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●WARREN POV●

I wasn't expecting what Aria had just told me . To anyone else, it seemed like they were a solid couple, I mean except for this morning . It never occurred to me that something else was at play here . I cocked up my brow, a renewed hope in my heart, and asked her , "what do you mean?"

She sucked in a breath and then exhaled, "I was the one who reached out to Alex . My bestfriend Sonja put together my profile on this dating app that I didn't want any business being on . Why? Because I needed someone to help me with a problem and at the time, after drinking a copious amount of alcohol, we decided that this app was the answer."

"How so?" I was curious .

"As you know , Delilah is getting married . Her fiance , Henry, is this amazing guy but that also meant that I had to walk down with Dylan . It was humiliating enough that he cheated on me and broke my heart but even worse that I have to walk down with my ex while his smarmy fiance sits there with an annoying grin."

"So you decided to make a proposal to some schmuck on the internet . What did you give back in return ? Money?" I ask.

"Favor for favor . No money exchanged and no, I did not trade it in with sex either . Your brother needed a front that he had something stable and he wouldn't run off," she admits.

Then it dawned on me , "so the reality is , is that you're single?"

She nods her head with a tight smile . I couldn't believe it . It was like I had a burst of new energy all because everything was now in the open . But then something lingered in my head . What Alex said about fighting for her . Looking back, it seems as if he might actually have fallen in love with her .

I sigh internally, knowing that my morals wouldn't let me go after her unless she outright chooses me and tells Alex . And right now, she isn't in the right mental space for that . So sit back and try to make tonight as comfortable as possible for her.

"So , what did you order for food?" She snaps me out of my thoughts .

"I got some pasta , chicken scallopini and shrimp scampi . I ordered family sizes , I didn't know which one you would prefer . I figured that you guys had burgers yesterday as I saw the leftover buns."

"Good thinking . I'll go half and half for both of them . Can never go wrong with pasta," she says happily.

"My favorite dish to make is lasagna," is say proudly .

"Me too!! My sister and my roommate always tell me that I should bottle my bolognese sauce. They eat that up like nothing else . So whenever I make lasagna I make extra sauce . But don't ask me to cook anything else ," she says.

"Maybe one of these days we can bake it together?"

She nods with excitement , "that would be fun! How about coming out to see Trip and make it there? I'll be staying at the house a few nights this week."

"If Trip is okay with it, how can I say no?"

"Wait, but the company?" She reminds me.

"I can take some time off. I haven't cashed in on vacation hours in years,or ever."

"Then it's settled. I'll come pick you up tomorrow," she says to me and all I do is smile like a giddy little boy .

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●ARIA POV●

I can't believe I told Warren all of that . Alex is going to be so mad , but you know what? I'm still mad at him so I guess we're even . Do I feel guilty for letting Warren in on our little secret? No . I felt guilty for keeping it from him . Would I have felt the same if it weren't him? Probably not . But I couldn't continue this lie , especially since he's been nothing but nice to me .

After he confessed about finding me I couldn't help but wonder . What would've happened had we actually reconnected with each other? Would everything be different ?

"What time should I be ready tomorrow?" He asks me.

"I'll come around 5:30 am, is that okay? I'll have to let Trip know you're coming too," damnit, I hadn't considered how Trip would feel about this but I can't rescind my invitation .

"Maybe we should tell him now? We're not exactly each other's biggest fan," he suggests.

"After dinner, let's enjoy the food."

Once we scarfed down the delicious pasta and I was in a state of elation , I decided that right now was the best time to call Trip. I pulled my phone up and went into my starred phone book.

"You calling him now?" Warren asks.

"Why not? I feel way too good at the moment," I tell him as I hit send.

After a few rings he picks up , "Hello Aria," he purrs taking me by surprise .

"Good evening Trip, are you ready for your week with me?" I start.

"I've got the guestroom set up for your stay. Is there anything extra that you'll need before you get here ? " he asks me.

"Yes. Can you set up another room?" I meekly squeak out .

"Another room? Are you inviting another guest to help me out?" He says with complete confusion .

"Yes, I'm bringing Warren with me."

He stays quiet for a moment. I think I may have heard him curse under his breath , "if it's too much of an imposition I can always ..."

"No it's fine. Of course I'd like to see my brother . How is he?" You can hear the strain of that through gritted teeth.

"He's great , I'm actually finishing up dinner at his place . I'll let him know you were okay with this arrangement," I say, hoping like crazy that he won't press me with questions.

"I'm confused , aren't you with Alex?" He says almost souring my happy mood.

I inhale deeply , "Yes, but Alex and I," I contemplated what to say, "we're having much needed space right now."

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●TRIP POV●

When I got the phone call from Aria last night I was ecstatic, until she told me that she's bringing the fire breathing dragon with her. Although I'm the oldest of the siblings , I get treated like the young black sheep. Warren despises me , so I don't know what'll happen with him here .

What really got my attention was Aria telling me that she and Alex were on a small break . What did he do to make that happen? It must've been bad enough that she was spending time with Warren.

Which , why was she at his place? He only lets my parents and my sisters go there . Even I don't know where he lives . All of this is making me scratch my head. Does Alex know? I'm surprised that those two still get along , after everything Alex did to Warren.

It wasn't a secret to the family that Penelope had gotten in the way and now , Aria is caught in the crossfire . Unlike Penny, Aria doesn't seem like the type to mess around like that. Unlike Penny, Aria has goals and works hard to make her name something to be proud of .

Just as requested , I had set up another guestroom for Warren. I made sure that he was at the end of the house while Aria stayed across the hall from me .

When they finally arrived I couldn't help but smile widely at the sight of her in her white sundress . The weather forecasted today was sunny and in the 80's . She was a vision, looked like a total Goddess . And then my eyes traveled over to Warren. He looked , different.

I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was . But when he took off his sunglasses I saw it . He looked relaxed and he had genuinely kind expression on his face . The way he looked around Aria made me wonder if maybe those two ....

No, he wouldn't do that to Alex, even if Alex did do it to him. Would he?

"Aria! War!" I say as I quicken my step down the stairs of the porch .

Aria's bright smile nearly blinding me , "hey Trip, you look wonderful."

"Well , Tony has been kicking my ass these last two weeks," I laugh .

She looks around , "speaking of which, where is he?"

"He's in the pool house."

"Who's in there with him?" She says with a sly smile .

I shake my head as I give her a big bear hug, "why would I snitch?"

She hits my chest and says , "I'll be right back. Can you help Warren bring our things inside?"

Aria skips away , yodeling for Tony . That woman is going to scare his guest away, which if I may, can compliment him on bringing home a solid 7 . She's no 10 like Aria but I can appreciate why he took her home .

I go over to the truck of her car to fetch her luggage and duffel . Warren looks like a completely different man and I couldn't help but ask , "you seem happier, something good happen?"

He comes over and actually hugs me, "yes," and walks into the house , leaving me frozen with surprise .