"Where do you want 'em?" I ask, sitting a box of printed tees on the curb near Troy's open trunk.

"Why are you carrying anything? Give me that." He picks the box up and places it into the back of his parents' grey Ford Expedition. "I'm gonna grab the rest of the boxes for delivery." He unlocks the doors with his key fob. "You grab a seat." He laughs and walks off shaking his head.

Troy finishes packing the boxes, jumps in the driver's seat and off we go. "Business has been booming since we last touched base, Ari. Chicago has been good to SassySavvy tees." Troy smiles, advertising those beautiful teeth and his full, to-die-for, kissable lips.

Stop that!

"For the past few months, I've been signing on major players in the streetwear game, all local so far, but I plan to take it nationwide. We're no longer just available online, Ari! I got us into Iridium 77 Lab, Leader 1354 and RSVP Gallery. All boutiques with the streetwear game on lock."

I turn to glance at the back seat. "They ordered all these tees?" A laugh escapes me. "Damn, you're good! You're really good."

Troy smacks my thigh. "Told you I'd take us to new heights." He casually rests his hand on my thigh as he drives with his left hand. Before I know it, he's slid his hand up and inward towards my upper inner thigh. He's hooked his claws into me as if to say I'm ain't going nowhere.

Tiny shockwaves travel up my leg and land in my honey pot. It's undeniable, Troy has crossed over, from friend zone to fair game. We're playing in dangerous territory. My panties are getting wet.

Oh my.

Tension rises between us. I unzip my coat.

"Is it hot in here?" I let the window down.

Troy reaches for the knob to turn down the heat, leaving a cool space that was once hot, on my thigh. He pulls up to a curb. "Here we are, first stop. Want to come in?"

"Sure." Unbuckling my seatbelt, I open my door.

Troy gets out and stacks two boxes on top of each other on the curb. He picks up the boxes and walks up to a small boutique, backing into the door to open it. I walk past.

"Thanks."

"Troy!" A girl with killer tattoos and a nose ring, runs from behind the register. "Whatcha got for me?"

"Oh, here's my business partner, Aria. She actually designed this line. These are the tees from our food over dudes line."

"Nice!"

We shake hands.

"I'm Mischa. I love your eye," she tells me.

"Thank you!"

Troy takes the boxes to the clear glass countertop. Mischa grabs a box opener and slices the box open, eagerly lifting a tee out the box to admire it. "Just what we needed. I got just the place for these. Right near the front. They'll burn through these in no time. Let me place a reup order now."

Troy takes out his phone. "What you want?"

I walk away and wander around, perusing the selections in the boutique. If you're a girl and you're into streetwear, this place is it. Everything they offer is curated by someone who knows their stuff. I could see myself sporting a few outfits out of this place.

Once you drop this load!

My lips purse.

I could swing it right now, if wanted...

"OK. Soon as they come in, I'll deliver 'em." Troy gives Mischa a hug.

"Nice to meet the artist!" She waves at me.

I nod and smile.

"On to the next," Troy says as he opens the door for me.

"That was kind of fun."

"I know right? It's cool to see how much they like our work. Told you we're a good team."

I smile and roll my eyes as I open the passenger door of the truck and hop in.

***

The sun is beginning to set as we roll up the curb of Troy's parent's house.

"All in a days work," he says. "I'm ready to eat." He looks over at me.

"I could definitely eat," I reply. My phone rings, Phoenix smiling face pops up on my screen. I ignore it. "I'm so over his shit."

"You alright?" Troy frowns out of concern.

I huff, covering my brow. "It's nothing. I'm just tired is all, of all the bullshit."

"Wanna talk about it?" he asks, sounding like Troy, the best friend.

A sigh escapes me. "From the guy that couldn't keep his lips to himself? That's like asking a potential buyer, what's the best price to set your home at. You know they're going to set it at a number that works for them and not necessarily you. No thanks."

"Ouch. That's not fair." He pauses. "I mean, I get it. What happened was . . . it was an honest mistake, Ari."

"Rejection and hormones, I guess." I chime in.

"Yeah, hormones for you. Bad judgement and horrible timing for me." He sighs. "Look, I'm still your friend. I've never lied to you and I don't plan on ever starting."

I sigh. "Yeah, it was a mistake. I can't even believe it happened. I mean, you're my guy. As much as I would love to," I smile sarcastically and bat my eyes, "it's not a line I want to cross again. I need you to be my friend. Who else am I gonna get a guy's perspective from? One that's the truth?"

