7

SAM

Phoenix almost kissed me! Yeah, almost. I was anticipating when he leaned closer, but before it happened, he pulled back.

I’m actually a little bit disappointed. Well, we shouldn’t, right? Who kisses a friend anyway?

He always smells good—a scent of mint and musk, probably his cologne or his aftershave.

Something feels different in his touch—it feels good, soothing, and igniting—like I want to cocoon in his arms.

I’m glad we became friends though because I really missed him. I even admitted it.

Going to his club is maybe a good idea. I can meet someone to get rid of whatever feelings I have for Phoenix. It’s insane how I know a little about him, and just met him recently, yet I feel the strong pull toward him.

I might take Amy’s advice to get laid—my spell has been dried a long time ago, and she’s right—it’s time to clear away the cobwebs because I will die waiting if I will expect that Phoenix is the right man for me—we’re just friends.

SAM: Hi, it’s me, Samantha. I was thinking about going to your club tonight. I’ll bring Amy with me.

I press send.

PHOENIX: Samantha, I’m glad you have finally decided. Bring Amy with you. Can’t wait to see you tonight.

SAM: See you later.

PHOENIX: Later, beautiful.

Before I can dial Amy, another message from Phoenix pops.

PHOENIX: By the way, I’m not flirting with you. Friends don’t flirt, do they?

I roll my eyes. I can’t help but smile.

SAM: I don’t know you’re flirting until you said so. Maybe I’m just dumb or I don’t know what flirting means at all.

PHOENIX: You better don’t know how to flirt or the meaning of it. I hate to say this, but you can’t flirt with any man tonight.

I shake my head. This man is something.

SAM: And why is that?

PHOENIX: Because you will be stuck with me all night.

SAM: Seriously, Phoenix, your overprotectiveness is annoying, but don’t worry I have no plan on flirting with anyone tonight. Your presence, your highness is entertaining enough for me.

PHOENIX: I’ll try scaring some asshole who will try to hit on my new beautiful friend tonight. It will be an honor to entertain you, princess.

I bark out laughing.

“What’s going on there, sweetie?” Carp! My mom overheard me.

“Um, nothing mom. Just some stupid joke from Twitter,” I yell, then bite my lower lip to contain my laugh.

“Whatever, sweetie. If it’s a boy, I need to meet him, right, Sam?”

“Mom, just a friend, and no boy.”

She peeks her head into my bedroom. “Tell me about him, sweetie?”

I roll my eyes. “Mom, stop psychoanalyzing me because it’s not funny. Anyway, I’m going to the bar with friends tonight.”

She gets inside and sits on my bed. “If I didn’t overhear you, you don’t have a plan of telling me you’re going, Sam.”

“Mom, I’m twenty-one and not a child anymore. After graduation, I have to live out and find a new apartment, and I want you to go out on a date and enjoy your life, Mom. Don’t drown yourself with work.” I squeeze her hand, smiling.

“I want you to stay here for as long as you want, sweetie. This is your home, and it’s too big for just the two of us, but if you’ll find a job far that is from here, then you can rent an apartment. I don’t want you to spend all your savings on an apartment if you have a home to stay in that is near to your job.”

“I know mom. Thank you.”

“Aren’t you going to tell me about that person who made you laugh? Go out on a date sweetie, and it’s been a year. You have to let go of the pain and let your heart heal, and move on.”

“I moved on. I just didn’t meet someone that I wanna go out with. I’ll let you know if I’m going out on a date.”

She smiles genuinely and kisses my forehead, then leaves.

I notice three messages from Phoenix

PHOENIX: Princess Sam, you there?

PHOENIX: You don’t like being called Princess?

PHOENIX: Fine, Samantha, ignore me. Gtg anyway. Have work to do. See you later, Princess. Sorry, Samantha.

I grin like a fool. I can’t remember the last time I smile alone like this.

“Hey, girl! spill it.” I can feel the excitement in Amy’s voice over the phone.

