The reality of how badly I screwed up came rushing back the next morning. It was cruel on so many levels. How could I be so stupid? How could I kiss him then run off like that? I should have dragged him out of there and let him fuck me in his ca—oh, that's dirty. Aubrey, you need to behave yourself. I took a deep breath. Ok, you can do this...you're not a coward. When you get to work just pretend like nothing happened. If he wants to discuss the kiss just tell him it was a lax in judgment from almost falling to your death and that you're sorry. Yeah, that's exactly what I'm going to do. I reached for the door and withdrew a second later. I took another deep breath. You're not a coward Bre....you can do this. I know you can. I sucked  in a harsh breath. I've been standing at the front door staring at it for 20 minutes.

It's 6:30 am and I'm ready for work. I know, a big fucking surprise. I didn't know what else to do. I couldn't sleep so I cleaned my apartment from top to bottom trying my best to not think about that damn kiss but my efforts were futile. Especially since  I liked it.....so much and I just want him to come over and kiss me senseless. And I know that mustn't happen but I want it to. Badly. I reached for the door again and withdrew. I can't—I can't—I can't do it. I can't face him...not today.

I reached into my bag for my phone to text him. My fingers were trembling as I searched for his number. We exchanged numbers on his first day.

To: Joel Pereira

Good morning, I'm not feeling well. I won't be coming in today.

I hit send. I hope he believes me because I sure as hell wouldn't. I sighed. Why did I kiss him? I'm such an idiot. A very lustful idiot. I rolled my eyes and walked to my room to change. I threw my bag on the bed and  sat down to take off my shoes. I gasped when my phone chimed. My heart began racing when I saw Joel's name. I reached for my phone and read his message.

From: Joel Pereira

Sorry to hear that. Should I stop by to check on you?

Ha, ha no. I don't think I can handle you being here.

To: Joel Pereira

No but thanks. I'll make some soup and hopefully, I'll feel better tomorrow.

He replied immediately.

From: Joel Pereira

Ok, get well soon.

I put my phone down and sighed. I stripped down and threw on some comfortable clothes. Once I was dressed, I called Joey. He answered on the fourth ring. "Hey Bre," He answered groggily.

"Did I wake you?"

"Yeah but it's ok—" he yawned, "so what's up?"

"I'm at home bored out of my mind," I replied.

"Aren't you suppose to be getting ready for work?" He questioned. I put my phone on speaker so I could take down my braids.

"I'm not going," I answered.

"Why not?" He questioned.

"I'm sick...cough, cough."

"Wow, that sounds serious....like a serious case of liar, liar pants on fire." He said, yawning again. I laughed.

"Big-time but Joel doesn't know that," I stated.

"What did he do this time?" He asked. I laid down with a huff.

"Nothing....it's what I did."

"And that is?" He asked over running water. He might have been peeing. I stuck my tongue down his throat and now I'm too much of a coward to face him.

"I don't want to talk about it." I stated.

"Hm ok, I'll be there in 30." He said, "would you like anything to eat?"

"Chips and salsa would be nice."

"Ok, see you." He said.

"Bye," I said before hanging up. I picked up my shoes and clothes and put them away.

Joey arrived almost an hour later. I opened the door and he stood there with two shopping bags. He's dressed in a white T-shirt, black Nike joggers, and Sliders. "Hey you." I said, "and you brought the supermarket with you, I see." I teased. He grinned.

"Don't I always?" He said as I stepped aside. He kissed my cheek before walking past me. I locked the door behind him and  followed him to the kitchen. "I brought enough to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner." I groaned.

"Let me guess....I'm cooking all 3 meals?" I asked sighing.

"Would you rather I burn this place to the ground?" I shook my head. "Thought so." He said and began unpacking. He handed me two bottles of Sprite and I took them to the fridge.

"Do I have to cook?" I asked whining.

"Of course," he answered, "and before I forget....I'm leaving for Paris tomorrow." I frowned.

"Why?"

He gave me a weird look. "It's fashion week babe." He replied.

"Oh fuck! I forgot about that." I grumbled. "With everything going on it was the last thing on my mind."

"Which is understandable...you've been through a lot this week and I'm so proud of you for pushing through it." He said, smiling at me. I forced a smile. Right and I'm totally sleeping through the night and I didn't kiss your brother. Hopefully, I don't fuck anything else up. At least my appetite is better."So..what's for breakfast?"

