Repair Me (10 page)

             
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just lost. I’m confused. I’m hurt and I’m scared.” She pulled me into her arms. We embraced for long moments and she held me tight.

             
I felt Scott’s hand on my back. “Avery, can I talk with you in the kitchen?” He looked at Natalia, then Davien. “Alone.”

             
I followed him to the next room. “Sit.” He pointed to the wooden kitchen table. I tried to study his face, looking for answers. What was there that he needed to talk about in private. Maybe this was the moment when he was asking me to find another home “Here.”

             
“What’s this?” He held an envelope in my direction

             
“Davien told me to take you shopping days ago, before we even picked you up.” He smiled. “I figured you’d rather go with Natalia.”

             
I opened the envelope which was intended for Scott to use. Davien trusted his judgment on how it was to be used. Inside sat 10 single one hundred dollar bills. “I can’t take this.” I looked with shock. I closed the envelope and pushed it across the table to his area. “This is too much. You guys said you’d take me to grab a few outfits.”

             
Scott only shrugged his shoulders and left the room. I sat with my envelope and tried to put things together. I didn’t need much money for a few outfits and I could live off a generic brand for a while. I only spent maybe ten bucks a day on food and I was far from being high maintenance. Then reality sunk in and truth was, the envelope contained enough for at least a deposit and possibly first months rent on a small apartment. This was it. I was on my own and time to grow up. Anthony had taken care of me for the last year and now I was forced to the real world without notice. Obviously both men were too ashamed to actually say the words, but I already heard them as soon as the envelope had opened. It wasn't their fault though. They had done enough for me.

             
I called Davien into the kitchen. When he walked in I asked him to sit across me. I pulled the envelope between us. “First off I wanted to thank you, second off you’ll have to give me some time before I can pay you back, I’m not only homeless.. But I’m jobless.” I laughed with his grin. “And third I only ask one favor from you. Since I have the money to start searching for a place, will you take me around looking for somewhere?”

             
He sat straight in his chair, his nostrils flared and he stared at the ceiling fighting over my words “Now my turn, Avery. First off, it was a gift, you’re not paying me back. Second, I have no problem taking you to search for apartments. Third, I can get you a job when ever you are ready, Martin needs a book keeper very badly. And finally, the money was not intended for an apartment. You will get that when you save enough of your own money. Until then you get the right side of the bed…. Or possibly the middle.” He pulled my hands to the center of the table.

             
“Just possibly?” I teased back and his face lit up.

☼

              The rest of the day was amazing. Natalia took me shopping as Scott and Davien met at Vince’s house to retrieve my belongings. Natalia was incredible at the way she kept my attention focused at positive thoughts and very rarely did I even think about Anthony. I knew he was in the back of my mind, but he was no large concern at the moment. I never in a million years would have ever imagined Natalia and a rock band to care for me. They had dropped everything to care for me as a group.

             
I found enough pants and shirts for the next week and Natalia insisted on buying a few sexy dresses and matching shoes. We shopped for toiletries that the boys had no desire to have in their home. I still had way over half of the money left in my purse when we finished our trip. I was sure that Davien would be relieved to find out I could power shop without spending the entire amount. I was fortunate that I had Natalia and she had brought such amazing people into my life over the last few weeks. I never had to prove myself to them, I never begged for their love, they simply cared for my needs and I appreciated the love they gave me.

             
The boys were home when Natalia pulled into the driveway. Davien was waiting near the door and instantly threw his shoes on and helped us unload the car. “Women,” he bent to kiss my cheek “you guys love to shop.”

             
With arms filled with bags, I still managed to slap his shoulder. “You will be proud of me when you see everything I bought.” He dropped the bags on the kitchen table as I pulled the remaining money from my side pocket of my purse. “Not all women need a fortune to clothe themselves”.

             
“I don’t want that.” He studied my returning envelope, his face was serious. “I told you that was yours.”

             
“I got everything I needed. I appreciate it.” I started pulling one of my favorite seductive dresses from the clothing bags. I held it to my chest and Davien’s eyes examined my entire body.

             
“You're wearing that next Friday.”

             
“I don’t know yet.”

             
“That wasn’t a question, Avery, it was a simple statement. You are wearing that on Friday and I’m staying close to you the entire time.” I rolled my eyes and continued pulling each item from the bags. I watched his head as he smiled and nodded with approval of each one. Not that it mattered, he wasn’t my boyfriend, but it was nice to see a man's opinion.

             
After long moments of listening to Davien’s fake sighs, he managed to clear half of  his closet, allowing me to hang my clothes. If a man was willing to do that, then he must have been amazing. Or at least kind for the time being. “There, you’re not getting anymore space. Shit what else do you want?” He teased me, then approached me with arms open and pulled me to his chest. After spending nights in his bed, the times of holding his waist as I rode behind him, the intimate conversations we had shared, I still felt awkward pulling our bodies together. The feeling was something you only expected from a romantic relationship. I stepped back, releasing my arms and his eyes dropped to my face. “Everything okay?”

             
“Yeah I just still have a lot on my mind, Davien.” He didn’t attempt to pull me back in his arms. His hand only draped over my shoulder and rest on my back, slowly rubbing me with comfort. “Thanks for helping me out. I never expected it from you. Weeks ago you were only a stranger.”

