Something rare was happening. He had a few days off with no games or travel. It felt delightful and he wanted to spend all that time with Tika. He knew she was in rehearsals all day but he asked if he could come and watch, and he was glad she said yes.

One of her guards slash driver came to pick him up and took him to the location where they were practicing. The location was further out, away from the city in Chesterfield, a suburban city in the west St. Louis County area. It was a very nice area where rich people lived. He had not seen much around the city since living there. Maybe if Tika had some free time outside of rehearsal, she could show him around.

When he walked into the ballroom where they were rehearsing, there were lots of people moving around everywhere. Dancers in formation, counting off as they danced. Singers harmonizing over one of Tika's tracks. Other people walking around giving orders. He didn't even spot Tika at first. The guards simply stood at the entrance of the room while he searched around for her.

Then he spotted Tika sitting in a corner on the floor with a bunch of other women. He immediately recognized who they were. The three ladies from Petite Trois. Okay, he would have to try and not lose his cool. They were literal icons, even bigger than Tika. He could not believe he was in the same room as them.

Tika spotted him watching them and she waved him over.

He was tentative to go over there. Was he here just as a friend, or were they being exposed to everyone in the room who was not part of her team?

He slowly strolled over to the ladies as they all stood from the floor. He had never seen Tika so dressed down, in baggy light gray sweats, a white t-shirt under an additional gray hoodie. The place was kind of cold, so maybe she needed to keep warm. The ladies of Petite Trois were dressed similarly, fully clothed and in layers.

"Hey Rico, thanks for coming!" She grabbed him in a hug and planted a peck of a kiss on his lips. He wanted more than that but there were all these people around that could be looking or trying to snap their pictures.

"Aww!" came from the ladies of Petite Trois.

His cheeks flushed he was sure. How was he in the same room as these phenomenal women?

"Damn, I didn't realize he was this tall! Go, head girl!" That from Ginger Hollands with her fiery red hair. She moved closer to him and bent her neck upwards to view him. She was about six inches shorter than Tika, so it was a big drastic difference. He was used to being taller than everyone in a room, even with his baseball team.

"Don't mind her," Melodie stated as she pulled Ginger away. "She can't get her act right sometimes."

"Wow! Petite Trois. So nice to meet you ladies. I love your music." Here he was sounding like a groupie. Tika still had her arms around him, and he was geeking over three other girls.

"Humph!" Ginger stated. "I didn't know a guy like you would be down with teeny pop music. We don't make songs that guys pump in their jeeps."

"What are you talking about," Tika said. "You have some songs for everyone."

"Yeah, what Tika said. I enjoy your music, especially your solo work Ginger, you put your heart into your latest album."

Ginger popped her imaginary collar. "Well, you know, I am that chick."

"And Gin, you're so wrong," M'Liyah said with a shove to Ginger. "If it wasn't for our awesome music, I may not have met my handsome husband. He's a big fan of our music, from day one."

"Nah, he just had a crush on you from day one," Ginger said.

"Sorry guys, I need to hang with my man a bit. Alone and in private." Tika took his hand and walked away with him. He would have loved to hang out with Petite Trois more, but he was sure there would be time later for that. "Hey, thanks again for coming, babe. You get to see some of my world."

Tika did a little twirl around showing him all the chaos going on. He thought it was loud at a baseball game, but this was another level. The music playing in the background was off, but there was still so much chatter. Tika led him out of the room and into the hallway where they were alone and it was much quieter.

He pulled her in his arms and kissed her like he wanted to kiss her before. Her kisses always made him warm inside, he hoped she felt the same way.

"Are you free tonight to hang out with me? After you're done here." He planted another kiss on her lips. "We can do more of this...or another massage...or-"

"Or naked in bed?"

He chuckled and held her closer with a little squeeze in his arms. He looked down into her brown eyes. "Don't tempt me. I'm serious, we're waiting."

"Ugh! Then no, I'm not coming over." She poked him in the rib. "No serious, I can't anyway. Promised my little Princess a night of fun tonight."

"I understand. I don't mind coming in second to Princess Autumn." He kept holding her and rested his face in her curls. This seemed to be how everything about their relationship was going. "You talked to PT about me? About us?"

It seemed like they already knew about him and their relationship. It was nice letting it out to someone besides Anthony just guessing about it. While he never confirmed it with him, his friend was not stupid.

"Yes. I needed to vent with someone who could understand. They've all been through it with relationships going public. Well, I didn't know Ginger had a guy she's keeping lowkey. Good for her."

"You want us to stay lowkey?" he asked her.

"Do you?"

He rubbed her face as he thought about that for a moment. On one hand, he wanted the whole world to know he got to kiss and do all the things to Tika Foster. On the other hand, it was his business, and they did not need to know. Plus, the media was brutal. Her fans may be worse.

"I don't know how much longer we can keep the media away. They follow you everywhere. You know they are camped outside right now waiting for a chance to capture a picture of you."

"Oh no!" Tika moved away from him and ruffled her curly hair in thought. "Did they see you enter? Did they harass you?"

"Your driver pulled into the side door. I don't know if they saw me."

She looked towards him and shrugged. "Everyone is bound to find out. I want to be around town with you, taking you down the red carpet, or naked on a beach. No, I'm just playing with that last one. What are we even hiding from?"

"We're not hiding, just...I don't know...I'm just getting accustomed to having media in my face for baseball, now they will be in my personal life." He walked to her and wrapped his arms around her again. "I just like what we have now, without all the hoopla."

"I'm sorry if I want to sing to the world I found my guy."

"I'm your guy?"

"You're more than my guy, Rico. You're so much more. You get into my head, you know me. You're different than any other guy, in a good way. I just...I don't want to jinx us. Sometimes I'm afraid you will hurt me like everyone else."

"Never." He planted a kiss on her nose. "Shout it to the world then. I want everyone to know I got you."

Tika smiled at him and pulled out her phone. "Okay, bet. I will change the status right now on my social media and..." She leaned into him and held the phone out to take a selfie with him. "I will post this picture for the world to see."

Now he was a bit nervous about it all coming out. But he also grabbed his phone and took a selfie with Tika. He did not post much on social media, but he took a breath and then posted the selfie. Also, he typed "Me and my girl" with a heart emoji. He pressed post before he chickened out about it.

He had a lot of followers but they mostly followed him for baseball. He was sure they did not care about who he dated. Not that he had many other girls knocking down his door before Tika. Had girls slipped into his DMs? No. No groupies were waiting for him after games. He still was shocked someone like Tika was interested in him.

He never thought he was good-looking.

"I hope you're ready for what's to come," she said to him.

"Yes." He pulled her back into the crowded room with all her staff and crew. In front of every one of the dancers, background singers, stagehands, and extras, he planted a sloppy kiss on her. "Let the world know."