Chapter 5: The Plus One

As I open my eyes to the sun shining brightly into my bedroom window, I glance over and notice that the other side of the bed is disturbed. Um. I slightly raise the sheet and notice that my body is exposed. I usually don’t sleep naked. I have always had a fear of fire or well being alone, a break in, and I want to be able to get out of either, not naked.

I don’t feel hung over so it’s not that I was drunk and just took off my clothes. I hear the ensuite toilet flush and the sink water run. I hurry to shut my eyes as the bathroom door opens. As I am laying there undisturbed, I hear a body walking across the floor and back into my bed.  

Antonio leans over and kisses my forehead. I begin to stir, or well act like it’s waking me up.  

As I open my eyes, I see him.

“Good morning, beautiful.” He replies. 

Smiling, I reply, “Good morning!”

Antonio runs his hand through my hair, “I hope you enjoyed last night. I did.” He had a look of unsurety on his face, mixed with a smile.

I had an amazing time, apparently I thought I was dreaming because as I lay here I do remember everything vividly, but was very confused when I woke up. “I did.” I smiled at him.

This doesn’t help me. Just when I thought everything was okay from last night, now I have this to be worried about. Was this Antonio’s way to seal the deal and make me not want to go to the Grammy’s with anyone but him? Was this just his way to take back everything he said last night? I thought coming clean was to make things better, easier?

Clearly not.

“I would love to make you breakfast.” Antonio says to me. “I will let you get dressed and meet you in the kitchen.”

So now we are playing house. Great. I smile and say, “great. I’ll be right there.”

I grab my phone and text Chad. “WTF.”

I begin to smell the aroma of bacon, so I get up and get a pair of sweatpants and a tank top on and head to the kitchen. Standing at the stove is probably the hottest man in the universe. And I think he’s mine. I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around him, placing my cheek against his bare back. I could really get used to this.

I grab a glass of orange juice that he has poured for me and go sit at the counter. I open up my laptop to do my daily check of email. The first email I came across was from my agent. “We need your plus one information, Aria.” Of course you do. You can’t just let me have this right now.

I continue down through my email and come across another email from my agent. This one is basically telling me that the producers absolutely loved my performance of the song I recorded and would like for me to perform it at the Grammy’s. There was an opening due to another performer not being able to show and they would like to have this song featured.

I kind of choked on my juice a little bit as I was really not expecting that. I never expected my voice to be something that was featured on any of my songs, ever. “Wow, um!”

Antonio glances back at me, “everything okay?”

I’m so confused at the moment. Are they serious? They can’t be serious. I look down, sad, heartbroken, unsure. “I’m not sure. I have this email here and all I can say is wow.”

Antonio comes around the counter and glances over the email. “That’s quite the accomplishment. I didn’t know you were a singer as well.”

I glance up at him, “I’m not! I’m the furthest thing from a singer. I’m not a performer. What is going on here?”

Antonio places his hands on my shoulders and begins to rub them. Feeling how tense I am. “Are they asking you to do it or are they telling you that you are?”

“I’m honestly not sure. It just says they would like me to fill a timeslot for a performance of that song! I think I’m more upset over something else.” I look up at him, and down blankly at his chest.

He looks down at me, “I know, let me guess, cuz I won’t be there?” He begins to walk away back to the stove to save the bacon from burning.

I’m even more confused today than I was yesterday. I want Antonio to be there with me. I feel like if he was in the audience for a performance, or even just for a nomination or a win, I would feel so much better.  

I look at him standing at the stove in a pair of dress pants, no shirt, making me breakfast. He is mine? He wants more with me. But he’s also okay with Albert being part of my life?

“I want you to go with me!” I blurt out. My heart takes over and I have no idea what is coming out of my mouth right now. “I need you to go with me!”

The way he turned around from the stove was like I just said I’d marry him! He was so overwhelmed with joy that I said that. He came over and scooped me up off my stool. “Are you sure?” He started kissing me over and over with those soft lips.

“Oh hell, I don’t know. I’m sure right now!” I smile and kiss him back.

