Mid December – 4 Months Pregnant

Leon pulls up to the entrance of the St. Regis Atlanta and valets the all-black Cadillac Escalade. Complete with a lush Zen garden and four-tiered water fountain, St. Regis is lavish and inviting.

"It was tight, but we all managed to fit," I declare as I hop of out the SUV. "Colder than I thought!" I quickly zip my black Moncler puff jacket.

Leon grabs my Louis Vuitton luggage and sits it upright. "Here you go, Ms. Aria."

"Thanks."

Phoenix walks by. "Told you so!" He laughs as he goes to the back of the truck to unload everybody's luggage.

I roll my eyes.

"Here we are, the heart of Buckhead." JC takes a moment to take in the beauty of the building.

"Buckhead?" I ask.

"It's the Beverly Hills of Atlanta. Where everybody who's anybody hangs out."

"Oh." I look around. "Nice."

"Hey, we can bypass reception and check in with this app." Phoenix lifts his phone in the air. "Got everybody a suite, on the top floor."

We all gather around Phoenix to download the app and login. Stepping into the St. Regis looks like old money. Sparkling, oversized glass chandeliers, giant Roman pillars, dark wooden floors covered by cream oriental rugs and two grand staircases greet us as we walk through the glass doors. After riding the elevator to the top, Leon and each couple find their room number.

Phoenix and I have a sweet corner suite that boasts all the independence of a large condo. We step into the oval foyer with three entrances leading to different rooms; the cream living room and dining room featuring a gorgeous marble fireplace, the king size bedroom with a balcony view overlooking Buckhead and the full-size kitchen with an oven and ready-to-use bar complete with drink add-ons.

I take a cherry from the bar and pop it into my mouth. "This place is incredible." I pick up a bottle of Beluga vodka. "You had them stock the bar with your fav new vodka? I'm not gonna even ask how much it is a night."

Phoenix leans over and kisses me. "You like it?"

"Love it."

"Let's break it in." He takes my coat with his to hang in the closet. We go back to the foyer and gather our bags, bringing them into the bedroom.

"I'm going to freshen up. New city, new undies for me. I've been stewing in these all day."

Phoenix gives me the stink face causing me to laugh at the absurdness of a grown ass man acting like a second grader.

"You're so immature!" I gather my things and jump in the shower, which is nothing short of amazing. The oversized round shower head, steady pressure and perfectly hot, but not scalding water leave me feeling like I've just walked out of a sauna. Refreshed. Phoenix gets off the phone and gathers his toiletries for the shower.

"Just got off the phone with Mike, the CEO of Apex Real Estate, that company I was telling you about. He wants to welcome us to Atlanta with some good old fashion southern hospitality. We're going out to dinner, Caribbean food and dancing!" Phoenix dances his way to the bathroom.

"OK!" Still wrapped in my towel, I rummage through my clothes to find my cute little black dress. "I can still squeeze into this baby," I tell an empty room. Pairing the off-shoulder long sleeve dress with tall black boots, I give myself a quick onceover in the full-size mirror, before letting my hair down and applying makeup.

With steam pouring into the bedroom, Phoenix gets out the shower to find me dressed and ready to go. Once he's dressed in a thin, light grey sweater that shows off his physique, dark jeans and Timberland boots, I grab a light leather jacket and clutch then we head out and meet everyone in the hall. Leon dresses in all black as usual. JC sports a dark blue sweater with dark wash jeans. Riz dons a blue stripe button down shirt with jeans. Mia wears jeans with thigh-high boots and a black bodysuit. Penelope wears a red, slouchy off shoulder sweater, dark jeans and brown ankle boots. We're killing it as we head out for the night.

Tonight is gonna be lit!

We arrive at a Caribbean restaurant in the downtown area. The parking lot is packed, making it hard to find a good spot. People are hanging out, laughing and talking as they are either waiting to eat or on their way out. The bass from the live band can be heard as we step out of the truck.

"Over here!" A brown skin guy with a nappy high fade and goatee greets us as we step inside the already full, live and buzzing restaurant slash dance hall. Wearing a navy button down shirt and jeans, he stands up from the booth he was holding for us.

"Mike! My man!" Phoenix shakes hands and introduces us. "This is my girl, Ari. My boys, Leon, JC, Riz. Ari's sisters Mia and Penelope."

We all wave and greet Mike.

"Welcome, welcome, man! Good to see you. So, the flight in was smooth?" Mike asks as he gestures for us to sit in the booth.

"Man, smooth as can be," Phoenix replies.

"Rode in on the private jet?" Mike asks with a smile.

"You know it!" Phoenix laughs.

Mike gestures for the waiter. "Let's get some drinks and menus. Man, the shrimp and grits are good, the oxtail pasta is good, the cabbage. Man, everything on the menu is good!" Mike laughs heartily. "You'll love this place. It's a restaurant on this level, dancehall upstairs," he yells over the music and talking.

The waiter takes drink and food orders.

I take off my jacket. "Where's the restroom?" I ask.

