Waking up rested is always a plus. Breathing in the newness of the day, I glance out the window to find the city has gotten off to a slow start. It's almost noon on this gorgeous winter Sunday morning and only a few cars occupy the road, even fewer people are walking down the street. There's the low hum of music playing on the radio on left and Phoenix sitting, huddled over in an intense conversation, to my right.  I trace the line from the base of his spine to the top of neck.

 "Hey you." Getting up, I reach around, hugging him from behind and plant a kiss on his cheek.

"...the latest heat out the A, "Just This Once,"" a DJ announces.

"So, you got the footage? From the elevator?" Phoenix asks, talking into his phone. "OK. That's good. Drop it off to me. See you in a minute." Phoenix leans back, laying on me, crushing me under his weight.

"Oh! Hey!" I push him off me and move to my side of the bed.

"What?" Phoenix knowingly laughs. "Leon got the footage of us." He pats my thigh. "From last night?"

"That was a scandal waiting to happen."

"Well scandal avoided." He smacks my thigh and comes in for his reward.

I cradle his face in my hands. "Thank you," I tell him before lapping up his soft kissable lips.

"You know how you can thank me." He crawls between my legs.

The doorbell rings. Phoenix closes his eyes and stops in his tracks. "That's Leon, be right back." He leaves to answer the door. They go into the living room.

"Hey, whatever the cost, pay the man. Cash. Today before we leave. Make sure no copies were made."

"I went as soon as you called me last night. Caught 'em by surprise. They store all their footage on these external network recorders. Like a. . ." Leon snaps his fingers. "Like a DVR."

Draped in a plush, white I robe, I turn the corner and look in on the guys sitting on the couch.

"So, I paid both security guards a hefty sum and they let Lex from our IT department remotely access the recordings. He went into their system, found the footage, had me put it on this flash drive and then he permanently deleted footage from all the elevators last night, just to be safe. It's like it never happened." Leon tosses Phoenix a small object.

Phoenix catches it and looks at the small black rectangle. "Good. Then I owe you. I'll transfer the money over tomorrow." They stand up. Phoenix pats Leon on the back. "My man."

Leon chuckles. "Afternoon, Aria."

"Hi, Leon." I smile.

They walk to the door and Phoenix lets Leon out. Phoenix walks up to me with a smirk on his face and a flash drive in his hand.

"Wanna watch a movie?"

Against my better judgment, a gleaming smile takes up residence on my face.

***

Everyone's obviously rejuvenated from our time in Atlanta. The chatter on the jet is incessant. As the last to get on board, Jessa, the flight attendant, comes behind me to close the door. Everyone's gathered around Phoenix all talking at once.

"What I miss?" I ask looking around at all their excited faces.

"We were just telling Phoenix about the sex dungeon club palace place!" Penelope exclaims.

"Oh, do tell!" I take a seat.

"So, this guy. Random guy, right? Comes out with nothing on but a leather head mask. I mean literally—" Mia's eyes are wide.

"She's not joking, Chica. He had that leather head mask that was on that one mannequin in the store. Fit over his whole head. He wore that and a cock ring!" Penelope jumps up and down laughing.

Riz and JC crack up.

"Yeah. So, he walks up to me with his one-eyed monster just hanging out and says, "'Looking for a new friend?' I'm like bruh!" Mia covers her mouth laughing. "So, I'm looking around and everybody has vamped. Riz is off in the bathroom. Piña and JC are oogling some couple kissing or fucking or whatever in the corner. I'm out here without a lifeboat!" Mia demonstrates, looking from left to right. "Instead of being squeamish, cause God knows that's how I felt, I step forward. No hesitation and I say, bruh, if I wanted some rando dick, I would've called you over from across the room. Then I take his leather chin into my hand and toss his face aside and say, 'Now bounce!' The man looks at me like he's just met his new dominatrix. This dude actually gets on his bare knees and begs me to teach him a lesson."

I cover my mouth.

"Chica, I'm telling you. I turn around and see this dude on his knees in front of Mia. I gotta run interference before Riz comes around."

"Piña spots this fool on the floor and gets JC's attention. I'm panicking because I know it's about to go down. So, I tell this guy he's disgusting, and he loves it!" Mia laughs.

We chime in like a pack of wild hyenas.

"All this happened after we left?" Phoenix expresses disbelief.

"Yes! But he still didn't leave. At this point, I'm desperate to end it before it becomes a thing. I make one last attempt and tell him, 'My linebacker boyfriend is on his way over right now. Get to stepping or get stomped!"

JC interjects. "He must've gotten the message because he gets up and jets, just as we walk up."

"Yeah, Riz never had to deal with it because Mia handled that!" Penelope looks proud.

"I see," I reply, eyebrow raised.

Riz hugs Mia, kissing her on her forehead. "My baby knows how to handle herself."

"So, I see your night was uneventful!" I tease them, smiling.

Still in Riz's arms, Mia turns to face the group. "How was your night, big sis?" She cocks her head to the side with a huge question mark on her face. "Hardly saw you two at all. What you two get into?"

Phoenix and I glance at each other.

"It was—"

"—It was nice, right?" Phoenix nods.

I clear my throat. "Yeah, nothing like what happened with ya'll happened to us. We just uh—"

"—Went back to the hotel and pretty much crashed. That place was crazy—"

"—Yeah, sex rooms and dick holes."

Phoenix nods and glances at Leon.

Leon coughs and looks away.

Mia squints at me. Riz and JC exchange glances. Penelope looks at Mia and laughs.

"Uh huh," Mia shakes her head.

