ONE MORE TIME

by Reynolds, Aurora Rose

  I glance at the clock, and my bottom lip pops out. It’s only two in the afternoon, which means Tide won’t be home for another few hours, so I’m on my own to figure out what I want to eat. With a groan, I get out of my chair and shuffle to the kitchen. After digging through the fridge, I make myself a single-serve charcuterie board, including crackers, nuts, cranberries, hummus, carrot chips, and a sliver of cheddar cheese. I grab a Diet Coke and my cell phone, then head outside, needing some fresh air and the sun.

  It’s a beautiful day, with the sun shining through the trees that have gone from green to gold, a slight chill in the air as fall sets in. After shoving a carrot dipped in hummus in my mouth, I flip on my cell and smile when I see the text from Tide, asking if he should pick up something for dinner tonight, since he’s sure I’m working, or if I want to go out. I text him back that I miss him, and getting out of the house will be good, even if it’s just to go out to dinner.

  As soon as I press Send, my phone rings, and I sigh when I see my mom is calling. She’s called multiple times since the party—not to check in or just to gab like Tide’s mom has done, but to try to set up a time for me to meet her and Josh for lunch, or just Josh for coffee or something else. Since I’m not even a little interested in trying to come up with yet another excuse, I let the call go to voicemail, pick up my plate of food, and focus on eating, thinking that tomorrow is Tuesday and Josh will be gone then. When I finish, I take my plate back inside and drop it in the dishwasher, then go back to my office, and get back to work so that when Tide gets home I can focus on spending time with him. Three hours later and struggling with a scene, I spin in my chair to face the window and catch a glimpse of headlights coming up the driveway. Assuming Tide is home, I quickly shut down my computer and head to the front of the house to greet him, only to curse when I see my ex behind the wheel of my mom’s black BMW, parking next to my car. I don’t know what part of “we have nothing to talk about” he’s not understanding.

  With annoyance filling my belly, I walk out onto the porch and cross my arms over my chest, glaring at him when he gets out of the car, and I keep glaring as he approaches the house. There was a time I thought he was handsome, and I’m sure there are lots of women who still think he is, with his dark hair, sharp jaw, whisky-colored eyes, and runner’s physique, only I know it’s all pretend. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a man searching for happiness, not understanding that it can’t be purchased.

  “What are you doing here?” I don’t even attempt to disguise the contempt in my tone.

  “I told you we need to talk, Aria.”

  “And I told you we don’t.” I hold my place at the top of the stairs. Not only do I not want to see or talk to him; I really don’t want him in my space, the house I chose, the home I’ve fallen in love with Tide in.

  “We used to be friends.”

  “We weren’t.” I shake my head. “We were never friends, and that was part of the problem. Most couples enjoy each other’s company, but most of the time, we were doing everything to just stay out of each other’s way.”

  Tucking his hands into his pockets, he takes a step closer, and I drop my eyes to his feet and narrow them when it looks like he’s going to step up onto one of the stairs. Stopping, he clears his throat. “I want to be your friend.”

  “I’m topped up on friends, so I’m going to have to pass,” I say, realizing I’m speaking the truth. For the first time in forever, I have real friends, friends who are there for me just because they want to be, not because they think there is something I can do for them or give to them.

  “Aria.”

  “Just say what you want to say, Josh, and leave.”

  “I want you back.” He jerks his hand out of his pocket to run his fingers through his hair. “Fuck, Aria, I miss you. I love you.” Looking into his eyes, I feel nothing—nothing but annoyance, because he’s full of it. He doesn’t miss me. He doesn’t love me. I doubt he even knows what love is.

  “You need to leave.”

  “If you think I’m worried about what you’ve been doing with the guy you’re seeing, I get it. It’s okay; I don’t care about him. We can work past that situation,” he says, and I start to laugh. I can’t help it. It’s hilarious that he thinks I would ever be with him again, that he thinks he holds a candle to Tide. “I’m serious.”