“What to spill, Amy?”

She giggles, “Oh, about you and Hot Phoenix!”

I roll my eyes.

Before I can answer, she cut me off, “I can feel your eyes rolling, missy, but I don’t care. Now, spill it! Is he huge? Did he go down on you? How many times did you come? Oh, is he good with tongue?”

“Stop! Stop! Stop! Why are you asking me these? Nothing happened, Amy. We’re just friends. Jeez! I can’t believe you actually think I had sex with Phoenix.”

She sighs, “Really? Nothing happens?” Her disappointment is palpable. “Ugh! I don’t know how are we even friends. You bored the hell out of me! I thought you get laid last night, Samantha Lorraine, but still, it’s not too late you know, friends can have benefits, right?”

“Seriously, Amy, I’m not sleeping with Phoenix, and he’s not going to sleep with me. He just almost kissed me, then he changed his mind. Maybe, he doesn’t like me like I thought he was.”

She shrieks, irritating my eardrum, “What? What? Oh, my God! He almost kissed you? Then why didn’t you kiss him?”

“Are you even listening to me? I said he changed his mind. He pulled back before our lips met. It means he doesn’t like to kiss me.” I let out a deep sigh.

“He wants to kiss you, silly. He just values your friendship. You gave him a chance to be as friends, so he held back because he doesn’t want to ruin it by just a kiss.”

Okay, maybe.

“I don’t know, whatever.” I shrug.

“You seem disappointed, missy. If someone like Hot Phoenix tried to kiss me, I already grab his head and kiss him senseless.” She laughs boisterously.

“Oh, my God! You always think about kisses, orgasms, and sex all the time, Amy. I feel bad actually because I thought he doesn’t wanna kiss me, but then I remember we’re just friends.”

“Don’t feel bad, my dear, he is just trying to be a gentleman.” Gentleman my ass. “So, why did you call if you don’t have deets to spill?” Oh, I almost forgot.

“Phoenix invited us to his club tonight.”

She yells over the phone, and I can’t even understand why she’s yelling. Jesus, this woman may be a screamer in bed.

Erase that thought, Sam.

“Really? Oh, my God! What are you going to wear? Wear something sexy, but not slutty. You still have that black strapless dress you have, right? Wear it, Sam, and curl your hair, apply smoky eyeshadow, and red lipstick, okay? Oh! Don’t forget to wear your red high heels.” She’s even giggling.

Amy has great tastes in fashion. She’s always updated about trends.

“Fine, now shut up because you’re damaging my eardrum. I’ll drive this time. No arguments.”

“Oh, no, missy, I’ll drive. I’ll pick you up tonight. Bye.” She hangs up on me.

I slump my head back against my pillow.

I show, shave my legs, brush my teeth, floss them then, apply some lotion, and dry my hair. I wear the dress Amy asked me about, and apply makeup just the way she told me to.

I check the time—it’s five minutes before her arrival. I check myself again in the mirror—I look presentable, and not too slutty. I rub my sweaty palms over my dress and take a deep breath.

I pick up my compact powder, red lipstick, my phone, and keys, then toss them into my purse that matches my shoes. I spray a little perfume, then get out of my room. A few minutes later, the doorbell rings. I hurry up to the door, but t my shock it’s not Amy who’s in my doorstep.

It’s Phoenix with wide eyes, checking up on me from head to toe. He’s wearing a dark blue button-down shirt and dark pants.

“What are you doing here, Phoenix? I was expecting Amy and not you.”

He furrows his brows, swallows, and licks his lips.

My mind goes back to my conversation with Amy if he’s good with his tongue. Crap! Bad influence Amy.

He blinks. “Um, yeah. Sorry to disappoint you, Princess, but she called me about thirty minutes ago that she couldn’t come. She had a flat tire and would take a cab to the club.”

I raise an eyebrow. “And she didn’t even bother to call me? And she actually has your number. I’m the one who suggested to drive, but she said she would come to pick me up.”

