Lost in Distraction (Lost 1)

Brax: Hey babe, how are you this morning?

Elise: Hey yourself. I’m great, just got in from a run. Pegged you for the sleep-in-late type

Brax: LOL. Nope, early bird gets the worm and all that. Want to hang out later. I can come over this afternoon

She doesn’t reply straight away. Shit. Time to back track.

Brax: or we could just meet somewhere, no pressure or anything

Damn she’s still not replying.

I get home, and I hop in the shower, needing to cool off after my run and thoughts about Elle’s ass moving up and down in front of me. I tried not to look but hell, I’m a guy and she has a nice ass. Especially when she runs. I check my phone again when I get back to my room and I’m relieved to see a text from her.

Elise: Hey, no my place sounds good. We could watch a movie or something. What do you like to watch?

I want to say thrillers, but I stop myself.

Brax: Drama or comedy, I’m pretty easy.

Elise: *Giggles* I bet you are.

I crack up laughing. I didn’t realize she’d take it like that, but damn she is cute as hell. She has a bit of spunk to her and I can just imagine her sitting there with a grin. Two can play this game.

Brax: Bet you’d love to find out. See you in about an hour?

Elise: Yeah, sounds good. I’ll find something for us to watch. See you soon.

After a quick tidy up of the house, I have a super quick shower and put some makeup on. I want to look good for Brax.

His text kind of threw me for a loop. I honestly didn’t expect to hear from him so soon. I check Netflix to find a movie we can watch, secretly glad he didn’t say he liked thrillers or horror. I’ve had moments in the past where certain scenes have triggered a panic attack and I’ll never be able to watch horror movies again. I settle on a movie about a college music competition, something light and funny.

I’m putting together some snacks in the kitchen when I hear the doorbell. I open the door to see Brax standing there with Chinese takeout and a ridiculously cute grin on his face. I let him in and can’t help but grin. That warm feeling is back. After being cold inside for so long I find I’m welcoming it. And the more time I spend with Brax, the more I feel it. I grab some plates, and we set our food on the coffee table.

“So what are we watching, babe?” Brax asks while dishing up his plate.

I look at him, raising my eyebrow at his term of endearment.

“Babe?” I say with a smile.

“Aww come on, Elle. It just slipped out,” he explains with a cute grin that makes me melt.

I can’t help but smile back. “It’s okay. To tell you the truth, I kind of like it,” I reply, avoiding his gaze. I haven’t got a lot of experience at this flirting thing, but he’s making it easy.

The movie starts and we sit on opposite ends of the couch, enjoying our food and watching college kids trying to sing in tune. I can’t help but laugh at the silliness of it. As I giggle away, almost forgetting that I have company, I glance over and see Brax turned to his side, watching me. He lifts his arm onto the top of the couch, gesturing for me to join him. I move over a bit so I can lean into him and rest my head in the crook of his shoulder. Wow, I’m enveloped in heat now. Not just warmth, but it is pure unadulterated heat. I can feel his heartbeat through his chest and its racing almost as fast as mine. Shit, I’ve never felt anything like this before. What’s going on?

The moment I looked up at him I knew he was going to kiss me and there was no way in hell I was going to stop him. As he leans down and takes my mouth, I open my lips to him, granting him access.

For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m home.

Chapter Five

The past few weeks seem to have flown by.

Brax and I have seen each other most days, except for the nights when he has school work to do. We talk, we cook, we watch movies, and we make out for hours. God, I am already so addicted to him and the way he makes me feel. I catch him just staring at me sometimes, and the smile he gives me makes me melt, but I’m not ready to go any further than kissing just yet. I haven’t been with anyone like that for a long time, and it’s not something I’m in a hurry to do. I want it to be with someone I love instead of a casual hook-up to get past the pain like I’ve done in the past.

The one thing I’ve missed out on by shutting everyone out is female friends. I don’t have any, not even someone remotely close. I don’t have to work for obvious reasons, so all I have in my life is school, my apartment and Brax. I miss having someone to talk to about everything, a girlfriend I can confide in, but I haven’t known any different for the past three years. I’d like to have someone to talk about Brax with.

I smile whenever I think of him. I haven’t seen him since Sunday and it’s now Tuesday night. I sent him a text earlier asking if he wanted to go grab some dinner somewhere. He texted back saying he might have a late study group, but would let me know.

So here I am in a tank top and pajama pants, sitting on my couch on a Tuesday night in the middle of September, watching a menial television game show. I hear a knock at the door and rush up to answer it, thinking it could be Brax surprising me. I open the door, but instead of Brax, I’m met by my father’s business partner, Harold Brimstone. Harry and Sylvia were very close with my parents when I was growing up so he’s always been Uncle Harry to me. However, he has always made me feel uneasy, even as a kid. I don’t know what it is about him, but he comes across as shady. He is the acting CEO of Brightlight Industries, my father’s… I mean, my company now. He is in charge of everything until I finish school and take over from him.

My father effectively mapped out my future for me before he died. It’s not that I don’t want my father’s company. It is his legacy that he built from the ground up, but I just don’t like being expected to run it.

Realizing Harold is still standing in my doorway, I open the door and gesture him inside. He has a quick look around and sits down in the loveseat I have next to the window. “How are you, Elise?” he asks, looking me over.

“I’m good, Uncle Harry. What brings you across the country for a visit?” My voice drips with dissent.

He’s aware that I don’t like him and by the way he seems to revel in making me uncomfortable I’m sure the feeling is mutual. “No need to be like that, Elle. I just wanted to see how you were doing and make sure you were all settled in. This place is great for you,” he says as he gets up and starts walking around the room.