He nods. "I promise I won't cross that line again."

"Thank you." I take a deep breath. "Me too. Promise I won't go there." I open the door to get out.

Troy meets me on the sidewalk and throws his arm over my shoulder as we walk to the front door. "Let's get some grub. If we don't get some food in me soon, I may turn to cannibalism!" He eyes me, pulling out his keys.

"Baby and all, huh?" I laugh. "Ruthless, you're just ruthless."

We laugh like old friends. When we get inside I drop off my coat and handbag at the front closet. "So what do you have a taste for?" I ask, pulling out my phone. "I'm down for Chicago style deep dish. Haven't had that in years!"

"Alright." Troy hops over the back of the couch and lands perfectly, arm resting across the headrest. "Deep dish it is."

"Veggie?"

"Why not? Throw in a salad too."

"Got it." I go online to a local pizza joint and place the order. "Ready in thirty."

"That's cool. I can wait. But not much longer than that!" he warns.

I laugh. "OK. Let me sit back towards the end." I get up and sit on the edge of the couch.

Troy drops his head and smirks. "That won't do anything. I become a beast, in starve mode. You should know by now." He pats the seat directly next to him on the couch. "But seriously, what's bothering you? You said rejection and hormones? What do you mean by that? I know it's about Phoenix."

I sit next him, he turns to face me as I rest my arm over his on the headrest. "It is."

"Listen, nothing has changed between us. I still feel I can be myself with you. Hell, I feel I know you better now!" He laughs. "I swear, I'll be totally objective. Besides, I really do like Aya. I feel guilty as shit for what happened, but I'm glad you hooked us up."

"Well, I don't know how I feel right now. Everything is all jumbled up. When it comes to Aya, I kinda hate myself. But Phoenix? I mean, Phoenix may have cheated on me?" I throw my hands up. "I don't know. He's been distant lately. There's this, this girl who's been interning with him and he's become super protective over her. I met her. I don't like her. She seems like she has another agenda. I don't know, I just get off vibes from her. I tried to talk to him about it and he basically forbid me to even mention her. Told me he needed a break. Not a breakup, just a break, you know?"

Troy stares at me waiting for me to continue.

"I, uh." Against my better judgment, I roll my eyes. "I guess it didn't help that I've been following him and got caught. So . . . there's that." I glance at Troy waiting for a reaction. "You know, now that I'm saying it out loud, I do sound kind of ridiculous." I squint.

"Yeah. Like you really don't trust him."

I clear my throat. "Well, I don't. Kinda. On the plus side, I found out Nora is not a threat."

"That's good, right? So, all the drama is over?"

I grumble. "Well, not exactly. This girl. I overheard her talking to someone in the restroom at the job and her conversation was sinister to say the least. It was like she was plotting with someone. I couldn't catch it all, but it felt like Phoenix was the mark, or something."

Troy raises his eyebrows. "Did you tell Phoenix?"

"That's the thing, after I got caught with all my crazy, it's like I've lost my credibility with him. He thinks I've lost it, like it's hormones or something."

"He said that?"

"No! It's like, it's implied. You know? And now that we're on this break."

Troy leans forward.

I huff. "OK, so he said he wanted a break and he went out with his friend Nixon, who doesn't like me. He blames me for his divorce. Don't let me get started on why him hanging with Nixon is just bad for me! So I team up with Mia and Pina and we just so happen to show up at a pool hall that I know Phoenix frequents."

Troy raises a finger.

"Before you say anything we got there first! Phoenix showed up like thirty minutes later. And there's this girl that ends up hanging with them all night. I try asking about her, Phoenix doesn't want to give me the time of day. This rando girl, Phoenix and Nixon all leave to go bar hopping together. He makes it an expressive point that I don't follow. The next thing I know, I can't find them and he's walking out of a hotel at like six in the morning."

"What? So, you think he finally cheated, after you've been basically accusing him of cheating this whole time?"

"Well, when you say it like that!" I give Troy sharp eyes. "That's when I decided I needed a break. I was driving him and myself crazy. That's when I showed up on your doorstep."