"Peanut butter sandwiches because I don't feel like cooking," I replied . He groaned.

"That's boring!" He protested. I giggled.

"Too bad," I said, grinning at him.

-

Joey and I spent most of the day on the couch watching all four Shrek movies. I laid on his lap. We're about to watch The Conjuring. I'm not a fan of scary movies but I don't mind watching it with company. I grabbed a handful of Doritos before giving  him the bag. "Have you watched it before?" I asked when the movie began.

"Yeah, a couple of times." He replied dropping the bag on my cheek as he took out a handful. I rolled my eyes. Joey, you asshole. I turned my head to look at him, he was stuffing his face. I yanked the bag from him and he chuckled. "You could have just asked for it, jeez!"

"You didn't have to drop the bag on my face!"

"My lap is occupied, where do you expect me to put it?" He questioned with his brows furrowed.

"Give it back to me next time!" I hissed.

"Blah!" He blurted. I elbowed his side. "Oof!" He exclaimed. Joey narrowed his eyes at me and I narrowed mine back. "You know this means war, right?"

"Bring it!" I challenged. He lifted his hand over me. "Is that suppose to scare me—" I trailed off when he made his hand into a claw. I rolled off his lap and fell to the ground. Ow. "Joey, I was playing around." I said in a panic, getting up and backing up towards the bedroom. He got up with a mischievous smile. Joey, I'm sorry please don't do what you're thinking of doing.

"Oh? Were you now? Sure didn't seem like it to me." He said walking towards me. I took bigger steps. He's grinning now. He took a big step forward and I bolted to the bedroom with him hot on my tail.

"Joey! I'm sorry!" I yelled as I ran into the bedroom. I was about to lock the door but he was already in the doorway before I got the chance. "Ah!" I screamed and jumped  on the bed. I picked up a pillow and threatened him with it.

"Is that suppose t—" I cut him off with a pillow to his  face. I grinned at him. He stood there frozen.

He stared at me with narrowed eyes . "Did you just—" I smacked him again. He jumped onto the bed and grabbed me. I shrieked. He yanked the pillow out of my hand and threw it across the room. "Not so tough now, are you?" He said wrapping his arms around me. I tried to break free but it was no use.

"Joey is wasn't me that hit you," I said laughing at my dumb statement.

"Wow. I literally saw you with my own eyes." He said laughing.

"It was a robot sent from the future that swapped bodies with me!" I said dramatically.

"Well, I'll give you her share too." He said before tickling me. I laughed, fighting to break free.

"Joey—heh! Stop!" I exclaimed but he continued anyway. "I'm sorry." I said between laughs. He stopped when I started coughing.

"Did you learn your lesson?" He asked. I nodded frantically still coughing my head off. He rubbed my back. "You ok?" I nodded. "I'll go get you some water." He said and jogged out of the room. I sat down still coughing. Joey came back with a glass of water and handed it to me before sitting beside me. I took a sip. He looked at me when I put the glass on the bedside table. I laid my head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around me. "You little troublemaker." He whispered, chuckling. I smiled.

"What can I say? I learned from the best." I said looking up at him. He looked at me then  over his shoulder.

I laughed. "Who?" He questioned laughing. I shook my head and wrapped my arms around him. I sighed. He smells nice. I listened to his steady heartbeat as my eyes became increasingly heavy. I gasped when his phone rang. He dug into his pocket for it and groaned. "Ah shit."

"What's wrong?" I asked lifting my head.

"It's Jodie." He said and frowned. "Hello?" He answered nervously. I jumped when I heard screaming. He whined and moved the phone away from his ear. "Jodie...Jodie—I thought you said to come tomorrow—ah! See? I can scream too!" He yelled. "Fine! What time? That's literally in an hour." Joey's face was as red as a tomato when he hung up.

I gave him a questionable look. "What did she want?" I asked.

He sighed. "Apparently, I was supposed to be in Paris this morning with Jose and Jonah...clearly, I was given the wrong information by—I'm not going to call any names...ahem...Jose." He started. "You know we like to prank each other, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Jose told me to come tomorrow knowing fully well I'm on thin—as a blade of grass—ice with Jodie." He  stated. "So, I need to get on a flight to Paris asap so I can be killed and resurrected by Jodie." He said then gave me multiple kisses on my cheek. He got up and stretched.