  “Right.” I wipe the wetness from under my eyes as my laughter dies down. “No, thank you.”

  “What?” His brows drag together.

  “No, thank you. I’m not interested.” I turn to head back inside, then hear his feet hit my steps, and I spin to face him, shocked by how close he is. I open my mouth to ask him what he thinks he’s doing and don’t even have a chance to prepare for his arms wrapping around me and his mouth crashing into mine. I shove at his chest, trying to get away, but he’s stronger than me, and when he tries to shove his tongue in my mouth, I lift my knee to connect with his nuts, but end up jumping when a horn honks and chunks of dirt clink against the side of the house.

  With him just as dismayed as I am, he lets me go, and I smack him without thinking, then curse myself, because my hand stings. I’m pretty sure I just hurt myself by hitting his stupid face.

  “Gonna give you to the count of two to get your ass off that porch and in that car, because if I get my hands on you, I’m beating the shit out of you,” Tide growls, and I watch with wide eyes as he storms up the steps, looking ready to explode.

  “Tide—”

  “Don’t.” He points at me, and I snap my mouth shut, then look at Josh, hoping he’s smart enough to leave, because I don’t relish the idea of cleaning up blood or them breaking something that Tide will latter have to fix.

  “We were just talking.” Josh holds up his hands, walking backward, and Tide prowls right for him. Smartly, Josh reads the threat for what it is—a giant predator heading his way—and puts his hands on the railing of the deck and flips himself over the side as Tide lunges. When I hear him land in the thorny bushes that line the deck, I stand on my tiptoes and press my lips together to keep from laughing, watching him yell about being poked while he dances around.

  “Get in your car,” Tide clips, obviously not finding the situation as funny as I do. Josh flips him off, then his eyes fill with horror when Tide jumps over the rail. Unlike Josh, he doesn’t land in the bushes. He lands on his feet in a squat like some kind of superhero dressed like a construction worker, in his boots, jeans, and thermal. When he stands, Josh runs so fast for the car that he trips over his own feet, barely catching himself before he hits the ground.

  When Josh finally makes it to the car, he fumbles with the door handle before he finally gets it open, then he gets in behind the wheel, quickly engages the locks, and starts the engine. As he peels out of the driveway, Tide turns to face me, still looking angry.

  “What the fuck, Aria?” he barks, and my spine stiffens.

  “What do you mean what the fuck?”

  “I come home and that fucking douchebag is here with you and his tongue is down your throat.”

  “Excuse me?” I plant my hands on my hips and narrow my eyes on his.

  “What was he doing here?” He stops at the bottom of the stairs, then leans forward to thunder, “With his mouth on you!”

  “You need to count to ten before you speak again,” I say with my heart pounding and my stomach rolling. “You know that’s not what that was.”

  His nostrils flare as he rips a hand through his hair, dipping his head back to look up at the sky that has gone dark. I wrap my arms around my middle. When he drops his head and his gaze meets mine, he shakes his head and starts to open his mouth, but stops when his phone rings with the tone that is attached to Anna’s number. He pulls it out and answers with a clipped “Yeah.” Then he drops his eyes to his boots, muttering, “Be there in a few.”

  Even as annoyed as I am with him, I still ask, “Is everything okay with Olivia?”

  “She’s fine. A pipe busted, and Anna needs me to co
me over to have a look at it.”

  “Oh.” I nod, and he sighs, coming up the steps and grabbing my upper arms.

  “I’ll be back.”

  “Sure,” I agree, and his eyes search mine for a long moment before he drops his forehead to mine.

  “We’ll talk when I get back.”

  “Great,” I lie, and he leans in, kissing my forehead, before he turns around and heads back down the steps. I stand out on the porch with my arms wrapped around myself, not sure how I’m feeling as he drives off, but know it doesn’t feel good.

