A LOVE CALLED SIMON

Sandi Lynn

A Love Called Simon

Copyright © 2015 Sandi Lynn

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used factitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design by Cassy Roop @ Pink Ink Designs

Photo Image by Sara Eirew @ Sara Eirew Photography

Cover Models: David Santa Lucia & Rachael Baltes

Email: [email protected]

––––––––

Email: [email protected]

Editing by B.Z. Hercules

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

BOOKS BY SANDI LYNN

About The Author

PLAYLIST

Chapter 1

As soon as we boarded the plane, I put my bag in the overhead above our first-class seats. It was heavy and overloaded with all the souvenirs and shopping we did in Vegas, or should I say that I did. Brendon, my boyfriend of six years, planned this little trip, which I thought was only going to be the two of us, but as usual, he invited a few of his friends to tag along. Friends that I couldn’t stand. Arrogant, self-absorbed, and womanizing rich boys.

“Thanks for your help.” I glared at Brendon as I took my seat next to him.

“It’s your shit. Not mine. You were the one who did all the shopping, so deal with it.”

“You’re an ass.”

“And you’re a bitch.”

I slowly shook my head and glanced over at the gentleman that was staring at me from across the aisle. For the love of God, he was hot. I gave him a friendly smile and then looked away. Brendon took out his iPad and began to check his emails just as the captain announced over the speakers that there was a slight delay in take-off. I sighed and reached in my purse to grab my Kindle.

“Shit.”

“What?” Brendon asked.

“I thought I put my Kindle in my purse. I must have put it in my bag.” I sighed as I got up and reached for the overhead.

I looked at Brendon when I was having trouble reaching my bag and taking it down. “Can you please help me? You’re a lot taller than I am.”

“Fuck no. Like I said, it’s your shit, not mine. Just sit your ass down and watch a movie or something. For fuck’s sake, Gabby, you’re driving me nuts already,” he spewed as he put his beats on.

I flinched when I felt a light touch against the small of my back.

“Here; let me help you since your friend over there won’t,” a rugged voice spoke.

I moved out of the way as the hot gentleman took down my bag. “Get what you need and I’ll put it back up for you.”

“Thank you.” I softly smiled while the feeling of belittlement and embarrassment coursed through my veins.

I unzipped the front pocket and pulled out my Kindle. He picked up my bag and put it back in the overhead with ease.

“Thank you again,” I said quietly as I took my seat.

“Hey, man. Thanks for helping out. She does some stupid things sometimes,” Brendon said.

The man didn’t look at him. He looked at me and quietly spoke, “You’re welcome,” and then proceeded to give Brendon a dirty look.

I turned on my Kindle and flipped to a page in a book I had started reading by the pool in Vegas. I couldn’t concentrate on the words that sat on the page. The only thing on my mind was the hot guy sitting in the aisle seat across from me. The way he wore his sandy brown hair was the exact way I’d wish Brendon would wear his. His piercing blue eyes caught my attention the minute I looked over at him, as well as his perfected five o’clock shadow, which graced his beautiful square jaw line. His dark grey tailored suit screamed high end, with his white shirt hiding underneath, and matching heather grey and black striped tie. I gulped just thinking about him. He was easy to check out while he was reaching for my bag, but it also helped that I had a photographic memory.

After we finally took off, Brendon called for the flight attendant and asked for a bourbon. She nodded her head and then looked at me.

“Can I get you anything?”

“I will have a glass of white wine. Whatever you have is fine.”

“Sure.” She smiled as she touched my shoulder.

She turned to the hot guy across the aisle and asked him. He looked over at me, and his mouth curved as he spoke. “I’ll have a glass of white wine as well. Whatever you have is fine.”

My heart started to beat rapidly, and I quickly looked down at my Kindle with a smile on my face. After the flight attendant brought us our drinks, I reached into my purse and pulled out a chocolate bar.

“Are you really going to eat that?” Brendon asked with irritation.

“Yes. Why? Would you like some?”

“What did we talk about in Vegas? Remember I showed you those hot girls in the string bikinis and told you that you could look like that and you said you would work on it? Remember? Now you’re going to blow it by eating that candy bar?”

“You’re right. I’m sorry, baby,” I replied nervously and put the candy bar in my purse.

