Too Hard To Choose

Chapter One -Not where I planned to be

Violet

I pull up outside my best friend Alison’s apartment building. I will be calling it home until I sort myself out. I have been having a rough time recently. I broke up with my fiancé of four years, or should I say; he broke up with me to be with some nineteen-year-old. I stayed in his house, which he owned, so I now don’t have a place to call home. My parents didn’t want me back home at twenty-six. Well, that was the excuse they gave me, but the truth is, they have never really wanted me. I was a mistake, nothing more. If it were my older brother or younger sister, they would have taken them with no problem, but not me.

Thankfully, Alison wouldn’t allow me to be homeless. I don’t have enough money for a place of my own yet. I will, soon, hopefully. The only downfall of staying with her is that she stays with three guys I have never met. She stays with guys because she gets along better with them when it comes to friendships. When it comes to relationships, she is into girls, so they know better than to try and hit on her. I have no idea what it will be like staying with them all, but it is only temporary.

My car was full of my things. I don’t know where I will put them. I am sharing a room with Alison, but she told me to bring everything, and we will find places for them. I turn the engine off, grab two of my duffel bags and head inside. She already gave me a key because she isn’t home until later. She said no one would be home, so I have just to let myself in. I will bring what I can in, but I will need help with some stuff. Thank God for a lift because the apartment is on the fourth floor.

I have only been here a couple of times because she hasn’t been here long. She moved in when her last relationship ended. She has known the three guys for a long time, so the four of them decided to find somewhere for them all to help split costs. I can’t even remember the guy’s names. I am sure she has mentioned them before, but I am terrible with names.

I hop into the elevator and head up. It takes me a second to remember what direction it is once I step out. I turn right, and it is only a couple of doors down. I put the key in to unlock it, but it is already open. Maybe someone is home, or whoever left last forgot to lock up.

“Hello,” I call out.

If someone is in, I would rather announce myself in case whoever it is up to something I shouldn’t be seeing. I waited, but there was no response. I step into the apartment and go straight to Alison’s room. I dump my things on the single bed. I will bring a few more bags up before I try to find places for them.

I step out of the bedroom and run into something hard, nearly falling back, but someone grabbed me.

“Easy, sweetness.” A male voice laughs.

I glance up, and a pathetic little whimper escapes from my lips when I see who is in front of me. He is tall with longish dark hair and beautiful, almost black doe eyes and light skin. The smile on his lips, along with the piercing, is nearly enough to make my panties wet. And if all of this isn’t hard enough to handle, he only has a towel around his waist, showing off his six-pack. He has one arm full of tattoos and a couple on his chest and stomach.

“Um, sorry.” I finally breathe out.

The handsome stranger smirks, “I will forgive you this time. You must be, Violet? Alison said to expect you.”

I try to answer with words, but none come out; instead, I only manage a nod.

“I am Arlo.” He says and offers his hand to me.

I nervously take it, and he holds it a little tighter than needed, “Nice to meet you, Arlo.”

Thank God I have found my words again. Arlo is a unique name. I don’t believe I have heard it before, yet somehow it suits him.

“Mmm, yes, you too, Violet.”

The way my name rolls off his tongue in such a sexy, sensual tone is enough to send a shiver straight through me. The intense look in his eyes makes me bite hard on my lip to stop any more unwanted noises coming from my mouth.

Neither says another word; we just stare at each other, and I feel like my legs are going to buckle from under me. Alison could have warned me how damn sexy Arlo was. I need to get it together. I yank my hands away from his and stand up straight.

“I need to get more things from my car,” I say.

I rush off before he can speak. I needed a second to breathe. I don’t believe I have ever seen such a beautiful man in my entire life. How the hell am I supposed to handle seeing him every day? I am sure I will ease off around him, eventually.

I arrive outside, grateful for some fresh air. Surely the other two guys can’t be as gorgeous as him? If they are, I am done for. My hormones will be in overdrive constantly, which is not what I need.

I gather myself, take a couple of boxes out from the backseat and turn around to take them inside. I squeal because when I do, Arlo is standing right there. His hair is still wet from the shower, and he now has grey sweatpants and a tight white tee on. f**k my life! Why is this man here again?

“Hello, again.” He chuckles.

“Hi.” I blush.

Arlo smirks. “I thought I would come down and help you.”

“Um, you don’t need to.”

He takes the boxes from my hands, his muscles flexing. “I want to.”

The tone of his voice is firm, dominant almost. I swallow hard and nod. Arlo winks and disappears into the building. I can’t help but watch after him. He has a nice ass too. Is there anything not nice about him? There must be something. A man can’t be that perfect.

I groan, suddenly feeling sexually frustrated. I take a couple of bags from the back and head in after him. I can keep it together. I am a grown ass woman. There is no need for me to be acting so pathetically because of a man. It is not me. I think it may just be because I was taken aback by him. I will arrive inside and be back to a normal human being.

I find Arlo in Alison’s room with my stuff. He smiles cutely at me when I walk in. I blush and giggle. Oh God, how embarrassing. I cover my face and shake my head.

“I am sorry. I am not usually like this.” I sigh.

Arlo laughs loudly, “It is okay.”

There is nothing okay about what is going on.

I huff and cross my arms over my chest, “No, it is not.”

Arlo smirks, “You are cute when your mad at yourself.”

I glare at him, which makes him laugh louder at me.

“I will grab more things from your car, gorgeous.”

He winks at me and disappears. It is going to be a long day if I am here with only Arlo. Alison won’t be home until six. I will just hide away until she gets back. It would seem I can’t handle being around one of her roommates, never mind three.