  Going back inside I go to my office, grab my cell, then stop in the kitchen to get my open bottle of Rosé from the fridge and a plastic cup from the cupboard. I head up to my bedroom and walk through right to the bathroom, flipping on the tub before resting my bottle, cup, and cell in the fancy shelf that sits across the bottom of the tub. With the bath filling up, I dump in some bath salts, strip out of my clothes, and tie up my hair. After I sink into the hot water, I pull the stopper out of my wine bottle, pour myself a cup, and take a large gulp before I pick up my cell phone. There is only one person I know who might understand what just happened, and I need her advice.

  “Aria,” Gia answers on the second ring, and I lean my head back, closing my eyes. “Is everything okay?”

  “I don’t know,” I admit.

  “Shit… hold on one second,” she says, and I take a gulp of my drink, hearing her tell Colton to watch Gino for a few minutes while she takes her call outside. “All right, what happened?”

  I quickly tell her everything that happened from the time Josh showed up to the time Tide took off. When I finish, I wait for her to say something, anything, but she doesn’t. “Gia?”

  “Sorry, I’m stuck on the fact that Tide jumped over the railing like a ninja to go after your ex,” she says quietly, and a smile curves my lips. “I bet that was a sight to see.”

  “You could say that.” I laugh, and she giggles.

  “And what the hell is up with your ex trying to kiss you?”

  “I have no flipping idea. I don’t even know why he’s suddenly coming around when he’s been happy to live the good life in Cali.”

  “Ugh, I wish you did get the chance to knee him in the nuts.”

  “Me too.”

  “Your ex is probably jealous,” she says, and I laugh again. “Seriously, Aria, think about it. You were with him for a long time, then he sees you at your parents’ party looking like a goddess and with a man who is obviously obsessed with you. Men are like that. They always want what they can’t have, especially if that something is wanted by someone else.”

  “He doesn’t want me, Gia. Our marriage was…” I try to find the right words. “It was a joke.”

  “That might be, babe, but he doesn’t want you with anyone else either.”

  “Ugh.” I groan. “I don’t care what Josh wants or doesn’t want. I don’t want him. What I do care about is how Tide reacted.”

  “He was jealous and pissed off. I mean, I’m not saying the way he reacted toward you was the right way, but I get it. You’re his, and he came home to another man kissing you.”

  “I wasn’t kissing him back,” I defend myself.

  “I know you weren’t, and Tide knows that too, but imagine if you saw what he did. Imagine if you saw Anna kissing him.”

  “Even the thought of them touching makes me feel sick.”

  “I know it does.” She sighs. “I promise it will be okay. After the two of you talk, it will be all right.”

  “Right,” I agree, leaning forward to pick up my cup. When I lean back, I catch something out the corner of my eye move, and I scream at the top of my lungs, dropping the cup and splashing water all over the place.

  “Aria!” Gia shouts in my ear, and my heart pounds as I watch Tide walk toward me, stripping out of his shirt.

  “Umm.” I swallow when his fingers begin to work the button just below the trail of hair that leads into the top of his jeans.

  “Are you okay? What the hell happened?” Gia asks, sounding worried, and I start to search blindly for my cup.

  “Tide is home.”

  “Oh,” she says. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah…” I tip my head back when Tide’s hand lands on my shoulder and he motions for me to scoot forward. “I think I need to get off the phone.”

  “I bet you do.” She laughs. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Good luck, girl.”

  “Thanks,” I reply, then the phone is taken from my hand, and I hear it land with a thud on the floor next to the tub.

  “Scoot, baby,” Tide orders, and I do, then he gets in behind me, wrapping his arms around my upper chest and pulling me back against him.

  “Tide—”

  “Shhh,” he whispers against my ear, his arms tightening and cutting off anything I might have been about to say. “I fucked up, baby.” He tucks his face into the crook of my neck. “I haven’t always been the guy to do or say the right thing. I’ve ran when I should have walked, spoken when I should have listened, and given up when I should have fought. Tonight, I let my temper get the best of me.” Tears fill my eyes, and I cover his hand with mine. “I’m sorry.” I shouldn’t be surprised he would apologize so easily, but I still am. “Seeing him...” His chest vibrates against my back. “Seeing him touch you pushed me over the edge.”