“That’s more like it. You know I love you, sweets, but sometimes you just need a push in the right direction.”

I looked down at my Kindle and I could feel the guy from across the aisle staring at me. I was scared to look at him, and I knew if I did, I’d probably start to cry. I could already feel the tears creeping up into my eyes.

Chapter 2

Brendon Sommers and I had dated for six years. We met on the first day of our freshman year at Cornell where I graduated with an MBA in Marketing and he graduated with an MBA in Finance and Economics. He was being groomed to take over the family’s property development company. Once we graduated, and Brendon’s father gave him one of the penthouses he owned, he asked me to move in with him. My best friend, Giana, told me not to do it because she hated Brendon and the two of them never got along, but I did anyway because I loved him and I knew he loved me too, even if he acted like an ass sometimes—okay, most of the time. He was the first guy ever to love me and want to take care of me. He and Giana were the only family I had. They were the only ones who knew the real story of how I grew up. It was actually how Giana and I met. Without either of them, I’d be completely alone in the world and Brendon reminded me of that every day.

After graduating from college, Giana took a job at a prestigious law firm as a litigation paralegal in Seattle. I missed her, and every time I’d make plans to go visit, Brendon would find some way to fuck it up. I swear he did it on purpose.

As I pretended to read, I kept stealing little glances at the guy across the aisle. He was on his laptop and he looked so confident and poised. Did I mention how fucking hot he was? He was definitely a corporate man. His eyes diverted my way and I quickly looked back down at my Kindle.

When we finally landed in New York, the man from across the aisle stood up, took down my bag, and handed it to me with a smile.

“I hope you enjoyed the flight.”

“I did. Thank you.” I smiled back as I took the bag from him.

“Tell your friend there that I said he’s a complete dick and you can do better than him.”

He held out his hand and motioned for me to exit the plane first while he followed, leaving Brendon at least two people behind me.

“What the fuck? Did you see what that guy did? He let you out and cut me off. I should have decked him.”

“Let it go, Brendon. We’re both tired and you need a good night’s sleep. God knows you didn’t get any the last four days.”

“It was all worth it, sweets.”

As we exited the doors to the airport, I watched as the man that sat in the seat across the aisle from me on Flight 2225 climb into a black limousine and pull away.

****

“I want to hear all about your weekend in Vegas!” Giana exclaimed over Skype.

“It was okay.”

“Okay? That’s it? It’s Vegas, Gabby. How could it be just okay?”

“It’s hard to have a good time when your boyfriend forgets that you’re with him and takes off with his friends, claiming he thought I was behind him. It was one big drunkfest, G. The bromance exploded in Vegas.”

“I bet they all fucked each other too.”

I laughed.

“I’m being serious, Gabby. I wouldn’t put it past those dickwads to line up and have one big orgy with each other.”

“Oh my God. You have to stop.” I laughed uncontrollably.

“So did you do anything exciting?”

“I shopped and gambled a bit.”

“Did you win?”

“Three thousand dollars,” I said as I held up the wad of cash.

“Way to go! I hope you didn’t tell No Balls that.”

“No, I didn’t. I’ll just discreetly deposit it into my savings account.”

“Good girl.”

“Can I tell you something?”

“Sure, Gabs. What’s up?”

“I sort of met this guy on the plane coming back to New York and I can’t stop thinking about him.”

“Oh?” she said as she pressed her face up against the computer screen. I hated when she did that.

“He was beautiful, G. So damn beautiful.”

“Hold up,” she said as she put up her hand. “Who says that a guy is beautiful?”

“Okay, fine. He was sexy as fuck and he wore a really expensive suit. He helped me with my bag because Brendon wouldn’t get out of his seat.”

“He sounds dreamy. Was he old?”

“He looked to be in his early thirties.”

“Tall, short, white, black? I need more details.” She smiled.

“He was about six feet one. Maybe six two.”

“Skinny, fat, muscular?”

“From what I could see, he had a nice body. He was wearing a suit, so I really couldn’t tell. But the point is, I can’t stop thinking about him. He really got to me.”

“Listen, Gabby, and please don’t be offended when I tell you this. He was a sweet man who helped you. Of course you’re going to fall for him. You’re living with someone who pretends to be a real man. A person who doesn’t give a shit about you. I’m sorry. You’re twenty-four years old. You should be out having fun. Not stuck at home waiting on that spineless piece of shit twenty-four-seven.”

