Chapter 12 of 13

Sunday.

Aria tried to do as much as she could to take her mind off of walking in on Antjuan fucking some girl. She knew they weren't together but his mixed signals were literally confusing her. He stormed out without saying anything only to show up at his house to him fucking someone else the same way he had just fucked her she thought. It wasn't even 24 hours later.

She looked ar her phone seeing Nawf texted her. He didn't even mention anything as he said he would still watch Aura and to drop her off. Honestly Aria would have just taken her to Erykas but Aura was set on seeing him she didn't want to say no especially after him just standing her up yesterday.

"Let it go." Aria breathed as she fixed her make up.

After finishing getting ready and Aura ready she got them into her car and headed to Nawfs to drop her off. She put on some sunglasses to match black pant suit outfit. She was shirtless underneath as she wore a long necklace and paired it with her diamond studs and black heels.

"Momma you look so pretty." Aura told her.

"No you look so pretty." She reached back tickling Auras foot. She wore a blue dress with matching bows in her hair.

"I love you momma." Aura said.

"I love you so much more." Aria looked back at her as they pulled up.

She got out the car and helped Aura out as Nawf watched.

He walked towards the car as Aura held her arms out for him.

"You look nice." He told her as she nodded.

"See you later baby. I love you." She kissed all over Auras face.

Nawf smirked realizing where she got it from.

"You have fun momma." Aura waved.

Aria didn't even say anything to Nawf as she held a pleasant exterior even though inside she was angry and hurt.

He looked her over slightly jealous.

"Ight then." He shrugged as he watched her walk off and get into her car.

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"You never seem to amaze me. I mean you really are the most phenomenal woman I've met." Camren said taking a sip of his wine.

"Here you go trying to butter me up." Aria smiled.

It was like time hadn't passed at all. The chemistry was so natural as the two shared laughs and memories.

"I'm just saying you graduated law school being a single mom. I mean I expected it from you." He said shrugging.

She took a sip as the waiter collected their plates.

"It made me even more driven. Motherhood was the best thing that happened to me." She smiled thinking of Aura.

"I'd never guessed you even wanted kids." He said looking at her.

He was still handsome with his deep dimples and smooth skin. He was a classic look, no tattoos, scars, bullet holes just a chiseled unmarked body. Aria remembered the naïve days of her spending hours in his arms talking and planning for things that never ended up happening.

"You know that was not true just not when you wanted." She reminded him.

"Can we get the check?" He asked stopping their waitress who nodded.

"Aria, I know you-" Camren said as Aria tuned out.

She looked as her cousin Ashley, the same one who slept with Camren entered the restaurant.

She was in all black as she grabbed an apron. It took her a minute but she looked directly back at Aria as they shot each other glares.

"This is great." She said.

As he turned to see Ashley as deeply sigh. He didn't know what it was but he was sure she was hell bent on stopping him being with Aria.

"O wow never thought id see you two here." She smiled at them approaching.

Aria ignored her finishing her wine.

"Wow so cold hearted cuz. All I wanted to do was play catch up." Ashley smiled at her.

"We can go shortly." He told her grabbing her hand.

He wished they had already arrived with the check.

Minutes with them felt like hours.

He regretted ever sleeping with Ashley. Aria and him were in and off again and he went out one night. He ended up bring a girl home and never spoke about it to Aria. He didn't feel like he needed to since they were technically broken up. Months later after him and Aria were working on things Ashley showed up like a bad joke. It was labor day weekend and she made a scene over exaggerating their night together. What made it worse it was during a family picnic and her entire family was there.

"So how's motherhood treating you? I heard about your little mishap a few years back." She smiled.

"Great actually. I mean I heard about your plenty of mishaps. What 5 procedures now?" Aria smiled back.

The shade was real.

"Difference is I know who I laid with not so much can be said about you. I heard my mom say your fatherless child pines for a father she doesn't know." Ashley said as Aria stood up.

Aria knew she should have beaten her ass long ago. She just knew she had to much to loose to fight someone who was supposed to be her family.

"Ashley dont speak on things you dont know and if you talk about my child again it will be an issue." Aria said as she bumped her with her shoulder walking out.