He places me back on my stool and goes over to finish dishing out breakfast. I get into my email about my plus one and write Antonio’s name in the response. I then go to the email about performing and I just reply sure. I’m definitely out of my comfort zone but when in the past two weeks have I actually been in my comfort zone?

I have to text Albert. Albert gets to go either way because he is a music producer. Is Albert the reason why my song is being featured? I really hope not because this text might just take that away from me.

“Hey, Albert, I’m really sorry but I will not be able to go to the Grammy’s with you. A lot has happened and I think I was under a lot of pressure yesterday. I would still like to get together and talk but at this time, I’m still very confused. I’m so sorry, please don’t hate me. Xoxo”

He will hate me. I think that is okay. As hurt as he looked yesterday at lunch, I feel like this will just do him in. My heart is beating so hard dreading the response.

I close my laptop and eat breakfast with Antonio. Oh my, delicious breakfast. “Mmmm.”

“You like?” He smiles at me while I’m enjoying his cooking.

Nodding my head, agreeing, “yes! Definitely, delicious!”

“Good! I’m glad.” Antonio, takes a sip of his orange juice.

My phone is ringing. It’s Chad. Can I eye roll at life yet? I answered the phone to a very angry voice. “Hello?”

“What the hell, Aria? Was that all a performance or something yesterday at lunch? Albert is so upset right now. We are all at the gym and he can’t even lift! Because of you! Why, Aria?” Chad went on and on.

I’m about to eye roll at Chad. I look over at Antonio, rolling my eyes, shaking my head in disgust. “Chad, listen. Albert can’t call or text me back? He’s sending you? You don’t even know anything because instead of having lunch with me yesterday to even get the half of it, you invite him along. Then just go on and on putting your foot deeper in your mouth. Tell Albert to be a man and text me back and answer my entire text.”

I can’t take much more of these guys. I end up hanging up on him in mid yell. “Nope! Not today!”

I look over at Antonio, looking back at me confused. “So, do we need to go suit shopping?”

He smiles and agrees that we should. “Oh wait,” I said, “you haven’t seen my dress! I guess giving you an idea of what I’m going to look like will give you a better idea of what we are looking for in your suit?”

I go into my bedroom and slide on my fitting gown and walk back into the kitchen. Antonio’s jaw dropped, looking at me like he either wants to rip it off of me or wants to be on my arm and let the world know that I’m his.

He stands up and walks over towards me. “Wow, that is stunning. You look stunning! I cannot wait to show the world that you are… mine!”

I’m his? Could I be his? Considering how we started out and what just happened yesterday, do I think that I could actually one day be his? Be his wife? Maybe. Let’s just take it slow.

He begins to kiss me and slowly kisses my neck and shoulder. “You know what would make this even better?”

I smirk and ask, “What is that?”

He continues to kiss up and down my neck and shoulder, “taking it off.”

Antonio! Really! “We have to go into town! I mean it does have to come off because I’m not wearing this into town but…”

“Okay… I guess that can wait!” Antonio goes into the bedroom with me and grabs his shirt. “It’s just, you are amazing all around!”

He’s making me blush. Smiling more than I have in twelve years. “So are you!” I actually changed into a pair of leggings and a nice shirt. Once ready, we head to my car and into town to find a suit.

We went into the best tuxedo place in the city and I found out that even though Antonio is a very well dressed gentleman, he hates to go clothes shopping; especially for dress clothes. We ended up agreeing on a sleek black suit with a light blue shirt and black tie. Does he look amazing? Yes, why yes he does.

We didn’t spend a lot of time in the shop, kind of went in, tried on and got out. I really cannot wait for this night to just get here already and have an amazing time. With Antonio… and hopefully Albert doesn’t cause any drama. I always thought they say women are the drama-filled ones. Why is Albert crying over my text? In the gym… to my best friends. Crazy, right!

We headed over to the coffee shop that we first met at and got coffee and sat down to chat. This day has been amazing. I woke up with an amazing man, I truly didn’t expect that to happen to be completely honest. I’m not sorry though.