"Girl, did you hear?" Letty comes rushing towards me as I put my fake eyelashes on. "Ginger quit!"

"What?"

"For reals, I guess she called Rio some time today and said she was done." Letty says spinning on the chair.

"She was a mess, after what happened." Michelle tells us. "I'm sure he injured her ribs with the kicks he gave her, but she didn't want to go to the hospital. Hopefully, she takes care of herself. I may not like her but no one deserves to be treated like that."

"True that!" Letty chimes in. I notice Jessica is quiet as she gets ready. I'm sure memories of what happened of what Jimmy did to her, are running through her head.

"So now, Rio and Eva will be holding auditions to replace her and our girl here--Dr. I'm too sexy for my scrubs." Letty jokes, Michelle laughs shaking her head at her.

"Hey, Jess, is your bro single?" Letty asks randomly.

Jessica shakes her head. "Uh, uh, nope. You're not getting him. He's not a hit it and quit it type, Letty."

"Okay. First, how rude! And second, I wasn't asking for me! I just noticed he kept staring at Stella, a lot."

"They know each other, remember?" Jessica, tells her. "Oh wait, you weren't there, you were too busy sucking Noah's face off when we were talking in the booth. Stella and Sean knew each other from elementary school."

Letty gets serious for a moment, telling her not to bring up Noah's name since he pretty much bailed on her since their hook up and has ignored her calls and texts. 

Letty looks at me now. "Girl, if that isn't a sign, I don't know what is, it's time that Stella gets her groove back!" She sashays her hips, seductively. 

"I like you Stella, but gross! I don't want to think about my brother being a part of anyone getting their groove back." Jessica says with her face scrunched up. I laugh as I step into my heels.

"It's not like that with me and Sean." But the memory of the time we were in his hotel room pops in my head, remembering how it felt to be kissed by him. My face feels warm all of a sudden.

"Uh huh, sure. I see you, and your face just got red, that doesn't happen for no reason, girl." Letty says, winking at me.

"Raven! Girls, your group number is up next!" Eva comes in, thankfully at the perfect moment, corralling us to go on stage.

<><><><>

The long night ends on a high note as there was a birthday event and we all made out like bandits with the amount of tips we got.

"Raven, Boss wants to see you." Roman comes in the dressing room as we are getting changed to go home.

After rushing to change out of my clothes and into my street clothes. I say goodnight to the girls and head to Rio's office. 

"Come in." He summons after I knock. I walk in and take a seat in front of his desk as usual, lately, setting my things down.

"I'm sure you not only heard but noticed Ginger is no longer with us."

I nod confirming that I know.

"I need you to help Eva with auditions this next week. I will be leaving on Thursday, traveling to meet with Johnny Santiago's assistant. He's opening a new club in New York and he is trying to persuade me to get it up and running after the construction is complete."

"Are you thinking of leaving?"

"Maybe, but it's too early to decide. I just need your help with the dancers while I'm out. Are you still planning on taking a couple of weeks off at the beginning of next month?"

"Yes, I do. Is that going to be a problem?" Worrying the the loss of Ginger and Michelle, will put a wrench in my plans, to take the kids to Abu Dhabi.

"No, I think we'll manage. I just wanted to confirm is all. We have a job posting listed, so Eva will be calling in auditions, you may have to come in on your days off for a couple of hours. Will that be a problem?"

"I'll manage." I tell him and he smiles, standing. That's my cue to stand and head out as well. I reach for the door but then he stops me and I turn, realizing he's standing close to me, really close.

"I never properly thanked you for giving me a heads up on Mikey and his friend, Ray. You probably helped keep me out of a delicate situation." He tucks a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. He leans in and I move my face before his lips meet mine. He chuckles quietly. He takes a deep breath and drops his hand from my face. 

"I'm not like Ginger, Rio. I'm not going to sleep with my boss."

"I never assumed you were like Ginger, or anyone else for that matter..." He says, "and I respect you for that. I apologize for my forwardness. And thank you. Ray, despite who he is, might be a good asset to have in the future."

"How do you mean?"