I sighed. “Brendon loves me and I am having fun.”

“How many times did you have sex in Vegas?” she asked. “Why are you hesitating to answer my question? You did have sex, right?”

“No,” I replied as I looked away from the computer.

“WHAT! WHO GOES TO VEGAS WITH THEIR BOYFRIEND AND DOESN’T HAVE SEX?!” she yelled with her hands flying around.

“He was drunk most of the time or out all night with his friends.”

“While you sat in the hotel room by yourself?” she asked with a frown. “Wake up, Gabby. I can’t stand to see you being treated like that anymore. For fuck’s sake. I know damn well he had sex with other women in Vegas or at least with his boy toys.”

“He would never cheat on me.”

“UGH, Gabby!” she exclaimed as she shook her computer screen.

“I have to go, G. I need to figure out what to make for dinner before Brendon gets home.”

“Well, whatever you make, I hope he chokes on it.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll talk to you later.”

I got up from my chair and took some chicken from the freezer. I scoured my produce drawer and had enough vegetables to make a stir-fry.

****

It was around eight o’clock when Brendon walked through the door.

“Hey,” he said as he walked over and kissed my cheek.

“You smell like a woman.” I frowned.

“You just wouldn’t believe the day I had. We hired this new secretary and I swear she took a bath in her perfume before she came into the office. I had to tell her that she can’t wear it anymore or else I’d have to let her go.”

“It was that bad?”

“Yeah, babe. It was that bad. Everything she handed me reeked of her perfume. I’m actually going to take a quick shower to wash it off. It’s making me sick.”

I smiled as I began unbuttoning his shirt. “I can help you wash it all off.”

He took hold of my hands and put them down. “Sorry, babe. If I let you do that, then we won’t eat until later and I’m starving. Give me ten minutes. It smells amazing in here. I can’t wait to eat.” He winked as he headed to the bathroom.

As I was getting ready for bed, I caught Brendon staring at me through the full-length mirror.

“Thank you for dinner. It was good. I like coming home after a long day of work to your home-cooked meals.” He walked over and placed his hands on my hips as his lips trailed across my neck.

“You’re welcome.”

“I know it’s been a while since we fucked, but if you’re up to it, I’m game. But first, let me turn off the light.”

“Why can’t we have sex with the lights on for once?” I asked.

He pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear. “You know why. You still have some toning up to do. We’ve talked about this.”

He led me over to the bed and we made love the same way we’d done for the past six years: missionary style and with the lights off. He laid me down and crammed it in. There was no foreplay involved unless he had trouble getting hard. Then he told me to stroke him. As I rolled over and lay on my side of the bed, I couldn’t help feeling depressed. It was the same feeling I got every time we made love. There was no satisfaction in it for me, except the emotional aspect of him wanting me. If he didn’t love me, then he wouldn’t want to have sex with me.

Tomorrow after work, I was going to hit the gym and hit it hard.

Chapter 3

Three Months Later...

I worked a daily job of nine to five at Holster Marketing Firm, which handled the account of a major upscale retailer. When I walked in, my boss, Kendra, called me into her office.

“Sit down, Gabby.”

The way she said it didn’t sound good. She took off her glasses and folded her hands on her desk.

“As you’ve been aware, the account you’re handling has been going under for quite a while. It’s not your fault or the fault of anyone in this firm. It’s the retailer’s poor management and decision making that dragged them down. Anyway, they filed bankruptcy and are closing fifty of their stores around the country. When they cut, we have to cut.”

“Are you firing me?” I asked in shock.

“Not firing. Laying off. We can’t afford to keep you and your team anymore since we’re losing the account.”

“But I worked my ass off on that account,” I said as tears sprang to my eyes.

“I know, and believe me, you’re one of our best, but we have to go by the numbers. Unfortunately, we have to lay off at least five people today. I’m so sorry. You’re a smart and bright woman. You’ll find something else and I’ll give you the best recommendation. This is New York; there are tons of marketing jobs out there.”

I sat there in disbelief and shook my head. I couldn’t believe this was happening. “I understand. Thank you, Kendra.”

As I got up from the chair, she walked over and gave me a light hug. “You never know. This may be the best thing that ever happened to you.”

