PHOENIX
My heart is still pounding in my chest since I saw the News about an hour ago. I don’t know why I feel guilty even if I’m not the one who hurt her-maybe because we had a history, and I loved her once somehow? Or perhaps I’m one of the reasons why that woman manipulated her into doing something horrible?
I feel Samantha gripping my hand tightly. She kept telling me that Gabrielle will be okay throughout the ride to the hospital.
I take a deep breath when we step inside the hospital lobby.
According to the News, Gabrielle was the one who called 911 before the drug dealer killed Suzanne right in front of her own eyes. She must be so terrified and shocked, and she will never forget that extreme brutality of the murder of once she believed was her mother. I feel so bad for her, and I can see based on that News earlier that she was also beaten by those assholes.
“Phoenix, are you ready? That’s her room.”
I look down at Samantha and nod. She pushes the door open, and I see Gabrielle immediately lying in bed, wearing a hospital gown.
Her face is bruised, but still recognizable.
She bites her swelling lower lip when she notices us approaching. She gives us a tight smile. Samantha lets go of my hand as she walks toward Gabrielle’s bed and gives Gabrielle a hug. Gabrielle wraps her arms around Samantha
“I’m so sorry, Gabrielle. I wish I didn’t let you go home if they would come after you,” I tell Gabrielle after kissing her on her forehead.
She rolls her eyes. Samantha is still sitting beside her on the bed after placing the bouquet of flowers we brought for her.
“Well, I don’t know that that bitch is actually wanted me dead,” she says, then slumps her back to the semi-elevated bed. She starts to cry-her tears just fall down her face even no matter how many times she wipes them.
“I ask someone to look after you, but you were too sneaky to get out of his sight,” I say guiltily.
“It was all my fault that I believed in her again, and I thought she would really give me that video she had, but she finally admitted that she burned it already,” she explains with regrets in her voice.
“Don’t worry, no one will harm you now. She’s dead now, and that drug dealer is locked up in jail, probably for the rest of his life,” Samantha says while rubbing Gabrielle’s arm.
Samantha has a good heart. After what Gabrielle did to us, she was even the first one to tell me that we should come to see Gabrielle. And now, it feels like nothing happened to us before, and she forgives her easily and never keeps grudges.
“Yeah, and I still have small luck because they let me join them in the kitchen with Suzanne, and that was the time I sneaked to grab a phone and placed it in the jacket I was wearing. I don’t know that place though because they covered my face with a black cloth while I was in the vehicle.”
I listen intently. She stops crying, but Samantha’s hands are still on Gabrielle’s hands, squeezing them.
“They killed her because of me. Their boss wanted to take me somewhere, but Suzanne was against that idea. They were supposed to kill me, but that boss killed her-” She blinks and takes a deep breath.
“You don’t have to tell us, Gabby. I know it’s hard for you, and you’ve just witnessed someone is brutally murdered,” I tell her.
“Thanks for coming, though. I wasn’t expecting both of you to be here, and you’re the last people I expected to visit. My dad didn’t even call me.”
“Gabby, forget whatever happened in the past. You’re forgiven,” Samantha says, then Gabrielle suddenly launches herself to Samantha.
Sam laughs, surprised at what Gabrielle just did.
“Easy there, Gabrielle. You’re still in the hospital bed,” I remind her.
She pulls away, and she’s already smiling-a genuine smile like how she smiled when we were still together.
“Am I forgiven too, Alex?”
I roll my eyes. “You can call me Phoenix now, Gabby.”
“Thanks!” she says merrily. “I’m so sorry for what I did to the two of you-” Sam cut her off. “Oh, I understand. You were just manipulated and controlled by Suzanne. Forget about it, and I and Phoenix are getting married, and you’re invited.”
She launches herself again
“Yay!” Gabrielle says Chirpily. Her eyes twinkle with happiness.
“What’s the doctor said? When can you go home?”
“Tomorrow. I made a statement with the police officer, so I can go home immediately,” she announces with excitement.
