her head.

"I'm hungry, I'm going to hang up now." Beth said, "Aubrey, you can curse me out around five pm because I won't be able see your messages until we come to get back to NYC. Bye, love you. Muah muah." She said then hang up.

Sighing, Joel reached for then hands me the biggest gift he bought. I opened it and gasped when I saw a beautiful, hot pink, satin dress. I looked at him in shock. He smiled then handed me the smaller one. Inside was a pair of rose gold stilettos. They're gorgeous. This is a lot...I don't know why but when my friends get me things it feels because....like I'm being pitied. I've always felt this way growing up...I guess it's just trauma. My mother left me at the park when I was seven and never came back, it was a woman that found me....the look she gave me—I hated it so much. She brought me ice cream to try to make me feel better but it made things worse, all I saw was that look on her face and her husband's. "These are for tonight." Joel said pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Tonight?" He nodded.

"For dinner. I'll be cooking, of course." He informed. Holy shit! You're pulling out all you're cards out. Would a player do all this just to sleep with someone? I really hope not. "Go try them on." He said. I got up and walked to the bedroom. When I came back he stood up, taking me in every inch of me, he even bit his lip a little. My heart fluttered. Don't make me bite mine.

"The dress almost fits perfectly." I told him. "But the shoes are.....perfect."

"I'm going make sure that dress fits soon enough....you look beautiful." He whispered.   "Spin for me." He said. I did. The dress is strapless, semi-sweetheart neckline, and  had a deep slit at my left hip. My shoes are just so simple and elegant. I spun again, grinning.

"I love it," I told him. He was too busy taking me in to realize I was talking to him.

"I'm glad." He said finally looking me in the eye. I walked towards him and he gave me a card, inside it read: Happy Birthday Hun, you dimple-cheeked cutie. I'll cherish you always. XO & bites Joel. Aw. I smiled at him. He handed me Joseph's gift. I opened it, and I smiled. It's a signed photo of Maxwell, one of my favourite artists. His card said Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas, Aubrey, may God bless you to see a million more and I hope you're doing well. When I was done reading Joel took them from me and handed me Jodie's massive gift. My jaw dropped when I saw the dress Rihanna  wore at the Met Gala this year. "Whoa...wear are you going to wear that?" He asked.

"I have no idea," I replied grinning.

"Are you trying it on?" I shook my head. He took it from me and handed me the smallest one from Joey, with a frown. "This is from Joey....you to know each other?"

"Yes," I replied, giving him a questionable look, and he returned the look.

"Relation?" He asked. Say lover, let's see if he gets jealous. No, I won't! Stop being a punk! Sh!

"He's my best friend," I answered.

"Hm." He breathed with a sceptical look.

"Hm?" I questioned. He just stared at me. I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious," I assured. The look he gave me and made it clear he didn't believe me. I rolled my eyes. Well, believe what you want, I guess. I opened the gift. They're earrings, my birthstone, blue Zircon. I sighed. Why do they have to be so beautiful? I gave him the earrings and he gave me last gift from Joey. I opened it,  it was a gorgeous pair of peach-coloured gladiator heels. He took them for me not even trying to hide that he detested the idea of Joey and I being friends. He handed me the two pink ones. I glanced at his face then back at them.

"Take them with you to the bedroom...I don't want to see what's inside." He said.

I smirked. "You scared do seeing a—"

"I'm not," he simply said, "and you don't start with me when you keep running from the real thing." That made my jaw drop. Did he seriously just go there? I'm not afraid...I just don't want the real thing. The lies! Hush up, no one was talking to you.

"I'm not afraid of the real thing," I said with my chin high. Joel sat on the arm of the couch somewhat at eye level with me, a smug look was plastered on his face.

"And how many times have you run out on me?" He asked like he didn't already know. I rolled my eyes.

"That's different."

"How?" He cornered.

"In each scenario....you're my employer," I stated.

"I see." He said. "And how long are you planning to use that excuse?"

"It's the truth."

He smirked half-heartedly. "Ok. Let me help you clean up then you can shower and we head to my place."

-

I am sitting on the bed, I had just a shower and threw on jeans over my black leggings, my thick faux fitted coat over a white t-shirt, and black boots. I grabbed my last set of gifts from the middle of the bed. I reached into the first bag and just my luck, it was Beth's gift. My jaw dropped when I saw a huge black dildo with a suction cup at the end. BETH, WHAT THE FUCK! The card said: Happy Birthday and let it be filled with orgasms....have fun. I dropped every back into the bag. I opened Joelle's gift and found a pretty black with gold zippers clutch purse. The card read: Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas Aubrey, I hope you see many more. Ps. Beth said to tell you she contributed to my gift if you didn't like the one she got you. Pss. She saw what I wrote now she's pissed. Psss. Never mind she's good....just hungry.

I laughed, shaking my head. I got up and took the gifts to my closet. I threw the wrapping paper into the trash in the bathroom before walking back to the bedroom. I stopped in the doorway when Joel stood at the bed, he looked at me. "Did you pack a bag?" He asked I shook my head. "Well pack one for the day and let's go, I'm starving."

