Chapter 12: The Morning After

Gia's Pov

The next morning I awoke to an empty bed. For a second there I thought that maybe last night had been a dream, but the aching feeling my body felt said otherwise. Grabbing my robe from the foot of my bed, I treaded to the bathroom. Once Inside I began to brush my teeth. As I rinsed my mouth I noticed something, the bathroom mirror had steam on it, as well as the glass door of the shower. I looked down and saw wet footprints leading out of the room. Quietly I followed them and they led me to the kitchen, I was transfixed by the sight before me. Taylor stood there at the stove bearing only a towel securely wrapped around his hips.

"I see you finally decided to wake up." He scooped up the eggs from the pan and put them on a plate. "How did you sleep?" He asked as he sat the food down on the table.

"I see you've made yourself at home." I watched him move about my place at ease, he must have familiarized himself while I was asleep. "Taylor what is all this?" I asked.

"It's breakfast what's it look like? Now let's eat, I'm starvin' here." He sat another plate on the table, waiting for me to join him.

"Did you forget about last night?"

"I didn't forget, as a matter of fact I could give you a repeat performance in case you forgot." He whispered in my ear; his arm wrapped around my waist pulling me flush against his chest.

I really wanted to give into him as his lips found its way to my neck. While his hand moved pass the material of my robe to gently massage my breast. This man was beyond tempting and he knew all the right buttons to press, but I couldn't let him pull me in. "Don't do this Taylor." I took his hands from off of me and moved out of his grasp. "It was supposed to be a onetime thing, remember?"

"I remember you saying it, but I don't remember agreeing to it." I watched the mischievous smile form across his face, while he watched the deadly scowl on mine. The phone began to ring, interrupting the silent standoff in the room. "You might want to get that, it's been ringing all morning… and by the way, who's Eric?" he asked.

"He's my ex."

"Thought so, that's why I told him not to call here anymore." Taylor sat down and started to eat his food without me.

"Wait, you did what?" I asked in utter shock. "I can't believe this is happening." I had to have a seat, he was driving me insane.

The phone continued to ring, "Do you want me to get that for you?" Taylor asked.

"No, what I want is for you to leave now." I tried to keep my voice leveled as I pleaded with him.

"I can't do that?" He said without lifting his eyes up from his plate.

"Why not?" I asked.

"I haven't finished my eggs yet." He said pointing down to his food.

Just as I was about to say something in return, a knock came to my door. I froze and looked at Taylor, 'who the hell could that be?'I left the kitchen and went over to the front door, in my frustrated haste I opened the door and was completely caught by surprise. My reflexes acted for me and swiftly slammed it shut, the knocking came again.

"What the hell Gia, open up." The banging came again.

I pressed my back against the door trying to quickly access the situation, I had my practically naked boss in my kitchen, and my nosey best friend at my front door, time was not on my side. When the banging got louder Taylor came out of the kitchen, he looked at me, then back at the door.

"Who's that?" he asked.

I stared at him trying to think of something. "Jehovah's witness."

"Giana Brooks, I drove two hours just to see you, now if you don't open this door I'm never speaking to you again." Adrian's voice screeched through the other side of the door.

Taylor grabbed me by my arm pulling me away from the door. "What the hell are you doing?" I asked.

He smiled putting his hand on the door knob, "she drove two hours."

The door opened and all I heard was Adrian's voice ranting, "What is your problem, I've been calling and cal-" She cut her sentence short finally realizing the figure in front of her wasn't mine. She stood there with a grin spread wide across her face while taking in Taylor in all his glory. "Well hello, you must be Taylor."

Taylor shook her hand and looked at me, "I see you've been talking about me."

Oh how I wish I could blend in with the wall right now. "Don't flatter yourself, none of it was good."

Adrian's eyes shifted back in forth between me and Taylor with a mischievous smirk. "So tell me Taylor, what are you doing in her apartment so early in the morning in just a towel… not that I'm complaining."

