I Slept With a God

Chapter 5

I had spent a week at a motel, commuting to and from work while looking for an apartment. It wasn't until Sunday that I finally turned my phone back on, seeing the hundreds of missed calls, most being from my mom and dad. I did have a few messages from Joe and Emily, but I ignored them, giving my mom a call first. I told her what had happened, and although she seemed upset, she didn't seem surprised. My dad was the same way. It seemed everyone had known what was going on expect for me, and although I was hurt, I was more angry than anything.

Courtney had spent all week trying to convince me that Apollo had never existed, and when I showed her the proof she claimed she didn't see anything and asked if I needed to go see a doctor for my mental health. I stopped bringing it up after that, accepting that she wouldn't give in. I tried to forget what had happened that night, but the memories kept returning to me. I found myself dreaming about him, about how soft his skin was, how entrancing his laugh, and how he made me feel so alive.

Yesterday I finally moved into my new apartment. It was in a classier part of town, having a door man and everything. Joe had tried to show up to my work to speak with me once or twice. I had successfully avoided him so far, and having a door man would help if he were to find my new address. It took a few trips up and down the elevator to move all my things, but a few of the neighbors offered to help. They seemed really nice and even invited me to their weekly game nights in the lounge on Saturdays. I told them I would make it, wanting to be involved more. Joe never wanted to go to any social events, not unless my sister had asked him to, I realized.

Today was Saturday, and although I hadn't finished putting all of my things in their new spots, I was still excited to go to game night. I ate something light before getting dressed and putting on a little bit of makeup. I wasn't ready to get into the dating scene yet, especially not with any of my new neighbors, but putting on makeup made me feel a lot more confident. I still wanted to make a good impression, after all. It wasn't long before I made my way downstairs and to the lounge.

The lounge was pretty large, bigger than your average basement. In the center was an electric fire pit with a few couches around it. On the wall behind it was a tv with a few gaming consols and a couple shelves of games and movies. These were kept locked, needing a key for use. To the left was a kitchenette as well as a rectangular dining table, able to seat six, and on the right were a couple tables for hockey, pool, pingpong, and foosball. I had seen the lounge before deciding to stay here, but it wasn't busy like now. Before it had one or two people, but today there were at least fifteen.

I suddenly felt nervous, seeing all the unfamiliar faces. I lingered by the doorway for a minute or two before a hand clapped on my shoulder, causing me to jump.

"Hey! Olivia, right?" Turning to see one of the guys who helped me move in, I start to relax.

"Yeah, you're.. Bryce?" I was terrible with names, and by his light chuckle I knew I messed it up.

"Braden," he removes his hand from my shoulder and gestures towards the fire pit where a few guys were sitting. "Why don't you take a seat and I'll grab a couple drinks?"

I nodded and moved towards the remaining empty couch, feeling self conscious as all the guys watched me sit down. They didn't stop talking, however, and after a moment it was like I had never appeared. That helped me relax a bit, even if it was uncomfortable to be ignored. I felt better once Braden took a set next to me, though, holding out two cans. "I figured you probably don't like beer, so I have orange or grape soda." He holds up two cans. I smile gratefully and take the orange soda.

"Thank you," I take a sip, a few of the guys giving a little not in Braden's direction. He takes a sip of his beer before setting it down and pointing the guys out to me, telling me their names. I caught the first two before my eyes felt compelled to look up at the doorway. Any thoughts I had of paying attention to the conversation suddenly drifted away as my eyes found a pair of blue ones. Ones that I was trying to forgot, but couldn't find myself doing so. A man I hadn't seen in a little over a week suddenly appearing out of nowhere in my apartment building.

He stands there for a moment, staring back at me as his lips pull up into a cocky smirk that makes my stomach coil in a pleasant way. I find my eyes linger on his lips for a moment before dropping to his chest. He was wearing a tight fitting, white, button up shirt that gave a hint to the muscles beneath. My eyes drifted down further to his black pants before trailing back up to his face. A little edge to my ribs pulls me out of my trance, eyes moving to Braden.

"You alright?" I blink a few times at him, trying to remember what we were talking about. I look at the group around the fire pit to see them all looking at my expectantly. I feel my face flush a bit in embarassment.

"Sorry," I apologize for not paying attention, but my eyes lift again to the doorway, noticing the Apollo was now gone. Had I imagined the whole thing? Just before I can ask what we were talking about, I feel the couch dip next to me. I turn my head to see locks of sandy brown hair there, moving to reveal the blue eyes I was just looking into.

"Paul!" Braden grins, reaching over to give a fistbump and pass a beer to the man who just sat next to me. "It's good to see you, man! We missed you for beer pong last week." Paul grins, stretching an arm to rest on the couch behind me. I feel my breath hitch, eyes drawn to him again, but I try to focus my mind to pay attention to the conversation this time.

"Sorry 'bout that," His voice was still like music to my ears. "We have a newcomer today?" His eyes move from Braden to land on me and it's almost like they flicker gold for a moment. I blink in shock, leaning away slightly.

"This is Olivia, just moved to the third floor. Olivia, this is Paul. He's in the penthouse." The word penthouse echoes in my head for a moment, and I don't even process that I'm talking before I respond.

"We've met." Paul raises his eyebrows, lips pulling up into the little smirk again as if challenging me on that. A few of the guys chuckle, shaking their heads. This causes me to look around at them, wondering what's so funny.

"A lot of people think that, but most haven't met him. He's a pretty private guy, except for when he comes down here." Braden explains, patting my shoulder as if to console me.

Apollo, or I guess 'Paul', as they keep calling him, glances around at the others before moving his hand from the back of the couch to wrap around my shoulders. "Actually, Olivia and I have met." he leans forward to whisper softly in my ear, "I think we know eachother pretty well, don't we, babygirl?" I immediately feel my face flame red in embarssment, a shiver going down my spine as my body heats up.

A few of the guys whistle at us as he whispers to me, but Braden calms them down and starts talking about something else to distract them. Paul doesn't move his arm from around my shoulders, however, and with the chills and heat his touch is sending down my body I knew it was going to be quite an eventful game night.

'