-

We got to his place and a half hour ago, he told me to get in bed while he cooks, and he lent me his iPad to watch Netflix. I'm watching the first season of Grey's Anatomy. As I was dozing off he walked in with a wooden serving tray. I sat up and he placed it on my lap before pressing a button on the wall behind the door, the grand curtains closed and the lights turn on. He left soon after. I looked down at my blueberry three pancakes, bacon, egg, and grapes with a glass of orange and water with my mouth watering. It smells amazing. I took a bite of one of the pancakes, savouring every bit of it. He returned with his tray, he sat on the edge of the bed to fix the pillows before he sat beside me. He's having oats with yoghurt and diced strawberries and milk. I reach over and stole some. "The audacity of some people." He grumbled, under his breath. I grinned at him. He shook his head and picked up his spoon.

We ate in silence until around the end of episode 1 of season 2. He takes our trays to the kitchen and returned 10 minutes later. He climbed into bed beside me. "That's enough of that." He said, stopping the next episode from playing. He looked through horror movies, and I whined. Oh no. "Have you ever watched I Spat On Your Grave?" I shook my head.

"I don't like scary movies."

"What don't you like about them." He questioned, looking at me.

"The monsters, the gore, and everything," I answered.

"You wouldn't watch it even if...I let you cuddle up to me when you get scared." He said. But when you put it like that. I got closer to him. He took  his iPad off the bed and puts it on his lap, letting me get closer before he wrapped his arm around me. He pressed play.

-

"My go—turn it off! Turn it off!" I yelled getting out of bed. He paused it. The images of that gun in that guy's bum...just—fuck, that's too much. Too fucking much. "How do you watch things like this?" I asked looking at him. He shrugged.

"Not many comedy movies can keep my interest," he said, "romantic movies get repetitive and I'm already a romantic man so I don't need any inspiration to woo a woman." He said smugly. I smirked at him.

"You're a romantic man? I've never seen this 'romantic' side of you so I find it very hard to believe"

He grinned. "Oh please, I can wine and dine the shit out of you...if I wanted to." He said cockily. I sat down, facing him. I'd like to see you try.

"Well prove it." I said, smirking. He rolled onto his side.

"I would but you'll get too overwhelmed by my romantic side as you said...I'm your employer and I don't need you walking out on me when I dedicated this entire day to you." I rolled my eyes. Ok...you didn't have to say it like that.

"Well then describe it....how would we spend our first date, if things were different?"

He smirked. "I need to look into your eyes for this one," he said, sitting up, "and hold your hand before the....mood takes you." He said with a wink. I laughed and rolled my eyes. This should be good.

"Ok," I said. He pulled me closer and placed my legs over his hips. He then took my hand and interlace our fingers. He stared at them for a while before looking at me and cocked his head.

"Let's say...I met you at Starbucks," he said laughing.

"Wow," I said, laughing too. "I would've never thought I'd meet you at Starbucks."

"Anyway, I was on my way out when your glaring watch shined in my eye, I look over and there you are....struggling to write your sex book." He said laughing. Omg, this man. "Ahem! I'd over walk over to say hello. You'd quickly shut your laptop, blushing your head off. I'd ask if this seat is taken you'd say no then I'll sit down. I'd try to make small talk and pretend to be interested in whatever boring thing you think is interesting to talk about but it didn't matter because I was too mesmerized by how the sunlight made your skin glow and how your eye sparkled when you talked about your interests."

"Wait, have you done that before?"

"What?" He questioned.

"Pretend to listen to me?"

He shook his head. "Aubrey....you barely fucking talk...I have to say any random shit I can think of to get a reaction or a word from you." He said dryly. "If I don't say anything I'm pretty sure we'll just stand there staring at each other like idiots." I pouted. Ok! Jeez.

"I do talk," I mumbled, "then why would you say you would pretend to listen to me?"

"It's just a scenario." He said rolling his eyes. "I'm just saying that you're so beautiful that I'm frigging mesmerized." I blushed.

"Oh."

He shook his head before continuing. "Anyway, we'd talk and talk. I ask you out and you'll say yes. I wouldn't take you to a fancy restaurant or filled this place with candles and we have dinner in the pit. That's too easy—overused." He stated.

"Where then?"

"I'd take you to New Mexico in the desert," he stated. Oh? That's kind of weird especially since I just watch that crazy movie. "Where the only thing we'd hear is the bugs singing. I'd rent a truck and laid out a blanket so we could lay back and look at the stars." He stated, "I'll even pretend to know all the constellations, I might even write a couple on my palm...all just to impress you. You would've forgotten your jacket so I'd wrap mine around you, exposing myself to the cold. As I wrap my jacket around you....I'll look into my eyes and I'll kiss you. Romantic or naw?" His eyes never left mine and wore a cute smile as he spoke. It was pretty romantic and different.

"Yes," I answered softly. It was at that moment I realized he was staring at my lips the entire time and just shifted his eyes to look into mine. "And if this date is successful, what would the second be?"

He licked his eyes. "Dinner on the balcony and only the light we'll have is a lone candle and the city lights." He replied. "Can you imagine that?" I nodded. He smirked. He unlaced our finger and his smirk slowly fades away. "So what do you want to watch next?"