Before Taylor could say anything I took him by the arm "Excuse us for a minute." I said to Adrian. Then I dragged him in the direction of the bedroom. When the doors closed behind us I scanned the room for his clothes. After finding them all in various places, I shoved them in his chest, "get dressed, now!" I demanded.

He looked down at the clothes in his arms, then back up at me. "Will you calm down Gia."

"Don't tell me to calm down Taylor." I turned my head trying to keep my eyes from straying to the southern regions of his body while he dressed. "Damn it." I smacked my forehead with the palm of my hand.

Taylor came up to me putting both hands on my shoulders trying to calm me down. "I don't regret what happened between us last night."

"That's just it, there is no us Taylor." I buried my face in my hands letting out a sigh.

"So what was it then, just scratching a itch?" He asked, and I could tell that he was slightly angered.

I had to get away from him, his eyes were too alluring and it was confusing things. "This is just too much; I can't allow myself to get involved with you."

Taylor followed me over to the dresser where I stood. His body pressed firmly against my back. "Well it's kinda late for that."

"We are two very different people, and I have enough drama in my life right now without adding a mob enforcer to the list."

"So that's why you're acting all crazy?" His hands gripped my arm turning me around to face him. "You knew what this was from the beginning."

"Yeah, and so did you, I made it perfectly clear that I didn't want any commitments."

"It's not like I'm standing here asking you to fuckin marry me."

"Good, because I would never marry someone like you." I paused after hearing the words come out my mouth. I could no longer feel his hold on me. "What a minute Taylor, that came out wrong."

"You know what, why don't we both do each other a favor and forget all this shit ever happened." The low growl he spoke in sent chills through m body. Clearly he was pissed.

"Taylor I didn't mean it that way." Taylor left the bedroom without anymore words spoken. All I heard was the door slamming behind him. I wanted to go after him, but my pride wouldn't let me.

About ten seconds later I heard the front door slam, and with that I know Taylor was gone. I threw on some sweats and a t-shirt went out to face the one woman firing squad. As soon as I set foot in the living room, a set of grey eyes were staring me down.

Adrian shook her head and smiled at me. "You want my opinion?" She asked.

"Not really." I replied.

"Well you're gonna get it anyway… I think you're wrong." She sat down on the couch and began to flip through a magazine that sat on the table.

"I'm wrong?" I looked at her in disbelief.

"Yes, you're wrong! That gorgeous tall dark and yummy man likes you, and you seem to like him so what the hell is the problem." said Adrian.

"It's complicated." I said.

"Unfuckin' complicate it. I'm telling you Gia, if a man like Taylor keeps coming up short he's gonna move on."

"Thank you Dr. Joyce Brothers." I noticed that Taylor left his jacket behind so I picked it up from the couch before Adrian could see it and make more comments. "Now it's not like, I'm not happy seeing you, but what are you doing here?" I went over to hang his jacket on a coat rack.

"I quit my job; you would know that if you answered your phone or checked your messages." Said Adrian.

This caught my attention. I turned around to see if she was serious. "Wait a minute, back up for a second."

"I took your advice. I finally had enough of my bosses shit, and I told him exactly where he could stick that job."

"Well good for you. You're the best damn hair stylist I know. You can find a new job just like," I snapped my fingers. "that."

"Well I'm glad you have that much faith in me; because I'm gonna need a place to crash until I do." When she said that, I finally took notice to the suitcases that were in my living room, then my eyes shifted back up to the owner. "Oh come on Gia, I'm a professional hair stylist. What better place to start over than New York." She gave me her best puppy dog eyes hoping that I would give in.

I smiled and shook my head. "You are so lucky you're my best friend and I love you." Adrian let out her thank you's as she embraced me in a hug. "Make yourself at home, I'm going back to sleep for an hour or so, I have to work tonight." I gave Taylor's jacket one last look before I went into my bedroom.