The waitress arrived confused as she shook her head at Ashley. The two had worked together for the last few years and she knew one thing for sure Ashley was drama.

"I'm sorry but if you could rush this." Camren passed her his card as she nodded.

Ashley walked off laughing as Brianna the waitress tried to hurry with his payment.

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Aria pulled up to her house a little after one and sat in her car for a moment taking it all in.

She ultimately knew it wasn't Camren's fault she was there but Aria was steel reeling from Nawf and now upset with her cousin. Long ago she wanted to beat Ashley's ass. As much as she wanted to be the bigger person, the person to turn the other cheek she didn't want to.

Aria just knew now more than ever she had so much to loose. Her job, her house and most important of all her daughter. She told her self she could live with out everything except Aura.

Aria wiped her face, got out the car and headed for her house.

She looked back to see Camren flying down her street stopping loudly in front of her house.

Aria stood at her front steps as he got out running making her laugh.

"What are you doing here?" She smiled.

"Man, Ashley is still a bitch." He laughed breathing heavily.

"You didn't even run far." Aria laughed at him.

"I ran to the car, damn near held my breath as I was drivin. Now you know I was going to let you run out on me like that." He looked at her.

"How did you know where I live?" He asked.

"Yo momma still love me. I mean I had to beg of course and explain quickly about Ashley but here I am." He smiled.

"Cam, you are funny still I see." She shook her head.

"Aria, seriously. I miss you. I miss us. Fuck what anyone has to say especially her of all people. You were always going to be a good mom that's why I wanted to marry you and have my happy ending with you." He grabbed her hands.

"Camren." She said not wanting to hurt him because she knew he meant it.

"Aria, I dont care about you having a baby. If you know the dad or not. I know you. Your an amazing woman. I know you love her and I see she is well taken care of. So I bet your even better as a mother. I mean we could pick up where we left off and maybe you will let me love her like she is mines. I'd raise her and love her no different." He looked at her.

Camren bent down on one knee.

"I was going to propose to you labor day weekend before all the drama hit. I know its a lot to take in and I'm not asking you to officially marry me or anything but I'm asking if you will think about giving me another chance, Us another chance." He looked at her holding a ring.

Aria's eyes swelled.

As much as she said she was over Camren it was moments like this where she was so in love with him. She knew he wanted her back but him saying it so soon made it real. She was going to tell him while they were out that they couldn't be more than friends but she couldn't help but wonder as she looked down at him.

She pulled him off his knees.

"Cam, you are right this is a lot to take in. Lets just get reacquainted. A lot has changed for both of us." She looked at him.

Camren didn't take it as a no, which would normally say so he smiled.

"Just think about it?" He asked.

"Cam, Ill think about it now put that ring away. You tryin to blind me or na?" She joked.

"I'm glad you came today." He hugged her.

"I mean even though it ended terrible me too." She smiled.

"Ight Ill see you around." He smiled as he headed for his car that was still on.

It was like high school all over again.

Aria remembered how at one point Camren was perfection to her. He wasn't perfect and that was a hard pill to swallow. She knew Ashley probably went out of her way to find him and sleep with him but Aria hated the embarrassment. He could have slept with anyone while they were broken up but her cousin was just the worst idea ever. Ultimately she knew that was probably the only thing keeping them apart.

Camren was a good guy. They came from the same background both pushing forward to excel at their dreams. He was more old fashioned so although he supported her dreams he also wanted a wife that would stay at home. He knew with Aria that would never happen so he compromised. In the end he felt like he compromised a lot but he was wiling to do it for her.

Aria made her way into her house to see Aura sleep on one end of the couch and Nawf on the other.

She made her way past them and into her room.

As much as she wanted to push Nawf off her couch and out of her house she just let it go.

Nawf laid there with his eyes shut thinking.

He had over heard their entire conversation and he felt some type of way. The way he was able to console her. How she sounded soft on him. Nawf was jealous. Their history was complicated like his and Leah's but his offer to love his daughter left him jilted. As mad as he wanted to be and as much as he wanted to hate on him he seemed like a good dude.