“We’ll come here tomorrow to send you home,” I tell her.
She waves her hand. “You don’t have to do that, Phoenix.”
“We are coming, Gabby,” Samantha insists.
“Really? I don’t wanna bother to both of you, you know.”
“You’re not a bother,” My head snaps to the door just swings open. “Brother!”
“Hawk, hey.” I stand up and give Hawk a hug.
“Gabby, how are you feeling?” Hawk asks.
She smiles timidly. “Still alive, I guess.”
Hawk kisses her on the forehead. They knew each other since we started dating.
“You must be Isabelle?”
Izzy moves to her to gives her a hug. “Call me Izzy, Gabby, and I’m glad you’re okay. You’re a strong woman, remember that.”
Gabrielle nods at her. “Thanks, guys for coming.”
“I don’t think you’re still safe in your apartment, Gabby. I suggest you move away from there,” Hawk says with concern in his voice.
“Where will I go, Hawk?” she asks worriedly.
“There is still a vacancy in my building, down at Samantha’s floor.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t think I can afford there alone, Phoenix.”
“Let’s talk about the rent later when you’re already safe. We still need you alive,” I tell her.
She looks at Samantha.
“What?” Samantha asks.
“It’s okay with you?” Gabrielle asks with hesitation.
Sam laughs, rolling her eyes. “Of course, why not?”
“Okay, it settled then,” she announces lively.
“I think I should call the doctor to let you go home. You seem fine now,” Izzy says flippantly.
“Oh, you don’t know how hurt my face is. I might look like Lola right now,” Gabrielle says, pouting her swollen lips to demonstrate.
“Who’s Lola?” Hawk asks.
“Jeez, the sexy fish in the shark tale,” she says.
I chuckle, “Wow! and you still choose to be that sexy one.”
Samantha hits my arms playfully.
“Wow! I love it!” She takes Samantha’s hand to take a closer look at the engagement ring and kisses Samantha’s cheek. “I’m so happy for you, Sam, and I almost ruined you and Phoenix.” She starts to cry again then blinks to control her tears.
I give my brother a high five.
“What was that all about?” Sam looks at me.
I kiss the top of her head. “Nothing, princess.”
***
Weeks later…
“My love, get your ass in here!” I yell at Samantha who’s still busy popping skittles in her mouth while my hands are full of grocery bags. She sprints ahead of me to open the main door of our family house.
“Sorry,” she mutters.
“Are you, princess?” I ask annoyingly.
“Why are you mad? You are the one who wanted to go grocery instead you could just write down and asked Gary to buy the groceries for us.” She throws me a glare.
I can’t say a thing because I know it’s all my fault, but I just wanted to take her to the grocery store with me.
We will be busy when everyone arrives since we moved here yesterday from her home, and tonight everyone will be here.
I already called the restaurant to deliver us dinner for my family and friends. Hannah, Sam’s mom will be here as soon as her duty ends. I and Sam spent three days in her home, and she was busy during day time meeting with Amy and Maya while I was busy catching up with Garett and Danny.
Sam places the groceries silently into the cupboards and fridge. I watch every move she makes. After washing her hands, she walks away like she doesn’t notice me at her back. I follow her to the patio where I showed her on our first date. She sits silently and looks at the wide lawn.
“Princess, you better hit me or slap me than you will keep silent like that,” I say, taking a seat beside her.
“You annoy me.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. You should always talk to me if you’re mad at me, princess. It’s not good for us if you’ll stay silent all the time.” I move closer to her to cup her face while looking at the brightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen.
I press my lips on hers and start kissing her soft lips, and she kisses me back, grabs my hair, and pulls me closer into her. I deepen the kiss by slipping my tongue in her mouth, and she tastes skittles and sweet just like her. She moves to sit in my lap, and I spread my legs wider to welcome her. My throbbing cock is already hard, straining in my jeans.
I moan when she bites my lower lip.
