Sheila notices me as I'm walking up. She immediately releases her grip on Phoenix's arm. "I appreciate it. Talk to you later?"

"Sure. Reach out to my receptionist and leave the details with her. I'll take it from there."

Just as I enter Phoenix's airspace, Sheila excuses herself.

"Why is she here?" I ask.

Phoenix sips his cocktail. "No biggie. Nixon called to see where I was, said Sheila wanted to ask a favor. I told her to stop by. She's not staying."

"Oh, good. Sourpuss Sheila is not welcome here," I declare.

"Ha! I know you don't like her, but she's Nixon's wife. Actually, soon to be ex if they don't get their shit together."

I frown. "What do you mean? Ex?"

"Well after the trip to Miami, Sheila caught wind of that last party, you know, at the "Mansion?"

"And? What about it?"

"You know Nixon, went off on his own? To do his own thing?" Phoenix looks at me, waiting.

"Oh. . . oh!"

Phoenix nods.

"To do his own thing! So, he had sex with somebody at that party?"

"Yep. And he told her about it."

"No!" I stand there blinking blankly. I raise my hand. "I may have had something to do with her even asking him about it. I sort of mentioned the party to her when we ran into each other."

"You did what?!"

"You know how Sheila can be. That woman seriously has it out for me. She was trying to destroy us. Told me all about Nora. Said our relationship would never amount to anything. That I'm nothing but a baby mama. You know how she can be. Horrible!"

"Babe, you never told me that."

"Yeah. Well, I almost let her convince me it was true. So glad I didn't." I grab his arm and stand on my tippy toes.

He leans down to kiss me with those soft, sexy lips.

"Yeah. Now, she's ready to vacate on his ass because of that night. They were on the rocks before they came to Miami, though. This is like the feather that broke the camel's back. He's on thin ice. Will do anything to keep her and she's sucking him dry."

"I don't know why. She is not a catch. She's a catch and release!"

Phoenix laughs. "If you only knew the shit that woman has gotten away with. I'm surprised she's not in jail by now. Diabolical. Believe me."

Perplexed, I ask, "So, why do anything for her? You should've never met her here."

"It's all for my boy. You know Nixon and I been boys, since we were boys. We got each other's back, no matter what." Phoenix pauses. "Now, it makes sense."

"What?"

"Why Nixon didn't want to come to the shower."

"Why?"

"He's low key mad at you for snitching." Phoenix shakes his head.

I roll my eyes. "I didn't snitch. I was just getting even with that bitch. She's a fucking bitch, you know that right?"

"Calm down, babe. I know how she is. And you have every right to feel the way you do. I'm just putting the pieces together."

"Well, fuck her. And I would say fuck Nixon, but I'll give him a pass. For now."

Phoenix takes a swig of his drink and smiles. "That's Ari."

I grab his glass, causing the ice to clink. "What are you having? Let me get you another round."

"I stocked the bar with the cleanest, non-GMO, super premium vodka you can find. Beluga Vodka. It's Russian. Made in Siberia." He looks at me in awe.

"O-K. Vodka tonic?"

"Vodka tonic. Beluga Vodka Tonic." He says it with a sense of pride as if he distilled the vodka himself in his own Siberian distillery.

"Coming right up." I walk off as sexy as I can in flats. When I look back, he's still staring at my ass.

I love it!

Money, bartender extraordinaire from my old days at the Lotus, is waiting for me when I arrive at the bar.

Sporting bedazzled crystal claws and a classic Halle Berry pixie in toffee and honey tones, Money walks from behind the bar, arms open. "Whew chile, come here. Never thought I'd see the day we'd have a baby! It came sooner than I thought."

I embrace him, warmly. "You and me both!"

"Hmm! I know it's only been a few months, but it feels like forever! Miss you, girl!"

"I miss you, Nick, The Lotus, my old body!"

Money busts out laughing. "You're glowing! No complaints here, honey. Flaunt what you got while you got it! OK?"