Hey rubs his chin, "Mikey came clean. He got pinched for some petty shit and they were trying to get him to turn on me, but Mikey was smart and has some things on Ray from their time together. He has Ray by the shorthairs, so...for now, he's more of an ally than a threat."

I nod, catching on to what he means, "Good." Ray must have gone too far undercover, or in over his head and now it's costing him. It sounds like Mike is blackmailing him.

"See you on Wednesday, Raven."

When I get home, I find Lucy asleep on the couch, a box of tissues and several used ones next to her. Kai pops his head out from his bedroom door and then walks down the stairs. 

"She made us promise not to tell you, but that bitch Chelsea, set her up." He tells me quietly.

Remembering, she was going to that birthday party, I check my phone, now seeing her first message telling me she was on her way to the party with several smiley faces and thumbs up emoji's. And then a couple of hours after, I see another message, short and simple telling me she was home.

"What happened?"

"That wench, gave Lucy some bogus address and when she realized there was no party she called us to come get her." Miles tells me, now joining us.

"Wait, how did she get there?"

"We offered, but she took her skateboard." Kai tells me.

"She was really embarrassed and upset, moms." Miles tells me, leaning over the counter, looking at her sleeping form on the couch. "She didn't want you to go all crazy on her ass," He uses air quotes, "on Chelsea, I mean. So she asked us to not tell you, but we couldn't not tell you."

I unfold the blanket draped over the back of the couch and cover Lucy. I thank the twins for telling me and then tell them goodnight.

I don't want to be like a meddling annoying sibling or parent, but someone needs to put that girl in her place. 

<><><><>

"Okay, if I make this shot, Miles and Lucy, you both have to do my chores for the next week." Kai announces.

We've spent almost the entire day at a miniature golfing and fun center. We've done laser tag, roller-skated, raced go-Karts and now finishing up with miniature golf. I didn't bring anything up about the party, hoping that Lucy will tell me herself when she's ready.

"There's no way, brah, it's literally impossible!" Miles tries to get in his brother's head.

"If you make this, I will do your chores for a month!" Lucy challenges. I give her a look, shaking my head, but she just smiles. "It's okay, mom, he won't make it."

As usual, a few people give us looks at hearing her call me mom. But what surprises me more this time, is Lucy confronting the people who give us judgmental glances.

"What, got a problem?" Lucy glares at some of the onlookers.

"Easy tiger." I tell her, turning her away from them. She's definitely not herself today.

We watch as Kai does some silly dance jig before he settles into his stance, making me laugh out loud. He lifts his club back and then swings it. We watch as the ball travels up the ramp, through the windmill, down the spout, ricochets off the edge and then the opposite corner before the ball rattles into the hole.

"Oh!" Kai shouts, pumping his fists into the air. "Who's the man? That's right everyone, this guy! Did you see that?" He jumps around, asking complete strangers near us, if they saw his lucky shot. He's acting more like Miles than himself at the moment.

"Welp, that sucks, I only have to do his chores for a week, but you my friend, signed yourself up for an entire month!" Miles chuckles as he nudges Lucy.

"My life literally blows." Lucy mumbles. I probably would have found it funny if I didn't know she was also referring to what happened the night before.

"Come on, lets go get some frozen yogurt." I tell them as we head to the car.

"But we haven't eaten dinner, yet." Lucy states. I remind her it's okay to do things a little off schedule, sometimes. 

After our frozen yogurt stop, we head home. I sit at the kitchen counter working my laptop when my phone chimes.

Sean: what are you doing?

Me: Nothing, just got home. Why?

Sean: let's go do something, I'm so boooorrrreed!!!

I laugh as I read his text.

"What's so funny?"

I jump and scream, at the sound of Miles voice behind me. "Miles, don't scare me like that!"

"I just asked a question, chill out." He says walking to the fridge, shaking his head.

"Who's texting you?" Kai asks me.

"What? No one." I tell them and put my phone down and turn my attention back to my laptop.

"Why are you being so weird?" Miles asks me.

"Why are you being so nosy?" I question.

"Why are you guys answering each other with questions?" Lucy asks as walks in from the hallway. My phone chimes again and they all look at me. I close my laptop, taking it with me and my phone as I head to my room. My phone keeps chiming in quick successions. 