He slips his hands on his pants pocket, looking nervous. “She took it from Maya. Garrett has my number.”

“And she didn’t ask your number from me? What’s wrong with her?” My stomach sinks. I feel cheated.

“Princess, are we discussing this all night, or are you coming with me? If you want to discuss this, then at least invite me in. I can’t stand here all night long.”

I shrug. “Do I have a choice? I’m actually ready, so let’s head out.” I walk outside and close the door behind me.

“Are you mad because she called me to come to drive you to the club? We will meet there eventually, Samantha.” He opens the door for me, once I get inside, he closes it, then quickly gets in the driver's seat and pulls toward the road.

“I’m not mad, Phoenix. I just don’t want to bother you coming over here if she just let me know. I can drive myself there.” I take a deep breath.

“It’s no biggie, Princess. In fact, I’m on my way there. It’s just good timing, I guess. By the way, you look stunning, Samantha.” He steals a glance at my side and smiles.

“You look handsome yourself, your highness.” My address makes him chuckle, then shakes his head with amusement while I feel like my face heat when he complimented me.

“We’re back to your highness, I see.” He smirks.

Jesus, I’m melting here. “Then stop calling me princess, Phoenix.”

“Why not? You’re my princess. It suits you.”

I roll my eyes and pick from my purse when my phone buzzes. It’s Amy.

“Really, Amy? Is this your plan on setting up Phoenix to pick me up?”

She giggles, “Works well, isn’t it?”

I groan which makes Phoenix chuckle, “This isn’t funny. I really hate you right now. Next time, I will not tell you anything, so that you can’t set me up.”

“Oh, come on, your hot Phoenix is glad to drive you to the club. I don’t have a flat tire. I lied. By the way, I’m on my way. See you there!” she gushed.

“I know! Your excuses are so lame because I’ve known you for so long if you have something in your mind, Amy. I know you’ll call me first or ask his number from me, and not from Maya, so I figured it out. You’re crazy!”

“I know, smart-ass. And I also know that hot Phoenix didn’t buy it, and maybe he got the idea what’s my plan, but he’s willing to pick you up. So, it’s still successful. Gotta thank me later, Sam.”

“Stop doing this to me, Amy, and stop calling him Hot Phoenix!” Phoenix barks out laughing, and I shoot him a glare.

“Oh, now, who’s jealous?”

“I’m not jealous! We’re just friends, now, shut up! Bye.”

“Bye, Sam, You’ll get laid tonight!”

I groan then hang up.

“She calls me hot Phoenix?”

I can see the amusement in his eyes. “Not funny!”

I cross my arms on my chest that made my breast pushes up a little bit. I uncross them and release a huge breath. I’m so annoyed. I notice Phoenix is clenching his jaw.

“Are jealous when someone calls me Hot Phoenix, Samantha?” He licks his lips and grins.

“Why would I be jealous? It’s not that I own you or you’re my boyfriend. They can call you anything they want.”

He hmm, unconvinced with my answer. “Aren’t you too defensive, princess?”

“Tease much, your highness?” That makes him laugh out loud.

“I really like teasing you, and you even look beautiful when you’re annoyed.”

“Are you going to annoy me all night, King Alexander Phoenix?”

He laughs even more, then shakes his head. God, I love his laugh. His eyes glimmer inside the small space of his car.

“It’s part of the plan.”

“I shouldn’t come with you.”

He touches his chest. “Ouch! You just broke my heart.”

“Glad I did.”

“You’re glad, but I’m not, and I’ll never break your heart, princess because it’s worse than breaking mine.”

I freeze, and I feel my heart flutter. Why does he have to say something that affects me like this? True or not, it still gives me butterflies in my stomach.

“It’s a line from a song, Samantha.”

Crap!

“Of course, it is. I’m just trying to remember that line.” My voice weakens.

What am I even thinking that he means it? I’m so stupid. I should remind my brain constantly that we’re just friends.