"I'm loving my larger cup size!"

Money hip bumps me. "See what I'm talking about?" He makes his way back behind the bar. "What are we having?" he asks leaning over the counter.

"Vodka tonic, no!" I hold my finger up. "Beluga Vodka tonic."

Money side eyes me. "Who is this for? Cause if it's for anyone other than Phoenix, it won't be had!"

I lean in. "So, you two officially met? What you think?"

"Girl, if you don't want him, I'll gladly take him off your hands." Money laughs. "He just seems like a great guy. You struck out with this one. The best baby daddy a new baby mama could ask for."

Sss. Baby mama. That stings.

"Well, I'm more than just a baby mama, Money."

Money rubs my hand. "I know that. You just make sure he does!" He pats my hand and goes off to make the drink.

I turn to the crowd to people watch.

Aya's here? How did Mia pull this one off?

I walk up and tap her shoulder. "Aya? That you, girl?"

"Aria!"

We hug instantly. Having only met once before this moment, it feels like we're soul sisters. "You look amazing! Just gorgeous!"

She smiles at the compliment. "I jog every day now. I eat healthy. I've eliminated all bad shit out of my life. I'm out of that horrible relationship. Just single, ready to mingle!" She announces.

"Wow! Talk about turning over a new leaf. It's day and night since I last saw you."

She leans in and whispers. "I wanted to thank you. Tried to call you a dozen times, it was just hard in the beginning, you know. I could never bring myself to pick up the phone. I wasn't ready to confront what I did. But I just want to thank you, Aria. I couldn't see clearly. I wish I had listened to you. But I've learned to forgive myself. I had to or I would've just . . . died."

I nod.

"Yeah, sometimes I wonder what it would've been like to have my child. I know it was a girl. But I can't wallow in it. I can't live in the past, suffering. I was so miserable then." She stares off into space.

"Hey! We're all just doing our best, you know? At every stage, we're just doing our best given the cards we're dealt. You know?"

She agrees. "You're right. When I go back to that day, I literally could not see a different way out. I was in so much pain, I just wanted it to stop. That place I was in, in my mind." Aya closes her eyes. "It was a dangerous place. The things I was thinking of doing." She sighs.

"I sensed it. I just," I sigh, "I just wanted to be your friend. I think . . . I think we both needed that."

"I know I did." Aya quickly wipes a tear.

My eyes sting. "Come here!" I embrace her, rubbing her back and straightening out her hair. "Look at you. I'm so happy you're here! I didn't know it at the time, but I was pregnant too!"

Aya steps back. "Obviously! And you're just all glowy and stuff! Oh!" She hugs me again. "I'm really happy for you, Aria."

I squint, bringing her face to face. "You said single and ready to mingle? I got someone for you to meet. Follow me." I find Troy helping himself to appetizers at the food table. I tap his shoulder. "Troy."

He turns around, scarfing down a mini taco. "Hey." He manages to say between chews. He's undeniably sexy, even when stuffing his face.

I laugh and clear my throat. "This is my girl, Aya." I look at them both as they take each other in. "Yeah, so I'm the crazy friend, hooking up my two good friends. Smart move. Right? What could possibly go wrong?"

They both laugh, but it's hollow, polite laughter. And they can't seem to take their eyes off each other.

Weird.

"OK, I've got a drink waiting for me at the bar." I point behind me, but they don't seem to hear me. They smile shaking hands as I walk away.

That's a disaster waiting to happen.

Hopefully they stay on the up and up.

We'll see.

I look back at them as I lean against the bar.

"Hmm huh. See what you did there!" Money bites his jeweled claw nail. "You'll have to pick a side when things go sideways."

"Was wondering the same thing."

"Honey, I people watch all day long. They into it." Money stares unapologetically. "Look at 'em, drooling all over each other."

A tinge of disappointment nips at me. "Good for them. They're single. They're on the market. Why not, right?"

Money side eyes me. "I see you too. I know you're in love with Phoenix, head over heels, honey." Money laughs. "I see it, but you got love for that white boy, too."