"You're leaving me," I said sadly.

"Yeah...sorry babe." He said sadly. Pouting, I got up and hugged him.

"I wish you the best with Jodie," I told him. He hugged me back. I looked up at him then went on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Let me follow you out." I said taking his hand. I chuckled when he grabbed me from behind.

"Do you want to stay in my apartment until I come back?" He asked. I shook my head.

"No, I'm good." I told him as I turned to face him. "But thanks for the offer."

"Come on, I'd feel less anxious knowing you're over there plus Joel lives there he can keep an—"

"No! No thank you." I interrupted him.  Joey has moved to the Plaza while I was at work yesterday—despite Joel's threats—until he finds a new place. He raised a brow at me. "I already see him at work, I don't need to feel his presence in the building. I'm staying here."

"Ok, I got you." He said, laughing. He took my hand and we went outside. He was parked a block away from my apartment building. It started pouring when we got to his car. He gave me a quick hug and a peck on the cheek before I ran inside. I was soaked from head to toe. I walked back to my place and dried myself off and changed my clothes. I turned off the tv then went to bed to take a nap.

The next morning I woke up feeling awful. I  was laying under the sheets, texting Joey. He had landed in Paris ten minutes ago and Jodie is already jumping down his throat. Poor Joey. I wish I could be there with him. I usually went to Paris fashion week with Mr Pereira but I'll be missing it this year. I haven't texted Joel since yesterday, speaking of which I should probably do before I forget.

To: Joel Pereira

Morning, I'm still not feeling well. I won't be coming in today.

A minute later.

From: Joel Pereira

Ok.

He has probably guessed by now that I'm avoiding him but oh well. Last night, I dreamt of our kiss and what could have happened if I stayed and when I woke up he was the first thing on my mind and frankly...I can't stop thinking about him. I buried my face in my pillow and groaned. I sat up when I began coughing. Yup, I'm definitely getting the flu. Great. This is what I get for lying.  I grabbed my robe from the ground and wrapped it around myself. Even that felt like a chore.

I shuffled into the kitchen to make myself some soup. Once it was done I drank it and  washed up before I got my MacBook and sat at the island. I opened the novel I've been working on for the past six months. It doesn't have a title nor storyline. Yup, you guessed it! It's a blank page. I needed inspiration but I'm not sure how to get myself inspired. I thought about cute puppies, ice cream, the Bahamas, sex on the beach....the drink. Exotic fruit, the beach, bikinis, surfing, ohh...hot guys. Yass! The juices are flowing now. Sage the Gemini, Chris Pine, Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Idris Elba, Johnny Depp and....

My heart was racing when those eyes came to mind. Joel Pereira. I paused and I let my fingers brush the places his lips had touched.  I imagined him standing in front of me, those beautiful eyes staring back at me. His lips on my neck and his hands gliding up my body. I opened my eyes. A grin blossomed against my lips and just like that I had a model for my main character. "Ok, Aubrey Cabrera lets make this a best seller." I said to myself. I cracked my neck and rolled my shoulders. "Let's do this."

He has to be tall, suave, and handsome. Hmm....but what color would his eyes be? Brown? No, dark brown....nope. Hazel...yes! I love hazel eyes. So 6'6, hazel eyes, tanned, has an angular jawline, ohh...dimples, perfect teeth, and dark hair. I grinned in excitement. A name. I need a name. Damian. I've always loved the name Damian or even Tyrone. Nah. Damian is hotter. I glanced at the book I bought but I never read by Stephanie Meyer. It sat on my coffee table. Damian Meyer. I like that. With a smile, I began typing.

'It was pouring outside when he walked in. He was drenched and agitated....'

Urg! Backspace, backspace. I sighed in frustration. No, that doesn't sound right. I coughed into my sleeve. I need a break. I closed my laptop and went to the living room to watch Orange Is The New Black on Netflix. I managed to watch less than a half of the second episode before I passed out

I gasped and groaned when someone knocked on the door. Please go away. I rolled myself into a ball, shivering. I felt like crying when the knocking got louder. I cradled my head. Please stop. Unfortunately, the knocking only got louder. I got up and the room began spinning. I took one step and almost doubled over. I whined.

"Please stop spinning you're going to make me throw up." I told the living room as I stumbled to the door trying my best not to fall. I gasped when I bumped into the door. I leaned against the wall for support and opened the door then everything went black.