  “I know.”

  “I saw red. I swear I could have killed him.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t,” I say quietly. “I don’t know the first thing about getting rid of a body, and I’m not a very good liar. The Google searches alone would be a red flag to the police when they’d examine my computer.” When he chuckles and kisses the side of my neck, I relax back against him and let out a deep breath. “I get why you were mad. I would have been mad too.”

  “But you wouldn’t have lost it like I did.”

  “If you mean jumping over a banister, no, I wouldn’t have. That move would have ended in me going to the hospital. That said, I can’t guarantee there wouldn’t have been blood spilled.” I smile, using my toes to turn off the tap that is still running.

  “Why was he here?”

  I bite my bottom lip, not really relishing the idea of pissing him off all over again.

  “I can guess, baby, but I wanna know.” He kisses the side of my head.

  “He said he wants me back.”

  “He can’t have you,” he growls as his hold on me tightens like I might disappear, and I smile at the possessiveness in his tone. I’m sure some women might get pissed at a man for acting like he has, but all I’ve ever wanted is to belong to someone, so all it makes me feel is secure, safe, and needed.

  “He doesn’t really want me back,” I assure him as I drag in a breath, then let it out. “I think Gia is right. He just wants me because I don’t want him anymore and sees I’m happy. He’s just trying to start trouble and is stupid enough to think I would choose him over you.” I look at him over my shoulder and lift my hand to cup his jaw. “You know I’ll always choose you, right?”

  His eyes roam my face for a moment, then he maneuvers me around to face him.

  Once I’m straddling his lap, with his hands on my hips, mine on his shoulders, his cock hard between us, and our eyes locked, he slides his hand up my side, his thumb curving under my breast. “I never doubted that, baby, because I know the universe wouldn’t give me the gift of you, if you were not meant to be mine.”

  With my chest warm and my nose stinging I lean down to kiss him, thankful that we were once again able to work through an issue and come out the other side together.

  Chapter 18

  Aria

  I LOOK AT the shopping list on my phone and then down at my cart that is full to the brim, making sure I got everything I needed. This week, Olivia will be staying with Tide and me at my house, something I have been looking forward to since he told me it was going to happen. Something I’ve also been nervous about, since Anna has decided to switch directions and instead o
f threatening him with custody, she’s using Tide’s devotion to his daughter to call him at all hours of the day and night to ask for advice, to fix things around her house, or to have him come over to pick stuff up or drop it off.

  If he wasn’t as frustrated as I’ve been, I don’t know what I would feel or what I would do. Part of me gets it, because I wouldn’t want to know that I let a guy like Tide get away, but she did that. She let him go, and now that he’s moved on, she can’t deal. Or how she is dealing with it, is immature. I just hope she comes to realize sooner than later that her new game isn’t working and lets it go.

  After I double check my list, which includes junk food with a healthy dose of fruits and veggies, along with the stuff to carve the two large pumpkins I picked up, I head toward the checkout, digging out my cell to call Tide.

  “Hey, babe,” he answers on the third ring as I start to unload my cart.

  “I’m checking out at the store now. Do you want me to bring home something for lunch?”

  “A Ruben sandwich from The Wedge sounds good to me if that works for you.”

  “That actually sounds really good.” I heft one of the pumpkins from under the cart. “Are you about done setting up the bed?” Yesterday, we went into town and picked out a new bedroom set for Olivia, wanting her to be comfortable. Unfortunately, the store couldn’t deliver anything on such short notice, but thankfully they said we could pick up the items from the warehouse. So Tide called Colton, and the two of them were able to pick up the mattress, dresser, and side tables using their trucks. With everything still needing to be set up, Tide took the day off work today to get Olivia’s room ready while I cleaned, washed all the bedding we picked out for her, and conquered the grocery store.