We all smiled and clanked our glasses. “Thank you, Sam.”
We talked for a few hours about our careers. Sam’s an architect and works for a well-known company called Glassman and Fillmore. I shared my love of photography and the fact that I have a teaching degree, which was the reason that brought me to Santa Monica. Gretchen and Giselle talked about their modeling careers and the exotic places they’ve been. It was late, so Gretchen and Giselle called it a night. I hugged them goodbye, and Sam walked them to their car.
I was cleaning up the kitchen when a text message came through from Gretchen.
“I’m in love with Sam; why does he have to be gay?”
I smiled and shook my head as I replied, “All the good ones usually are.”
I finished cleaning up and looked at the clock; it was 2:45 a.m. I turned the lights off and walked into the bathroom. I turned the shower on, undressed, and stepped inside. It was a long day, and all I wanted to do was stay under the stream of hot water forever. After I managed to drag myself out of the shower, I put my pajamas on and looked at the guitar sitting in the corner of my bedroom. I walked over and picked it up. I sat down on the edge of the bed and started strumming a few chords. Memories of my father came to my mind, and I started to play the song that he used to sing to me when I was a child. When I was done playing the song, I looked at the clock again, and it was 4:00 a.m. I put the guitar back on its stand and climbed into my new bed. I prayed to God to please let me sleep peacefully.
***
My eyes flew open from the nightmare I was having. The clock read 6:00 a.m. as I glanced at it, and I had only slept two hours. I laid in bed, but I tossed and turned; there was no way I was going back to sleep. My mind was racing with the fact that I begin my teaching job tomorrow. I loved kids, and I loved being a teacher, but I also loved photography and would like to make that my career. I’m twenty-six years old, and I’m still undecided on what I want to do with my life. I thought I had it figured out with Hunter. My life was all planned out. We were going to get married, have a couple of kids, and live in a house with a white picket fence. I was going to pursue a career in photography while tutoring kids on the side. He was going to come home from work, and we were going to eat the meal together that I spent all day preparing. Was I just desperate to find some normalcy in my life?
I got out of bed and put on a cute little floral print sundress that I bought before I moved here. I dragged my ass to the kitchen for some coffee. Shit, I forgot to buy coffee. I sighed. I wondered if Sam was awake. I walked over to the wall and pressed my ear up against it. Since I didn’t know the layout of his apartment, I took a chance and lightly knocked on the wall. I smiled when there was a knock back. I walked next door and knocked on the door. I gasped when the door opened, and Luke was standing there in a pair of navy blue pajama bottoms that sat just below his hips. I instantly became nervous and started fidgeting.
“Can I help you with something?” Luke asked as he stared at me.
“Um, hi, I was wondering if Sam was around,” I said nervously.
“No, Sam isn’t here.”
There was tone in his voice that suggested I was bothering him.
“Oh, I’ll catch him later then,” I said as I turned my back and started to walk back to my apartment.
“Wait, is there something you needed?” he asked.
I turned around and looked at him. Even though he was rude, he was sure as hell the sexiest man that I’d ever seen.
“I was just going to ask if I could borrow some coffee. I forgot to buy some yesterday, and being the caffeine addict that I am, I kind of need some, quick.”
The corners of his mouth curved into a tiny smile. “Come on in,” he said as he stepped aside.
As I stepped inside his apartment, I was shocked at how big it was. I guess being the end apartment has its advantages.
“What do you take in your coffee?” Luke asked as he opened the refrigerator.
“I drink it black, but that’s ok, I’ll just borrow some and make it at my place.”
“You said you needed coffee quick, and I have some made, so take this cup and drink it,” he growled.
“Ok,” I said nervously.
I looked around his apartment as I took a sip of coffee. It was spotless, and everything was in its place. The dark brown, leather furniture complimented the beige walls and a 65 inch TV was displayed on the wall. I was very uncomfortable, but I couldn’t leave until I finished my coffee.
“You’re one of the very few people that I know who take their coffee black,” Luke said out of nowhere as he poured himself a cup and sipped it.
I sat down on the stool in front of the kitchen bar. Luke was leaning up against the counter with his coffee across from me. My eyes couldn’t help but wander to his perfectly defined six-pack and sculpted V-line. He worked out; there was no doubt about it. I think it was time for my battery operated boyfriend and I to get reacquainted. I couldn’t help but notice the scar that went from his right hip and around to his back.
“Is there something wrong with me?” he asked.
Instantly, my eyes darted up to his. “No, why would you ask that?”
“I don’t know; it’s just the way you were staring at me.”
I wanted to die. I got lost in his body, and he caught me. I was so humiliated at that moment; I had to think of something quick.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t staring at you. I was just thinking about something.”
“Thinking about what?” he asked as he walked closer and leaned over the counter in front of me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw an acoustic guitar sitting by the TV. “Who plays the guitar?” I asked to quickly change the subject.
“I do,” Luke said.
“Cool,” I replied.
He walked over to his guitar and took it from the stand. As he brought it over and handed it to me, I looked at him in confusion.
“Here; play that song you were playing last night,” he said.
“You heard that?” I asked.