"Hmm." Troy thinks for a moment. "OK. You're not gonna like this." He pauses before the storm. "Listen. You've already muddied the waters, pretty badly. The constant accusations and playing spy cam and shit, it ruined your currency, my guy. Now if you caught him actually cheating, he could go so far as to say you drove him to it. I mean, I don't think he would. But he has room to do that sort of thing. From the sound of it, he hasn't been flying in friendly skies."

"Talk about a shit storm." Swallowing my sorrow, I try to holding back tears.

Troy stares back with concern. "It's gonna be alright. I'm here for you." He rubs my arm. "Wait, how did you know what hotel he'd be at?"

Sniffling, I wipe a runaway tear. "I just went to where Nixon has been staying, since his wife filed for divorce."

"So, he could've just gotten too drunk to drive and crashed at his friend's pad?" Troy's eyes are wide as he gets up and grabs a napkin for me.

I take the Kleenex and dab my eyes, shoulders hunched as I lean over, hiding my face. "Yeah."

"I'm sorry, but you don't have a leg to stand on. You gotta give him a free pass. You can't keep accusing the poor guy. You can't bring up the intern anymore. You're burnt. Toast. You got to cool it or you'll push him away. Kid or no kid, a man can only take so much, Ari."

I huff. "I'm so stupid. God help me!" The napkin is saturated.

Troy gently grabs my shoulders. "You've got to trust him at some point or at least suspend disbelief long enough to get the full story. Truth be told, Phoenix gets himself into some situations!" Troy bucks his eyes and shakes his head.

"Stop trying to make me laugh!" I giggle.

Troy nudges my chin. "That's more like it. But just think about it. When has it ever been exactly what you thought it was?"

Running through a mental replay of all that's gone down, I realize his point. "True. That's what happened with Nora. I thought he may have been cheating with her on the side. She kept having him meet her at odd hours, so I got suspicious."

"—You're always suspicious."

"True, but you know. Moreso than usual." I laugh. "Anyhow, she introduced him to her new lover. I watched as it happened."

Troy laughs. "You watched it happen?" He shakes his head. "You know you were meant to be a detective or PI or something. Your spy skills are second to none."

I pretend to take a bow.

"Get to the bottom of the truth, then determine what you want from there and if you find you want to move on, I'm always here for you."

I smile. "Wise words."

"Told you, I'd be honest."

"But, don't I hate it. You mean, I have to swallow all this shit?"

Troy leans his head to the left and squints. "Kinda sorta. Yeah."

"I hate this! All of it."

The doorbell rings.

"Pizza's here. Let's eat!" Troy goes to answer the door. He pays the delivery guy and shuts the door with his free foot. He brings the food to the coffee table near the couch. "I'll get some plates and drinks. Be right back." Troy ducks out to the kitchen.

Phoenix calls, but I press ignore. He's the last person I want to speak to right now.

Troy returns with a spatula, two bottles of iced tea, two plates and two knives and forks and sits one set on each side of the food pile. He wastes no time opening the pizza box and serving up a hefty slice of Chicago deep dish. "Which one you want?"

"Doesn't matter. I'll take that one." I point to a thinner slice.

He picks up the slice with the spatula and places on my plate.

"Thanks."

"No prob." He dives right in, taking a hefty bite out of the piping hot slice. "Oh! That's good." He smiles. "I forgot how good their pizza is, around the corner."

I cut a corner and eat. "Mm hmm."

We sit silent for a while enjoying the rich flavors of the best sauce I've ever tasted on a pizza, tons of mozzarella cheese, delicious roasted veggies and thick, buttery, golden pizza crust. The lemon iced tea washes it down, perfectly.

I toss my used napkin on the now empty plate and pat my full tummy.

Troy wipes his mouth. He looks high, like he's just had his first hit of some awesome new drug everyone's been raging about. He mirrors me, patting his belly and smiling. "See? A good meal always does the trick. Spend a few days with me, we'll get you right."

I lean back into the couch. "I'll take a few days off work and chill here with you. I need some time away." I scoot back to the opposite end of the couch. The right side.

He scoots to the left end and tosses me a soft couch pillow, which I place behind my head. "Mi casa es su casa," he says as he lays back and surfs through Netflix's latest offerings.

"What you feel like watching?" he asks.

"Something stupid funny," I say with a smile.

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

A momentary slip. Do you believe the kiss is a non-issue between Troy and Aria? Or is this something we should be worried about in the future?

Don't forget to TAP that Star! Love you guys! Muah.