"Being in love and having love for someone is two different things, Money!" I yell before grabbing Phoenix's drink and waltzing to him, Riz and JC.

Phoenix turns around. "Hey, babe!"

"Guys! Makes me feel so special, you came out for little ole me!"

"Aria!" Riz comes in for a kiss on the cheek and bear hug. "You look beautiful. Congrats." He beams as if I'm having his kid.

Riz has always been the warmest of Phoenix's guys. Just a lovable bear.

"Congratulations, Aria!" JC comes in for a polite hug. "So, you guys are going all the way, huh?" JC elbows Phoenix.

Phoenix lifts his glass in the air. "To going 'all the way,' as JC puts it."

"All the way." Riz snickers as he clanks his glass.

"All the way." JC exchanges a telling glance to Riz and Phoenix.

"Bottoms up!"

They all take a hefty swig.

A bell rings.

"Can I have your attention, everyone?" Mia stands in the center of the room. "There is nothing usual about this baby shower. We're here to celebrate the love child of Aria and Phoenix. We're here to shower them both with love. And we're here to have fun!"

Everyone in the room cheers.

"Now if you know anything about black folks getting together, we all love to break out in spontaneous group dancing. White folks call it a flash mob."

Everyone laughs.

"We call it Cupid's Shuffle." Mia turns to the DJ. "Turn it on and turn it up! It's that time, ya'll!"

https://youtu.be/fAhXfcm_v40

Mama and Aunt Paige rush to Mia's side. Penelope runs up after a visit at the bar, drink still in hand. Party attendees flood in, forming lines across the dance floor. When Phoenix and I walk up, they all push us to the center of the front line.

"Just follow the directions of the song, Ari," Mia whispers just as Cupid sings the first line.

"Alright now!" Aunt Paige lifts her hand and swivels her head to the music. She's obviously helped herself plenty, at the bar. "Whoo!"

Mama isn't too far behind her, she's leaning and rocking. Nick seems to have found a new home in them both, he positions himself right beside them.

Before long the whole party is lined up and we're off. We're stepping right, then left, then we kick and shuffle and turn.

"I got it!" I yell.

"Told you." Mia yells in my ear.

Phoenix shakes his head and laughs as he follows the steps.

He's actually really good at this.

The man has rhythm.

We turn. Now we're in the back. Troy and Aya haven't left each other's side since I introduced them. Sasha is talking JC's ear off, he politely engages in conversation with her as they dance side by side. Penelope sips her drink in between dance rounds and can't seem to take her eyes off JC.

Everyone is having a good time.

"You did amazing with this party, Mia! Thank you."

"That's what little sis is for."

"Cupid's Shuffle" ends and everyone is so energized, we all stay dancing through "Working for the Weekend" featuring bbno$ by MAX.

"Time for the gender reveal! Ari, Phoenix come on. Stand here." Mia announces and everyone gathers around us. Mia holds up a large countdown clock. The crowd counts down.

"Ten . . . nine . . . eight . . . seven . . . six . . . five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one!"

Blue and pink confetti and balloons fall from the ceiling. Everyone cheers! But after the confetti hits the ground, people exchange confused glances.

Phoenix gets down on one knee.

Now I'm confused.

What's happening here?

Women grasp as Phoenix lifts a box out of his pocket. The crowd gets quiet.

"Aria we've been through so much in such a short amount of time. I wasn't sure of us in the beginning, but I am sure of one thing. Will you be . . . the mother of my newborn child?" Phoenix smiles.

Everyone, including myself laugh and Phoenix opens the box to reveal a huge Kashmir blue sapphire heart ring that matches the pendant he gave me.

"It's a boy!" He announces. "We're having a baby boy!"

Everyone swoons as I show off my gorgeous, glowing cobalt blue stone.

The DJ plays "I Like it," by Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin and we celebrate the moment.

*******************************************************

Who's your favorite guest at the baby shower? Why?