I gave her a half smile as I walked out of her office and back to my cubicle. There was already a box sitting on my desk for me to start packing my things. I pulled my phone from my purse and dialed Brendon. It went straight to voicemail, so I called Giana.

“Hey, Gabby.”

“I just got laid off,” I said, deadpan.

“What? Are you serious?”

“They laid off five of us today.”

“Listen, I’m just walking into the court room with Brian, so go home, take a long, hot bath, and I’ll call you as soon as I get out.”

“Okay. I’ll talk to you later.”

I cleaned out my desk and tried to call Brendon one last time before I headed home. Still no answer. This really sucked. I couldn’t believe that I no longer had a job. My self-esteem fell even lower than it already was. I finally hailed a cab and set my box down next to me.

“You get canned, lady?” the cab driver so graciously asked.

“Laid off.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Thanks,” I replied with a sullen look.

I paid the driver his fare and grabbed my box. As soon as I opened the door to the penthouse, I set the box down in the foyer and walked to the kitchen and poured a glass of wine. Wine and a hot bath was what I needed right now. As I walked up the stairs and down the hallway, I stopped the second I heard noises coming from the bedroom. My heart started to pound viciously and a rush of nerves made their way throughout my entire body. I cautiously and quietly approached the door and placed my hand over my mouth as I stood there and watched Brendon fucking some girl from behind. I listened to sounds come from him that I’d never heard before. I threw my glass of wine at the wall that the bed sat on and, instantly, Brendon turned around and put up his hands.

“Gabby, I thought you were at work.”

The stench of the perfume that I once smelled on him lingered in the air. The girl, sitting on my bed, naked, asked, “Who’s she?”

“I’m his girlfriend,” I whispered as the tears fell down my face.

“You said you weren’t seeing anyone, Brendon,” she snapped as she gathered her clothes.

She walked past me and lightly touched my arm, holding her clothes tightly in a ball against her.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

I nodded my head and she walked out of the room. As I stared at him, standing there, completely naked, all I could see was the way he was fucking her. A way he would never do with me.

“Gabby, baby. I can explain.”

I tilted my head and looked at him like some psychotic patient that didn’t understand. I walked into the bathroom and grabbed the scissors from the drawer. When I walked back into the bedroom, I saw the fear in Brendon’s eyes.

“What are you doing with those?” he said as he backed away and covered his cock with his hands.

Suddenly, it hit me; he thought I was going to cut off his dick. I busted out into loud laughter as I went into the closet and cut off the airport tags on my suitcase.

“Baby, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I did it. It’ll never happen again,” he pleaded as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

I quickly turned around and stuck the scissors up to his crotch. He froze and his eyes widened.

“You’re right. It never will happen again because we are no longer together. And if one word comes out of that filthy, disgusting mouth of yours, I will cut it off. You’ve belittled and humiliated me for the last time, Brendon Sommers. Do you understand me?” He slowly nodded his head. “Now please leave this room and leave me ALONE!” I screamed in his face.

He slowly backed up, and when he was out of harm’s way, he picked up his clothes from the floor and ran out of the bedroom. I shut the door and locked it so he couldn’t get back in. All I wanted to do was crawl in bed and hide under the sheets. But I knew if I did, I wouldn’t get out, and I needed to leave this penthouse and him as soon as possible. I stripped out of my work clothes and looked at myself in the mirror. Maybe I didn’t work out hard enough. Maybe I should have gone to the gym more. My five-foot-six height and one-hundred-twenty-pound body wasn’t enough for him. I moved my hand up and down my left arm. The urge was there. My fingers deftly traced the scar on my forearm where I slipped and cut too deep. Just this once and never again. I had to make the emotional pain stop. No. I promised myself I’d never go back there. I threw some clothes in the suitcase, grabbed my laptop bag, and walked down the stairs. When I reached the foyer, Brendon came running in.

“Gabby, please. Can we talk about this first? You just can’t leave like this.”

The anger that brewed inside me became stronger and, finally, I had a voice.

The Story Continues on BooksBarbecue!

Enjoyed this preview? ❤️ Do not stop here!

Read the complete book free online → 🔗

Continue reading now on BooksBarbecue and discover every page!

Love reading? Bookmark BooksBarbecue.com for more amazing books!

Happy Reading!