Carved

CHAPTER 6

DYLAN 

What a joke.

I should have known this could have been Ella’s doing.  I couldn't be mad at her for it. She still has that sparkle in her eyes whenever she does something mischievous.  I can’t get over how gorgeous Ella is. When I saw her standing there smiling, I wanted to grab her and take her in my arms.  I probably would have if Becker wasn’t there. He makes me sick. He talked so much about how sexy Vicky is and what great massages she gives.  The look in his eyes made me wonder if something more was going on between them. I could tell right away the type of girl Vicky was. I have met too many girls just like her.  I could see her eyes darken with desire when I stood. I was ready to walk out if she kept licking her lips and looking at my pants. It was a disaster waiting to happen, but my gut feeling and persistence to win Ella back had me going in to investigate.

I’m glad Ella is different.  There’s innocence about Ella that I love.  How can Becker look at any other women when he has beautiful Ella in his bed?  My Ella. It hurts to think she has been with Becker. He doesn’t deserve her. He couldn’t wait to show us a video on his phone from the night of the fire.  He reminded me they would have been in bed getting 'down and dirty' when the alarms went off if he had not been called to the lobby. It took all the control I had not to throw his phone across the room.  Becker used to be a nice guy. now he's being a prick and throwing it in my face that he has Ella. 

I should just claim what's mine.   I know I still own a piece of her heart.  She cares for Becker though. She may not love him, but I know she wouldn't want to break his heart.  I understand. Sort of. Becker had been a nice guy. That was always his problem. He was a good guy and easily friendzoned by the girls.  I felt sorry for him and took him under my wings. Now here we are facing off for the same girl. He would fight dirty to have her and so would I.  I'm already on thin ice with Ella. I have to tread carefully.

I scoff when I picture Devilish Dex tossing me a rope and ice skates as he sits back and does some ice fishing.

 I still can’t believe Ella was in the building.  She could have died. I could have lost her…again.  

I rub my face because I can’t stop thinking about Ella.  It’s all I think about now. She has the most incredible smile.  She can make the grumpiest of the grumpiest smile. There’s a little dimple that forms on the right side of her cheek.  I used to kiss that little dimple. I also used to kiss that smile.

“I’m sorry about the joke.  Ella called asking for a favor.  She has recommended the spa to a lot of new customers.  I owe her a lot. I’m glad you decided to stay and let me give you the massage you requested.”  Vicky leads me to a massage table after I walk out of the dressing area with a robe on. I had tried to insist she take Becker first, but she handed Becker over to another masseuse.  I don’t think he was happy about it.

“How long have you known Ella?”  I ask to start a conversation. Something doesn’t feel right and I look at the massage table like it's my death bed.  I feel nervous and tense. Maybe I need this massage, but my history of girls trying to get their hands on me never pans out.   I don’t think I will be so lucky by the way Vicky looks ready to disrobe me down to my bare skin. I have an eerie feeling. Something always happens when I feel this way.  I hope I can distract her with small talk. If she's lucky, I can keep her from becoming one of my follies.

“I met Ellie and Whisper when they were taking one of my yoga classes several years ago.  We became close and they started taking other classes with me. They quit when we took a pole dancing class together.  It wasn’t for them. Whisper was a real klutz and Ella acted like a child. Neither took it seriously. Those two are the least sexy people I know.”  I would have to disagree with her. That performance at the bar was plenty sexy. “I have a pole in my room at home. If you come over for dinner I can show you a few things.”