"You okay babe?" Ashley questioned as she laid beside me. We had another full day today I took her to the zoo since she had been hinting at it for a minute and she was excited like a little ass kid. I never went on so many dates with someone like I did with Ashley, and truth be told I honestly enjoyed spending time with her. I rarely got tired of her.

I turned and looked at her, knowing my mind was elsewhere though. "Yeah, why?"

"You seem zoned out, I've been talking to you and you've literally said nothing back."

"Shit baby, I'm sorry. What were you saying?" She shook her head, letting me know she wasn't about to repeat it with a roll of her eyes.

"How's Ava been?" She questioned instead, knowing I would be tuned into that question. I was always ready to show somebody pictures of my baby or talk about her. I could be biased, but she was beautiful as fuck.

Today was the first day I hadn't been by to see her because Ashley and I were out all day, that shit didn't sit right with me. "Damn, I ain't even seen her today." I let out as I pulled my phone out ready to call Aria. "I'm going to head over there and see her matter of fact." I told Ashley as I pressed call on Aria's contact and put it to my ear.

She answered around the third ring as I let her know I was heading her way to see Ava. She gave me a quick okay and we ended the call. Ashely sat staring at me as I stood up, "what's up?" I asked as I threw on my shoes.

"It's nine o'clock and you bout to go over there? Don't she be sleep?" I shrugged, "she might be, she might not be. Either way I'm going to see her."

"Why can't I ever come?" She questioned throwing a loophole in the conversation. "I didn't know you wanted to." I answered honestly as I grabbed my keys off her dresser. "You've never asked me." She rebutted.

"Why would I ask you to come with me to see my child at her mothers? Y'all barely know each other. That shit would be awkward for both of y'all. If you want to see Ava that's fine, I'll have that conversation with Aria."

"She's your child too, what conversation is there to have?"

"A conversation making sure she's fine with it Ashley."

"And if she's not?" I shrugged my shoulders, "then I guess we waiting." She didn't like that response it was clear in her facial expression, but Ava wasn't even three months and Ashley and I hadn't been together super long, so by putting myself in Aria's shoes, I wouldn't be mad if she did want to wait. "And if she's never ready?" She fired back.

I laughed, "Ashley that won't happen, Aria not like that. Chill out." I gave her a kiss on her forehead, deading the conversation and then made my way out. I knew she wasn't happy with how the conversation ended and if she had it her way we would still be talking about it but it was getting late and I was hoping to catch my baby awake before she slept for another twelve hours.

I walked into Aria breastfeeding Ava in the rocking chair. "She up?" I questioned, she looked down at her and nodded. "She just woke up, so you might have a little time to play and talk to her before she's out again."

I smiled, that's exactly what I wanted, Aria finished feeding her before handing her to me to burp, the doctor said that since she was breastfed she probably wouldn't burp as much but we always tried. "Hi daddy's baby." I cooed as I took her from Aria.

I patted her back waiting for a possible burp as I took Aria in. She had her hair in flat twist which meant she would be wearing a twist out tomorrow, something I learned over the past few weeks. She wore some spandex shorts and a tank top with some fuzzy grey and white stripped socks. Definitely looking like she was ready for bed almost. As simple as she looked her natural beauty shined through. I tore my eyes away from her knowing whatever shit I had going on that was sparking my interest in her once again needed to die down.

"How she been today?" I asked. "She's been fine today, but was up a lot more than usual last night. Hoping we don't have a repeat because I want to get a little more sleep." I could see the tiredness in her face.

"Want me to stay tonight?" She quickly shook her head no. "No, you do not have to do that. Thank you for the offer though." Just as she finished her statement Ava let out a big burp causing both of us to get wide eyed and laugh.

I removed her off my shoulder and placed her in my arms so that I could see her face now. She looked just like the girl version of me. It was crazy, plenty of people asked Aria did I get on her nerves due to how much Ava looked like me. "Hi daddy's twin." I smiled as Aria rolled her eyes. I sat talking to Ava until it was clear she was getting sleepy again, I rocked her to sleep before placing her in her crib.

By this point Aria had went to her room as she considered herself giving me time with Ava. I walked towards the room she was staying in, lightly knocking on her open door as she was lying down on her bed. She looked my way as I came in taking a seat at the end of the bed. "She sleep?" She asked as I nodded, I looked at her TV to see what she was watching.

"I see you still love this trash tv." She smiled, "and always will." I shook my head as I focused on the show finding myself slightly intrigued as we were both tuned in. It was nothing but drama.

"Wait, so that's his girl. But his mama brought another girl that she wants him with cause she likes her better?" I asked as the girlfriend and the mama were arguing. Aria laughed, "yeah. The mama actually introduced him to his current girlfriend but they fell out." I shook my head this was ratchet as hell.

"Speaking of," Aria started, "your mama swears we like each other. Please set her straight. I tried to." I looked over at Aria, as she looked like she was trying to read how I felt about the statement. My mom had been making some slick comments to me but I didn't know she was saying them to Aria too, but at the same time I wasn't surprised. She might have been on to something, but I wasn't going to speak on it. I shook my head, "she ain't used to seeing positive co-parenting I'm convinced."