"Upstairs to the right," Mike tells me.

As soon as I get up to leave, Mia and Penelope follow leaving the guys to socialize.

"This place is insane," I yell back as I weave my way up the stairs.

"Girl! I've been looking to get out for a while. Milwaukee was getting so stale." Mia exclaims.

"Chica, we're partying tonight!" Penelope salsa dances to the restroom line where we wait in the hall.

I howl to the moon. Mia and Penelope bust out laughing, but no one around us bats an eye.

When we finally get inside the restroom, we realize why the line was so long. Only three stalls inside, which we take one by one.

"So, you and JC, Piña? What's up with that?" I yell under the stall.

"Idk. We're trying to figure it out."

"Better grab him now while you can girl! He's doing big things." I yell.

"Yeah, well it's not just about that for me, Chica. We have to be compatible, you know? Pass me some tissue?"

I look for tissue in my stall. "Girl! I'm out. Mia, please tell me you have tissue?"

"Mia?" Penelope bangs the side of her stall.

"Mia!" I yell banging the side of my stall.

"What?" Mia laughs. "Obviously, I didn't hear you." She passes tissue to us both.

I snatch it. Once out the stall and washing my hands, I notice Mia wearing a new ring. "Sis? What's that?"

"What?"

"Mia, will you stop playing so much? That ring, girl!"

Mia laughs and closes her eyes. "A gift."

"Mia! From who?" Penelope grabs her hand to get a good look. "It's gorgeous."

"Who else?" I deadpan.

"Just a promise ring," Mia tells us as she seemingly floats out the ladies' room.

Penelope and I exchange a sideways glance.

Back at the table, the guys are loud, talking non-stop, telling war stories. It's clear they've made it to their second maybe even third round.

"Ladies, y'all back." Mike looks up happily and starts to get out his seat before we let him know we'll just slide into the booth where we are.

Phoenix passes us our drinks. "I watched them for you."

Staring into his eyes across the table, I mouth "thank you," as the rest of the guys get caught up in one of Riz's crazy post game NFL tales.

After dinner, we head upstairs to the dancehall to burn off some calories. Bass bounces off the wall as the DJ spins "Essence" by WizKid featuring Tems. The infectious beat does something to my bones. I immediately and uncontrollably find my way to the dance floor. Hands up, eyes closed, head moving from side to side, the music takes over my body and mind. My girls follow me, our guys follow us. We take over the dance floor, people make room for us as we migrate to the center of the room.

Mia sticks out her tongue as she rolls her body to the beat. Riz comes in with a two-step. Penelope propels her hips from side to side. JC and Mike both dance watching Penelope move. I wind my hips in unending circles.

"You know a woman's power is in the hips!" A brown-skin cutie yells to me over the music. He attempts to dance with me before Phoenix cuts him off.

Phoenix comes in close, standing behind me with his hands on my hips. This feels right. I reach behind my head, wrapping my arms around his neck. Quite naturally, our bodies connect and can't seem to separate. He's addictive. As I turn to face him, he slips one of his legs in between mine. Inseparable, we begin wind together.

"Hmm."

"Ha! You like that?" He asks.

https://youtu.be/9YqecbxSr4A

"Drogba (Joanna)" by Afro B makes the crowd go wild..

"You trying to keep up with me?" I taunt him. I turn my back to him and start twerking. "Keep up with this."

He laughs and stops dancing completely, just to watch me work.

"Aye!"

"Aye!"

"Aye!"

When I turn, Mike, JC, Riz, Penelope, Mia and some people I don't know are watching me go to work. I wipe sweat from my brow. "What?"

"Nothing, you looked fine as fuck out there." Phoenix whispers in my ear as I push up on him.

A laugh escapes me.

"No, I'm serious." He leans into me, letting me know our favorite friend is awake and excited.

I cover for him and dance on him, wrapping my arms around his neck as Praiz's "Me and You" wafts into the airwaves slowing things down a bit.

"I love you," I whisper.

"No, I love you," Phoenix whispers back as his breath lightly tickles the side of my neck. He leans his head into me and inhales. "You always smell so sweet. I'm hooked, Ari. It's everything about you. The way you move, the way you laugh, I just love being around you."

I breathe in deeply. "My day doesn't start until I hear your voice. Until I see your face. You know that?"

Our lips meet and a burst of energy makes my heart soar, as if a breeze blows right through me. I'm weightless in his arms.

We dance to the end of song and take a seat at the table Leon occupies for the group. Leon lifts his glass of water and smiles.

"Enjoying the view?" I ask.

"Yes, indeed."

Phoenix and Leon give each other dabs. Leon leans back into the shadow of the corner.

"Want a drink?" I offer.

"I'm cool," Leon replies.

"I'll take that drink I had earlier." He wipes his brow as he takes in all the dancing bodies and the high energy of the room. "Mike was right. I fucking love this place."

I dance to the bar and order a pineapple juice for myself and an Island Rum Punch for Phoenix. 

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Until next time, Lover! Remember - Tap that Star!