“You’re a tease, Samantha,” I say while she’s busy biting my jaw. She moves to my neck, running her tongue from the base of my collar bone up to the crook of my neck, then she nibbles my ear lobe.
“God, woman! I need to be inside you now,” I say, groaning as I slide my hand under her shirt to unclasp her bra. I move my hand to cup her two gorgeous tits, pinching the taut nipples between my fingers.
She hurriedly unbuttons the fly of my jeans, then slips her hand inside my boxers. My muscles tense at her touch, while her mouth is still busy sucking my neck. She grabs my hard cock to free from my boxers and starts pumping it.
“Princess, stop. I’m gonna come,” I protest, and she groans and doesn’t want to listen.
I quickly run my hands to raise her skirt up while she’s grinding on me.
“Fuck! You’re not wearing panties?”
She shakes her head. I lift her to wrap her legs around my waist, and I can feel her wet folds against my throbbing cock.
“God!” I grunt when I’m all inside her, “Move Samantha.”
She does as I told her. I rest my back against the sofa to let her ride me
“My love! Fuck! Come for me, now!”
She rides me wildly without a sound, just arching her head back while biting her lip.
I cup her tits again and kneads them. They feel warm in my hands and slightly heavy. And she looks magnificent with her cheeks flushed and glassy eyes as she’s about to reach her orgasm.
“You should know how beautiful you are right now, my love,” I tell her, gripping her sweet ass to meet her thrusts.
She writhes. “God, Phoenix!”
She comes, and I come with her.
“My love, are you okay now?”
“Yeah,” she answers while her head still resting on my shoulder.
“I love you, Samantha.”
“I love you, Phoenix. Can you carry me up?”
I kiss her forehead, then I stand up, carrying her in my arms.
Hours passed, everyone arrives. From my family, Sam’s mom, and our friends.
Gabrielle is here too. Since that incident at the hospital, she became closer to us. Sam is very pleased with how Gabrielle shows her true nature. The woman that I once loved has good in her heart after all.
“So, Gabrielle, are you sure you don’t have ulterior motives with all of that you’re showing to us?” Hannah asks.
“Mom, we are in front of the dinner,” Samantha says.
“It’s okay, Sam. I know, Mrs. Anderson, I hurt Sam pretty badly, but I regretted it. I’m also thankful that she gave me a chance to be her friend, and I will never do anything again to ruin the trust that she started to give me. You have a wonderful daughter with a good heart, and I believe that Phoenix deserves someone like her.”
Everyone stops and listens to her.
“And Sam deserves someone like Phoenix. I know how much he loves Sam that even a blind person can see how much they mean to each other, and I will regret it till the day I die if I continue ruining their relationship. That’s why I left Phoenix alone because I couldn’t take the guilt every time I saw him. And I know that Phoenix will do something to take Sam back because that’s where they belong together, in each others’ arms.”
Mike takes the glass of wine and clears his throat.
“Since Phoenix and Sam’s family and friends are around at this wonderful evening, on behalf of my son, Phoenix, Hannah, I would like to ask your daughter, Samantha’s hand in marriage to my son, Phoenix,”
Hannah’s hand instantly covers her mouth and sniffs. A smile curves on my lips, but I can’t say a word. I am overwhelmed. I can’t believe that tonight will be one of the most memorable nights of my life.
“Mom,” Sam whispers to Hannah.
“I always love Phoenix, and I can tell how they look at each other that night even they broke Sam’s bed.
Everyone laughs except Sam who is blushing beside me.
“Of course, they have my blessings although they have it already since that night I met Phoenix for the first time.”
I stand up and walk toward Hannah at the opposite side of the table.
“Thank you so much, Hannah.” I kiss her cheek then hug her.
“Let’s have a toast,” Mike announces. “To Phoenix and Sam!”
Everyone raises their glasses. I look at Sam who is smiling and looking back at me.
I wink at her then sip my red wine.
She mouths I love you.
“I love you, my future wife, Samantha Williams.”