"Getting ready for takeoff. Buckle up and relax for a calm, smooth ride back to the great city of Milwaukee," the pilot addresses the cabin.

We disseminate, find our seats and buckle in.

Over the seats, Riz yells to everybody, "We got to do this at least once a year!"

"Yeah!"

"Yes!"

"We always have so much fun!" I grasp Phoenix's arm.

"Well, it's settled then." Phoenix kisses my hand. "Anything for you."

My smile can't seem to stay away.

He really is everything you've ever wanted.

His phone vibrates and a text message pops up on his notifications. "When are you coming home?"

A sick feeling washes over me and it's back to reality.

"What is she talking about now?" Phoenix asks out loud.

"How would I know? She is your ex, right?"

"There's a double question in there that I'm going ignore. You know she's my ex, you're going through the whole divorce process with me. Emphasis on the word 'process,' cause that's what this is, babe. What's up?"

"She shouldn't be talking to you like that."

"Like what?"

"The fact that you don't see it, is a problem."

Phoenix throws up his hands. "I'm doing my fucking best, Ari!"

"Don't yell at me!"

Phoenix takes a breath and in a calmer tone says, "Please, let me see what she wants. It's probably about my kids. You said it yourself, I'm going to be a great dad. But that's because I already am. Let me see what's going on." His eyes plead with me to understand.

I stare back blankly.

"Listen, I know I hurt you in the past. But that's just it. It's in the past. I'm working every day to earn your trust." He sighs. "I should've never lied to you about anything. I was just afraid of losing you. My situation is so complicated. No woman in her right mind wants to get tangled in this." He looks down at his hands.

The sorrow emanating from him is so thick, it's palpable. Suffocating. Cloaking me against my will, drowning my heart in it. I back down.

"Go ahead. Whatever. Take the call." I get up and go to the restroom, slamming the door shut behind me.

Someone knocks on the door.

"Hey. Just a minute." I wipe my eyes.

"Ari, it's me. You OK?"

"Mia." I breathe a sigh of relief. "I'm fine. Just . . . working out the kinks. You know?" I crumple a wet napkin in my hand.

"Let us in?"

I unlock the door. Mia and Penelope are standing in the doorway. They squeeze their way in and shut the door behind them.

"Heard you guys. You alright, chica?" Penelope lifts my chin.

I close my eyes. "I felt this intense sadness, just radiating off him. It's so heavy. What is it? Why?"

"It's stress, sis. From all ends. You feel bad for him, but you also need room for you. And let's be honest, no matter what you tell yourself, you don't fully trust him. At least not yet."

"But I'm trying. So fucking hard." Fat, juicy droplets fall into my palms.

"Plus, it's hormones. You can see that all day." Penelope adds.

"That little bump is nothing but a ball of emotions. You never know what's gonna set it off."

My sniffles turn into a snort. "Like you would know, Mia. Or you for that matter, Piña."

Penelope points to herself. "Investigation Discovery, remember? That's my jam. That goes for the ER and medical reality shows too."

"Let's not forget, I interned in the maternity ward last semester. So, uh, yeah."

"Alright, alright. So maybe you're right."

"Plus, sis, nothing is settled. Everything is up in the air. You're like a ship with no anchor. You're scared. Hell, I would be too."

"But it won't last forever. He's into you. I can see that much. I can always tell when a guy is just trying to get some and when he's in it, in it. You know what I mean? And Phoenix is in it, he's in love with you, Ari. Has been since we first met him in that club." She slaps my arm. "'Member that? The man was strong enough to resist my charms. I mean me! Men can't say no to this!" Penelope touches her behind and makes a sizzling noise. "Aw aw aw!" She fans her hand like it's on fire.

Mia and I roll our eyes and laugh like kids on a playground.

"You know I'm just playing. But seriously, Phoenix will do anything for you."

"You'll get through this. The road may get bumpy. But for your baby you can do anything. You will do anything, Ari. Just like mom did for us."

"Oh, and he's definitely getting a divorce, JC showed me his court case on Ccap!"

Mia and I stare at Penelope.

"What? I've been keeping track too. You're my girl! Can't let no dude play you like that."

I close my eyes and let the moment pass. "Maybe you're right."

Mia pats my shoulder. "It'll all work out. It's gonna be messy, but it will work out. You'll see."

"Are all little sisters this damn nosy?"

"Wouldn't be right if we weren't." Mia's endearing demeanor warms my heart.

They open the door and let themselves out. I sit and soak up the wisdom a little longer.

I finally step foot out of the restroom and rejoin the crew. Phoenix is quiet, stoic when I return to my seat. "You good?"

"Everything's fine." He clears his throat. "When we get back, uhm, I need to go home to the girls. I've been away for a while. They need me. They've been asking about me."

"Oh. Yeah. Saw that coming."

The hum of the jet is all we hear for a while.

"So, will she be there? With you?"

Phoenix begins stretching his neck as if he's uncomfortable. "I mean, she'll be there when I get there. But no, I don't think she's spending the night or anything."

"You don't think?"

He shakes his head. "No."

"You don't think?" I stare at the side of his face. "That's not good enough for me," I tell him, pausing to try and contain my anger. "She shouldn't be spending the night. Not if you're going through a divorce." I bite down and close my eyes for a moment. "If she does stay, let me know? And when do you plan to tell the girls about me?"

As if he's holding back, Phoenix turns his attention out the window. "Soon, Ari. Soon."

My body tenses up.

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

What do you think is next for Aria? She always seems to find herself at this same crossroad. Does she trust him and move forward or is his uncertainty about Nora sleeping over a bit too much to swallow?