☼

              Natalia had left hours ago, having to work the night shift at her job as a waitress. And once again, I felt left alone with the 2 bachelors. As many guys did, they ordered a pizza and we sat around the coffee table. They watched football as I sat with my knees pulled to my chest, reading a romance novel. I tried my best to fit in, but they were just guys being themselves.

             
A large commotion took the peace from the living room as the guys both stood screaming. I looked at the TV that showed a replay of a touchdown “Hell Yeah!” I laughed at the guys as they gave each other a high five. After screaming with joy, Scott finally sat and I returned my full attention to my book. With an adrenaline rushed force, Davien jumped to my lap and kissed my forehead. I pushed at his chest. “Did you see that?” Obviously he assumed I was just as excited for the play as he was.

             
“Whatever, it’s a damn game.” I added just to piss him off. Smiling to myself with their entertainment.

             
He stood with his arms crossed over his chest. “A game?” His brow arched and his speech was fast with excitement. “Yeah right. Do you know how much money I have sitting on this so-called ‘Game’?”

             
I wasn’t even sure which team was the one he had been watching. I hadn’t paid any attention to the game. “Hope you’ve got the winning team since you only have 45 seconds left.”

             
“Bring me my money Justin.” He was already on the phone calling his opponent. “Monday? Yeah right. I’m broker than shit.” He winked in my direction.

              After a 'lovely' night of dealing with a football induced headache, I finally walked to the bedroom in the basement. Davien’s basement was not a normal “man cave”. There was a living area with a couch and big screen TV. Just enough to keep a bachelor entertained, but it hadn’t been my image of what I expected Davien’s basement to look like. He obviously took care of everything in the house and I assumed from our previous conversation, it was most likely because he appreciated every item in the home, after living with only necessities during his adolescent years. His bedroom sat on the right side of the living room and a ¾ bath at the next door.

             
“You ready for bed?” Davien was tip-toeing down the steps and startled me as I jumped.

             
“I’ll probably lay down, but you go enjoy the game. Please don’t feel like you need to entertain me. I truly don’t want to be the nuisance girl in the house.”

             
“The game is over. Can I lay with you?”

             
As much as I would love to lay in his arms for hours and touch his soft, yet manly skin, I didn't want him to feel that he had to. “Davien, I’m only a room mate. We share a bed.” I reminded him. I watched as he continued making his way down the last steps. He turned the light off above the stairs, stating that he would not be going back up. 

             
He placed his hand on my lower back and guided me to the bedroom. “Get your pajamas on. I’m taking a quick shower.” I opened my drawer and pulled a new set from the drawer. When I heard the water turn, I pulled my shirt over my head and reached to the bed to grasp my pajama shirt for exchange. I watched the door open slightly and I pulled the bed cover to my chest. Davien laughed hysterically “Are you serious? We share a fucking bed, Avery, I forgot my washcloth.” He turned and walked out of the room. I watched his every move. He had removed all of his clothes including his boxers and he had no shame of sporting what he had been covering the entire time. I wouldn’t have been either.

             
I slowly dropped the cover and exhaled a long drag of relief. I pulled the shirt over my head within seconds as I kept my eyes focused on the door. Maybe he didn’t have anything to be ashamed of, but I felt uncomfortable to reveal my body to a casual man.

             
I was already clothed and under the covers when he returned. His hair was damp and he ran his fingers through it. Drips of water still rest on his chest and I couldn’t help but to stare at his amazing, well sculpt body. He had noticed where my eyes were focusing and he cleared his throat for my attention. “Ready for bed?” I dropped my book that I had been reading and placed it on the nightstand.

             
“Yeah, you?” He stopped at his side of the bed and lowered his self until he was under the cover opposite my side. I heard the soft drop of his towel hit the floor and I gasped with thoughts of whether he had anything underneath.

             
“I'm always ready to lay with you, Avery.” His voice was casual. He turned the round switch to his nightstand lamp and we were left in the dark room. I lay quietly and listened to the soft sounds of his breath. I tried hard not to move, unsure of what I may brush against. “Relax, Avery.” He felt my anxiety, but he stayed calm. How could a man be so natural? He was never nervous or tense. I loved that about him. I just wished I was the same way. I wasn't... at all. “Wanna continue our game?”

             
“What game?”

             
“Uh, I don’t know… it was similar to 21 questions. You ask me questions, I answer truthfully. I ask you questions and hope for honest answers.” The last time we had ‘played’ this game, I was in a different relationship status. I wasn’t comfortable to play before, but I felt security as I knew that I had a boyfriend at the time. Even though he had no idea where I was at or who’s bed I was sharing. It was only supposed to be an innocent night, but we still offered answers that I felt awkward repeating again. Especially since this was my new room mate or bed mate.

             
I blurt out before thinking. “Okay, but we’re not playing all night.” Obviously he had learned all my secrets with our last game. This game wouldn't last long.

             
“Promise to answer honestly?”

             
I sighed. “Yes, Davien, and you do too.”

             
I felt his hand reach for mine and he twist his little pinky finger around mine like a child “promise, pinky swear” I felt the vibrations of laughter “I’ll go first.” The way he talked to me, still showed no sign of being nervous. He was always calm and open with me.

             
“Okay, slowly.”

             
“Alright… Um, Avery, are you happy that you left your home, tell me the truth.” I could hear in his voice that he wished he didn’t actually ask the question, wondering if he wanted to hear the truth. But I had promised the truth and that was what he was getting whether or not he wanted a honest answer.