chapter 39 | long time, no see-1

Seven Weeks Ago Thursday Morning "So, you see where I'm going with this? Who doesn't love food? Right?" The phone rings. "Excuse me, one sec." I don't recognize the number, so I don't answer it. I set the phone down and continue. "Where was I? Oh. So, I thought to create a line of T-shirts with snarky, selfish, food-inspired slogans. You know, like Food Over Dudes, Tacos Over Paco, Corn Bread & Greens Over Steve, Lobster Over Robert. Take a look here, Troy." I pass him my iPad. He swipes through the designs. "Yeah. I can see our customers loving these. We have a fun-loving base. They'll eat this up. I like the font on this one. Let's print a test run, I'll create a buzz on our social media channels. Advertise them a few weeks before they're available. Offer a promo for the first wave. I think these will perform well." "Good." My phone rings again, same number. "Let me take this?" I step out of my living room and into my bedroom. I look back to see Troy still swiping through designs. "Hello?" "Ari, it's Phoenix, don't hang up! I've been calling you like crazy for the last week. You know I bought a new phone just to talk to you? You've been on my mind." "Funny, I wasn't thinking of you." "You're mad at me, I get it. Look, I should've called as soon as we got back. I got focused on a project and let everything go. I was acting like a bachelor. I can't do that to you. Please, let me make it up to you." "Really? You think you can just come and go as you please, huh? A simple explanation and a slap on the wrist and you're back in? Everything is all peachy?" I close the bedroom door. Troy doesn't need to hear this. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I just had business to take care of." "Business? Business, right? Almost two weeks and two dead fish later, no word from you and here you are trying to get back in all warm and cozy with me like nothing ever happened. Classic asshole move. You know, I think my girls were right about what they said when they first met you. Look, I'm not falling for your games. What kind of business keeps you from answering your phone when I call? I sat there the whole vacation, patient as hell, as you answered every single time your phone rang. Now we get back and you don't have the time of day for me? Not even a few minutes to let me know you're alright?" I'm pacing in the tiny room. It feels good to let all my frustration out. "Wait, the fish died?" "Yes! Dead! Both of them!" "You killed them?" "Are you serious right now? You think I'd kill the fish? Really? We're stooping that low now?" "I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry. What happened?" I take in a deep breath and let out a sigh. A little calmer, my tone softens. "I came home from Miami and there was Axel, floating upside down in the tank. It was so weird. Alana kept swimming around his body, bumping him again and again. It was like she was trying to wake him. It broke my heart and just this morning, Alana died too. I tried calling you when she first started showing signs." It brings relief to share this burden with someone that cares and understands. "I'm so sorry, babe. I know how much you loved Axel and Alana. Damn. I wonder what went wrong." "I have no idea." There's a long pause between us. I sink down on the bed, staring at the carpet. "I should've been there. It's just that I've been working on this project and it's been taking a lot of my free time. I should've let you know. I don't know what I was thinking." He sighs. "I guess I wasn't." "What kind of project takes up your nights like that? That doesn't sound right." "I don't want to go into too much detail. I usually don't talk about my projects until they're complete. I try not to jinx them. Please just trust me. Have I ever given you a reason not to?" I roll my eyes. "You like me and you want this to work, right?" "I do. More than anything." "Well, you can't just disappear on me like that. You've got to keep me in the loop, OK? I'm not trying to run your life or anything, but you're ruining mine. Can't we meet in the middle somewhere on this?" "When you're right, you're right." "Thank you and I know I am." I swallow a small smile. "I miss you. I miss being near you. I miss smelling you, touching you, kissing you . . . ." Instant panty-soaking words. The doorbell rings. I walk past Troy in the living room and open the door. Phoenix is standing there with coffee and breakfast pastries. Two things he knows I absolutely love. I glance back at Troy and turn to Phoenix. "A little warning would've been nice. I was having a meeting." "A meeting?" "Yes. A meeting. I was just showing Troy my new designs for our T-shirt line." "Your T-shirt line?" "It's a business we started in college. Things are really starting to take off." "You never mentioned this before." "It's not like it's a big secret. It's one of the reasons Ally hired me. She loved my drive and the fact that I go after what I want. I assumed you knew." Phoenix looks irritated as he glances behind me and sees Troy. "Um, this is Troy, one of my best friends from college. We own Sassy Savvy Tees together. Come in." I take the coffee and pastries into the kitchen, setting them on the counter. Phoenix steps inside and closes the door behind him. I return to the living room. "Troy, this is Phoenix. My ah —" "Boyfriend," Phoenix declares boldly. "Boyfriend?" Troy asks with a frown. "Oh, this is the guy you were seeing, Ari?" He gets up off the couch and walks over to Phoenix. Their eyes meet. They stand there in awkward silence, sizing each other up. I sense serious tension in the air. All cocky and confident, Phoenix reaches out and shakes Troy's hand. "How you doing, man?" "Good." Troy gives him a once over. "You?" "Couldn't be better, now that I'm here with Ari." Phoenix wraps his arm around my waist. It feels like Phoenix is rubbing it in. Did he just throw shade? Troy laughs at the gesture. "I've known Ari for a long time. She's sweet, a good girl. Scratch that." Troy turns to look me lovingly in the eyes." She's a good woman. Deserves the best." Not understanding why, I blush. "Thanks, Troy." "Funny you should say that, cause the best is what I provide. Partner." Phoenix closes in on Troy. Before things get out of control, I grab Phoenix by the hand and lead him to the front door. "Troy, can you excuse us for a moment?" We step out onto the porch. "Listen, Phoenix, I need to finish my meeting with Troy. You can't barge back into my life turning things upside down like that. Can you come back in an hour? I mean you did show up unannounced." I raise my eyebrow at him. "Oh, so you want me to leave you alone with him? In there?" Phoenix looks taken aback.