Aria laughed as I stood up, "I'm going to head out though. Come and lock up behind me please. I would lock up but I know y'all like to lock the screen door and I can't do that." It was always an extra barrier of protection to my mother, especially when my dad was gone so much.

She paused her show as she got out the bed and followed me to the front. I turned around to face her, not realizing she was so close to me as we bumped into one another. My hand coming up to her waist to balance her. "My bad." I let out.

"That was on me." She replied as she looked up at me, we were close as hell yet neither one of us made a move to distance ourselves. My hand still sat on her waist and our bodies were touching. My eyes went to her lips before making their way back to her eyes. Just take a step back I told myself.

Instead my mind was in another world as every feeling that I thought I was rid of for her, every feeling I suppressed felt like it came rushing back. I had to get out of here before I did something I regretted. I had turned over a new leaf thanks to Ava, I told myself I had to be the type of man I would want to her to grow up and date. I had to think with my head on top and not the one below.

Before I had the chance to take the step back Aria's lips closed in on mine and not a bone in my body wanted to stop it. I wrapped my other arm around her waist as I pulled her into me deepening the kiss. Our tongues reintroduced themselves as our bodies relaxed into one another, my manhood easily standing at attention.

Aria pulled back as we both just looked at each other. "Shit." She let out as she took a step back and put her hand on her head as if she was embarrassed and my mind automatically went to Ashley.

"I'm so sorry." Aria let out, "I don't know what overcame me." I rubbed the back of neck as I shook my head. This was the shit Ashley was scared of, the shit I had been trying to avoid yet it was lowkey what I wanted at the same time but didn't want to admit to myself. "We both got caught in the moment." I tried to reassure her.

It was a moment of awkward silence as if we were both processing, "I should go." I finally let out and she nodded in agreement.

———

Ashley was sitting in the living room watching tv when I came back. She quickly turned looking my way, "was she sleep?" She asked before looking back towards the television. "Nahh, she was up when I got there."

"Oh okay." She let out without looking my way again. I could easily tell in her demeanor she still had an attitude. I didn't want to deal with it but I felt obligated to at this point. I took a seat on the couch opposite of her. "Say your piece." I let out, it was our truce statement. It was how we approached one another when one of us was upset and we wanted to hash it out.

She let out a deep sigh as she looked over at me. "I don't like how you go over there every damn day and be gone for hours sometimes. I get you spending time with your daughter but you don't ever bring her here and ain't never for me coming with you and I don't like that shit. It's suspect as fuck. Put yourself in my shoes. My mind goes to the gutter knowing what the deal was with you and Aria."

I nodded in understanding, I hadn't thought of it like that especially since it really hadn't been shit between Aria and I. "I get you, but honestly it sounds like you don't trust me and I haven't gave you a reason not to." I stated honestly, I bit my tongue hating that tonight I actually gave her a reason to feel some way, unbeknownst to her. I was faithful as fuck to Ashley, whereas girls in the past had a reason to feel insecure because I really was out doing dirt it was never like that with Ashely and she knew that.

"I know." She replied, "I know it sounds like I'm being insecure as fuck but come on Landon. It's Aria! We got close because of what you dealt with in terms of her. And I'm your fucking girlfriend and have yet to see your child outside of pictures. Like did you even ask her tonight about me being around her? Like that shits not weird to you?"

Shit. It had completely slipped my mind. "And I'm sure you didn't ask." She responded before I had time with a roll of her eyes. "It just seems like it's some shit with y'all." She continued.

"It's not." I spoke as I made eye contact with her. "It's co-parenting Ashley. I'm going to have to see her to see my child. That's how that shit works. I forgot to ask tonight and I apologize about that but I'll be sure to bring it up tomorrow."

"Just text and ask her now." She demanded. "Why do you act like you don't have her number, this doesn't have to be an in person conversation. Call her now."

I swallowed hard, calling her and asking this right now wasn't it. I shook my head no, "she probably heading to sleep. I'm not about to call and possibly wake her up for that Ashley. I'll call her in the morning." I knew I was making it worse but there was no way I was about to do that right now.

She kissed her teeth, "she not fucking sleep. You just left from over there. That shit sus as fuck Landon and you fucking know it!" She got up as she threw the pillow that had been on her onto the couch with attitude. I stayed seated as I let out a deep sigh, the last thing I wanted or needed was for us to be arguing. I heard the room door slam causing me to shake my head.

I pulled out my phone deciding I would go ahead and call Aria. She answered right before it sounded like it was going to go to voicemail. I called with the intention to be able to walk into Ashley's room and tell her I asked like she wanted but now that I had her on the phone how could I ask that shit after what went down?

"Where's your head at?" I asked instead as I stood up, knowing the last place I needed to be having this conversation was Ashley's living room but at the same time I knew I couldn't leave with her pissed over some bullshit. It was suspicious, and by me not going in her room and assuring her was even more suspicious and in her mind would let her know she was right.

