Chapter 26: Meet-Up Plan
"Hey, Sara... what's up?" Aeri said, her voice shifting to a bright, casual lilt as she picked up the call, swiping her phone with one hand.
She stood there by the glass coffee table, fully naked, her skin still flushed and dazzling in the soft dusk light creeping through the window. Her dark hair hung loose, and she paced a step or two, focusing on the call like it was no big deal.
I slumped back on the couch, catching my breath, my chest still rising and falling hard as I watched her—gorgeous, confident, completely unbothered by her naked state.
"Yes? No, no, I'm all okay," she said, glancing over at me with a quick pout. "I was... just exercising, that's why I'm a little tired." Her eyes flicked to mine, a smirk tugging at her mouth, and I grinned back, knowing damn well that "exercise" was a stretch.
She turned slightly, her hip jutting out, the curve of her ass catching the light, and I leaned my head back, relaxing into the cushions.
Sara's voice crackled through the phone, loud enough for me to catch the gist. "Good, you need to look after yourself if you're gonna get married—you'll pile on weight like this otherwise." Aeri's face tightened, her pout vanishing fast, replaced by a flash of annoyance. Her eyes narrowed, and her voice dipped into a whiny, almost crying tone. "I *know*, Sara! Can you stop that already...?" She let out a loud *sighhh*, running a hand through her hair, tugging it back as she paced another step. "I'm fine, okay? Lay off."
Then Sara's tone shifted, perking up. "Hey, why don't you join me for dinner? My fiancé's coming too—it'll be fun." Aeri paused, her pacing slowing as she glanced at the clock on the wall—5:30 p.m., the hands ticking steady in the quiet. She bit her lip, thinking it over, then shrugged. "Sure, why not? where should I come?"
"Let's meet at that fancy hotel downtown—the one with the rooftop bar," Sara said, her voice bright with excitement. "Eight o'clock sharp." A beat, then she added, "Oh, and bring your baby along too!"
Aeri's eyes darted to me, a tensed smile pulling at her lips, half-amused, half-nervous. "Alright, if he's free, then sure," she said, her tone careful, testing the waters as she stared me down.