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54

(Arie's POV)

I quickly fasten Leo's locket around my neck and strap a gun to my right thigh under my navy blue dress. Throwing on a pair of diamond studs, I walk out my room with my hair flowing with the air conditioning in the house. Descending the stairs, I plop down on the couch next to Aunt Wendy who tentatively had her eyes fixed on the television. "What are you watching?"

"Just finishing up an episode of this," she paused the screen and shifted her eyes to mine. "Ashton will be coming home in a week or two."

"That's great! He doesn't pick up my calls." I frown and slouch further down. Every time I try to call that ass, he never attends my calls.

"That's because he's gonna be a big man now and he's a little busy, that's all. He told me that he'll call you when he gets the time to do so." She smiles and squeezes my shoulder. "Are you sure you don't want me to come?"

I smile and grip her hand. "I'm sure. Sophie and her two cousins will keep me company. I won't be alone so don't worry."

"How can I not worry?" She lets out a shaky breath and shuts her eyes for a second. "Your last experience at a club was horrific and it scares me, Arie. I can't bare to see my baby hurt again." A fog of tears begins to well up in her eyes as her mouth pulls itself into a thin line.

My brows knit together as I gaze at her saddened face. Pulling her into my chest, I stroke her back. "I know you're scared for me, but I know how to defend myself now." Drifting away, I grab her hands tightly as I look into my lap for a second before looking back up. "I told you that Leo has been teaching me how to fight and I can't let an experience like that pull everything good from my life. My best friend is getting married tomorrow and we're just going to have a little bachelorette party of four at the club. It's literally just gonna be dancing." I try to reassure her and shake away the tears that threatened to escape my eyes.

"I'm glad you can trust Leo. He's a good man." Smiling up at me, she caressed her thumbs across my hands. She knows that he's training me to protect myself in the future and that I feel safe around him, more than I've ever felt before but nothing more than that. She's delighted to see me happy when I talk or think about him but she doesn't say much about it. "And he's good for you."

"Aunt Wendy..." I laugh before she interrupts me.

"What?" She chuckles. "You like him a lot and I see that in your eyes."

"You don't even know him, how could you be sure that he's good for me?"

"Because I trust you and your choice," she squeezes my hand tighter and smiles. "He's the first man you've ever talked about to me and I see the twinkle in your eyes when you do that."

My lips form into a small smile as I look at the ceiling, letting out a sigh. "Is it that obvious?"

She begins laughing and lays her head next to mine, snuggling into me. "Yes, it is. I remember you telling me how you met him at the station at your worst moments. Maybe you were meant to fall down the ladder of life to find something down there... to find Leo down there."

"You think so?" I sink low into the couch and lay my head on her shoulder, snaking both my arms around her left one.

"Mermaid, life isn't fair and you know that. Sometimes you have to go through the worst to get to the best." She rests her head on mine and continues. "When I was fifteen, I had my first boyfriend and your mother said something to me that I'll never forget." She cleared her throat as if to give a speech. "If a man makes you excited when he holds your hand, drop that little sucker. He's not the man for you, but if he makes you feel warm and secure, hold on tight. He's the idiot you'll marry."

Her shoulder shakes as we both laugh. "She said that?"

"Yes, she did. I bet she quoted some unknown person." She giggles and continues. "That saying has always been in my mind but I've never really paid much attention to it until now." She swallows hard and grips my hand that was wrapped around her arm. "Mike makes me feel like that and I have a feeling that Leo does that to you too." I unconsciously smile and nod slightly. "You remember Luis?"

"The boyfriend you had ten years ago?"

"Yeah," she laughs and shakes her head. "He broke up with me because he didn't want to be with a twenty-one year woman who took in her sister's eleven year old kids."

I gasp and lift my head a little to look at her. "He did not."

"Yes, he did." She chuckles and puts my head back down onto her shoulder. "I haven't really dated anyone since then because I didn't have to and you guys were my priority. You guys kept me on my toes and very much entertained."

I frown and nuzzle further into her. "I'm so sorry for keeping you from having someone in your life."

"Oh no, I'm glad you guys did. I had so much time to love myself rather than letting temporary men do it falsely for me." She sighs and strokes a strand of hair behind her ear. "Mike told me that he loved me a week ago."

I rip myself off the couch and stare at her with my mouth wide open. "He did?" She nods and laughs at my face. I couldn't help the excitement that rushed through my body. "Yay!" I squeal and begin jumping up and down, shaking the entire house with me. She begin laughing much harder and grips her stomach.

"Calm down!" She pulls me down next to her on the couch again. "It's not that big of a deal."

"Of course it's a big deal." I retort with my cheeks straining from the massive grin on my face. "Please don't tell me that you pushed him away."

"How could I push a man like him away? He makes me happy to the point I can barely think about myself. He treats me like he's still trying to win me over. He... uff," she lets out a sigh while her eyes travel into Mike land and her face reddens at the thought of him. "He's absolutely amazing and I'm deeply in love with that man. I didn't plan on it, but he just somehow touched my heart and soul, both at once."

"I'm so happy for you! Can I scream?"

"I don't think the new neighbors would like that."

"I'll scream in my head then." I laugh and slouch into her shoulder again. "You have no idea how happy you've made me. This day couldn't get any better and absolutely nothing can ruin it."

"I love you so much, mermaid." Her fingertips feather over my hair slowly while I lay my head on her lap.

"I love you too, Aunt Wendy." I giggle to myself thinking about a certain something. "I have a question."

"Ask me anything."

"Well," I pull my head away and look her in the eye. "Did you do the deed? Did you get some cake?"

She begins laughing hysterically while her face turns to an even more redder shade. "By the ocean," she managed to say between the laugh.

"Cake by the ocean?" I gasp and try to control my laughter that was bound to have me on the floor any minute. "Oh my God! You freaky little burger factory." She continues laughing and slowly lowers to the floor holding her belly. Soon after, I join her as we both crack up. "Holy shit! I can't believe you had sex by the beach. God damn."

"It just happened in the moment." She sits up straight and runs a hand through her messy brown locks. "He told me that he loved me and I pounced to kiss him. That was out first kiss and it was amazing which led to a lot more. Thankfully it was a private beach and nobody was present to witness our shenanigans. That would have been embarrassing."

I rise up from the floor and immediately cover my thigh that revealed the muzzle of the gun. "No, that would have been quite a show." I laugh one last time and run a hand down my dress then through my wavy hair. A honk blows loud and let's me know that it's time to go. "Well, that's my ride. I need more details when I get back, okay?"

"Deal." She smiles as a warm smile creeps on her face. "I love you, mermaid. Be safe."

"I love you too." Kissing her forehead, I grab my phone and head out the door to Sophie's black Mercedes.

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