Damn it Sean.

I open my phone and read his several texts:

Sean: Hello?

Sean: Stella....

Sean: Helllloooooo

Sean: Fine, I'm going to keep texting until you respond.

Sean: Maybe you're in the shower

Sean: Shit, I shouldn't have said that, because now I'm just picturing you in the shower...

Sean: Maybe you're cooking?

Sean: I'm hungry. What are you making?

Sean: Wait...maybe you're taking a dump. I definitely don't want to picture that.

I laugh out loud at his craziness.

Me: STOP

Me: I'm here, calm down.

Sean: Come on, let's do something. Jessie went out with a girl from work, she's super chatty. But I promised I wouldn't follow them, so now I'm sitting here, doing nothing.

Sean: PLLLEEAASSE!!

Me: Alright, shut up already. Give me an hour. I'll meet you at the South Pointe Park Pier.

Sean: An HOUR?!

Me: Yes an HOUR or you can wait until TOMORROW, Mr.

Sean: Fine, an hour it is! =)

Now, what do I tell the kids...

I head out of my room and start making a quick dinner. Lucy comes and helps me like she always does. Except she's quieter than usual. Normally she's talking my ear off, the whole time we cook together.

"You okay?" I ask her.

She nods but doesn't say anything. I ask Miles and Kai to help set up the table. As we sit eating dinner, I tell them I've got our flights booked for the trip to Abu Dhabi. That gets them all talking excitedly, even Lucy seems in better spirits afterwards.

Once dinner is cleaned up, I tell them I'll be running to the store for groceries, which I will be...later. They each tell me to get them something they want or need. I grab the keys to the car and head out to meet Sean.

He's leaning up against a rental he's driving, when I pull up next to him, parking the car. He smiles as I get out.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." I tell him.

"You're worth the wait."

I smile, rolling my eyes, at his corniness. "So what are we doing?" He asks, " do you want to grab something to eat?"

"Nah, I already ate, but we can go get you something to eat."

He gives me a look, "Yes, because I want you to just sit there and watch me eat."

I laugh, shaking my head. "Okay how about you come grocery shopping with me?"

This time he laughs, "That's very domestic and not weird...but ok."

"I'll drive!" I tell him, grinning. We pull into a local grocery store and we walk in, grabbing a cart.

"So are you liking Miami?"

"Yeah, it's nice."

We keep talking as I make my way up and down the aisles. I'm so busy talking, I don't notice that I'm grabbing the deodorant Kai asked for until he grabs it out of my hands. "Why are you getting men's deodorant?"

"Oh" I laugh, "I was just distracted with all the talking."

He eyes the food in the cart. "Don't get me wrong, Stels, I like a girl with a healthy appetite, but this will last you like a month instead of a week..." I tell him I like to stock up on things. 

When we load up the food in the trunk, he asks if he can help me unload all the groceries at home, and I can take him back to his car later. I thank him but tell him, I can manage.

He narrows his eyes at me. "Why do I get the feeling you're hiding something from me?"

"What makes you say that?" I laugh, nervously.

"Well, for one, you're laugh just now, isn't genuine. And you're totally being evasive whenever I ask if I can go to your place. Like when I asked if could pick you up or just now to help unload all this food..."

I tell him he's reading too much into everything. He continues to look at me before he gets in the car. I sigh deeply before I get in the car myself. The drive back to his car is quiet. He starts opening the door as soon as I pull up next to his car, "See ya around." He gets out slamming my door shut. 

I hurry and get out and grab his arm to keep him from getting in his car. "Are you actually mad, Sean?"

"You're lying to me and I don't know why?" He tells me, his blue eyes darker than usual.

"I'm...I'm just not used to being so open after everything that's happened. You can ask Jessica. I hardly know the girls at work and vice versa."

He sighs and leans against the car. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get so upset at you. I think I'm just taking out my frustrations with Jessie on you. She's keeping something from me, I know it."

"I'm sure it's not to hurt you, Sean. She must have her reasons." I try to help her out, even though I'm not any different.

"Yeah maybe." He says.

After a while, I tell him I need to head home to get the food in the fridge. We each get in out cars, and I let him know we'll get together again, soon.