Aria chuckled lightly as my mind was spinning, "honestly," she started "it's all over the place." She paused, I felt like there was more coming with the statement but when it stayed silent for a moment I realized that was all she was going to say on it.

"Are you feeling me? Or was that just a in the moment thing?" I asked lowly as I stood against the kitchen counter, as far away from Ashley's room as I could get without being outside.

She cleared her throat. "Straight to it, okay. Umm," she paused for real this time as if she was thinking on how to answer the question. "I can't say, I mean there might be some infatuation, it might be a little crush. Seeing how well you do with Ava is attractive. This is so weird to be having this conversation with you." She admitted.

I chuckled lightly and lowly as I nodded my head as if she could see me. It was a weird conversation to be having between us. "So no true interest?" I asked for confirmation. "Landon I don't know. It's not like it's about to be explored. I know you have a girlfriend, I was deadass wrong to kiss you. You were deadass wrong to kiss back. We were in the wrong." That's what I needed her to say, even if I didn't want her to. I was easily seeing that Aria was my only weakness when it came to Ashley, and she shouldn't have been. We were tumultuous.

I sighed, "well um, Ashley wants to meet Ava." I came out and said it. It was silent and the silence made me nervous. "Okay." She finally said, "so you're fine with it?" I questioned, actually taken aback by her being so okay with it. "I guess. Is she just going to come with you when you stop by?"

"Yeah." I let out. "Alright then, well I'm going to sleep." She responded I quickly jumped in so that she wouldn't hang up the phone. "Can you meet me in the morning? To truly talk."

"Sure, just text me when and where." I said okay and then we ended the phone call. I let out a deep sigh as I made my way to Ashley's room ready to let her know I asked so she would hopefully lose her attitude.

———

The next morning I met Aria at a little 24/7 diner that served great breakfast. I was all smiles when I saw her walk in with Ava, quickly getting up to grab the car seat out of her hand as I quickly saw that baby girl was knocked out. I sat her in the booth beside me as Aria slid in on the other side placing her keys on the table.

"What's up?" She asked as she put her full attention on me. "Why did you want to meet this morning?" She asked getting straight to it.

"To seriously talk about last night." There was a vibe between us and we both knew that. We were avoiding it, but after last night I felt like it was unrealistic to just sweep it under the rug, in my mind anyways.

She rolled her eyes, "didn't we have this conversation already?"

"Barely, I feel like you're just trying to swipe it under the rug." I answered honestly. She nodded, "yeah, because it needs to. You're in a relationship and regardless of how I may feel about a taken man, I don't have the right to act on it." Just as she finished the waitress was at our table, seeing if we were ready to order.

We both ordered a coffee, I ordered my usual breakfast and Aria just ordered a breakfast sandwich. Once the waitress went to get our coffee and put our orders in I got back to the conversation at hand.

"Aria we have to deal with each other for the next eighteen years, we need to be honest about shit." She rolled her eyes, "I am being honest. Is there something you want to tell me? Are you feeling me? Is that why you're adamant about having this conversation? You expecting me to say I'm in love with you or something Landon? You be honest, because I know for damn sure you would never press a girl about a kiss."

And that much was true, I chuckled lightly. I shook my head as I processed my thoughts, the waitress dropped off the coffees as my eyes went from the coffee to Aria. "And what if I am still feeling you Aria, then what?" I questioned lowly as she took a sip of her coffee.

She placed it down and then looked at me. "Then you got some shit to deal with."

What I really needed to know was where she stood on this. "And if I deal with my shit and decide that it's you I want to give my time to then what?" She laughed a little as her eyes met mine, "Landon, I won't continue to play these games with you. You played me once, and then thought you were going to play me once more."

I shook my head, the first time I would give her because she was a bet. But the second time I didn't agree with but I wasn't going to argue that down, not right now. "They say the third time's the charm." I smiled.

She rolled her eyes, "and the third time would also be the last chance if I were willing to give it to you." Just as she said it the waitress was bringing the food out. I smiled, knowing that part of her would clearly consider it. Which let me know she was feeling me to some extent.

As much as playing with the idea of going down that road with Aria again interested me, I couldn't be selfish in the decision making. I had a good ass woman who stood beside me at the moment, and I didn't know if I could do that to Ashley. "But what I won't do is wait for you Landon." She pulled me out of my thoughts as I looked at her. "Nor do I expect you to." We both knew what she was getting at but this wouldn't be a simple decision for me.

They were two good women, ultimately I had two hearts in my hand and one was bound to be crushed. Only time would tell on who it would be. But Lord knows I didn't even feel like I deserved the option of two good women in front of me.

One night. That's all it took with Aria, and that's all it took with Ashley to change my whole goddamn life.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS. lol, but honestly I refused to add another chapter due to my edits soooo the rest will pick up on the next book, LAST CHANCE. Which I've already published the first chapter. Go read it! And for those that have stuck through, thank you, thank you, thank you. I see all of your comments and messages and I appreciate them. Loads of love. xoxoxo.