Page 16

Any place is better than here.

I get dressed in jeans and a T-shirt and leave the house, walking aimlessly with no plan. I don't know where I'm going but who cares?

The last of the street lights dim as the sky lightens and the day begins. Only a few cars occupy the road at this early hour. The sidewalk is empty, except for a couple of people standing at the bus stop. A student and a nurse.

They look content. Wish I was content. Wish I felt anything but this horrific, burning pain. I thought we were getting back together. Now, he's got a baby on the way? What am I supposed to do with that?

Live. Without his ass!

https://youtu.be/Q2-0w0YrsfA

By the time I notice my surroundings, I'm standing in front of waves that gently lap the shore.

Frothy foam washes in and fizzles out leaving soft, sticky sand.

The good kind. The kind you build sandcastles with and bury your lover's feet with while they're napping under an oversized umbrella.

I run my toes through the sand as I witness the same miracle cavemen witnessed.

The sun.

No matter what. The sun rises. Every single day.

That's one more chance to get it right. One more chance to prove yourself worthy of love.

One more chance to forgive yourself for letting some numbskull asshole pummel you into the ground.

Mother Earth has been around for a long, long time.

Millions of years. Many have had their hearts broken like mine and they've lived and come out clean on the other side.

I know my heart will heal, but God, how long will it take?

It hurts so bad right now. I can't find my breath.

Off in the distance, I hear drums and singing. The music wafts slowly over to me. People are clapping, singing, laughing, and cheering.

What are they doing this early in the morning? Why are they in such a good mood?

All I see stretched out before me is miles of shoreline and sand.

Where is that music coming from?

It's a welcome distraction. Time to investigate. The sound seems to come from my left, so I follow it. The music, cheers, and laughter get louder as I get closer.

Everything appears to come from behind an overgrown grove of bushes and trees. Tiptoeing closer, I open the bushes to get a peek. What's this? Have I stumbled into a secret paradise?

There are at least thirty to-die-for, shirtless guys of all shades, black, white, and brown, barefoot, dressed in loose-fitting white, linen pants.

Hard bodied and toned to the tee. I quickly scan the group.

Every single guy is exceptional. Washboard abs.

Muscular arms. Agile. Athletic. My mouth waters.

I become more aware of myself . . . down there.

It's refreshing to see a group of people so happy and carefree.

They're clapping to the beat, standing in a circle, watching as two opponents enter the circle and perform some sort of combative dance.

I recognize the instrument one of the guys is playing, it's this hollowed out gourd with an attached bow and string, it's called a berimbau.

Not sure how I know that. I don't know much else, but I want so badly to learn more.

Teach me!

I find an opening in the bushes and tiptoe in. No one seems to notice. Tapping a shirtless hottie on the shoulder, I quietly ask, "What is this?"

He looks surprised. "Oh, hi. Where'd you come from?"

I point behind me.

"At this hour, we usually have the beach to ourselves. Are we bothering you?"

"Not at all. I'm just curious. I heard the music and I had to see what the fuss was all about."

"This is Capoeira. It's an Afro-Brazilian martial art. Ever heard of it?"

I shake my head. "Sorry."

Just then one of the competitors completes an aerial flip, landing on his feet.

"That was amazing! I want to learn to do that! You guys come here often?"

"Yes, we're the Capoeira Angola Academy of Milwaukee. Maybe you've heard of us?"

"I haven't but teach me what you know! What exactly is cap-o-ra?"

"It's capoeira. Pronounced cap-o-ay-da. It was brought to Brazil by African slaves," he explains as he looks at the latest two that have entered the circle.

"It looks almost like a dance because the slaves had to find a way to camouflage the fighting, so the slave masters wouldn't know what they were doing.

Later as slaves escaped oppression, it became a form of defense against the Portuguese soldiers.

It has a very rich history. That movement they're both doing," he points to the two opponents in the circle," it's called the ginga.

It's the fundamental movement of Capoeira.

It's the movement from which every other movement is launched. See that berimbau?" He points.

"Fascinating."

"That controls the rhythm, the speed of the game."

"Huh? How?"

"Well, take a look. If you notice, the faster the musician plays the string, the faster the capoeiristas move. When it slows down, they slow down too."

"Interesting."

One of the capoeiristas swipes his opponent by sliding his leg underneath, making the other guy fall on his back.

"Wow!"

The hottie looks on with pride. He turns to me. "Hi. I'm Maestro Malan. I have to confess, this is my class."

He's so humble and likable, I never would've guessed.

"I'm Aria and I'm your newest fan," I gush.

"You're welcome to stay and watch. Maybe it will cheer you up."

"Cheer me up?" I'm shocked that I'm so transparent.

"You look a little teary-eyed." Smiling compassionately, he hands me a bottle of water. He then walks to the outside of the circle and has intimate chats with two of his capoeiristas. Both guys are up next to compete inside the circle.

I take a long sip of the water. I must have been dehydrated because I feel refreshed after finishing the bottle.

This is so cool. This hidden little grove. This Afro-Brazilian martial art. I'm part of something I never even knew existed before this moment.

The next two guys enter the circle and I'm floored. I can't believe who it is.

I know them! It's Phoenix and Riz of all people! They're challenging each other! These guys are capoeiristas? This is going to be good!

They shake hands and begin the ginga. The berimbau speeds up. Then the blows start coming. Maestro Milan returns by my side.

"I know these guys!" I whisper excitedly.

He smiles. "Let's see how they do." He tucks his hands behind his back and watches intently.

Phoenix leans forward on all fours and does what looks like a scorpion kick. Riz narrowly escapes and answers with an equally powerful front kick.

"There's a synergy between them. They seem to know what the other one is thinking. It's fun watching them play."

"That's the beauty of Capoeira. It brings out your better nature, putting you in balance with everything around you. It teaches you to dance and flow with life."

"Huh!"

After class ends, the circle breaks. Maestro Milan introduces me to several of his students. Everyone I meet is warm and welcoming. I'm fascinated, engaged in a deep conversation with a sexy, dark-eyed, dark curly-haired cutie, when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around to find Phoenix.

"Aria? What are you doing here?" The look on his face is inviting. Still shirtless, he wipes away sweat from his brow with a towel.

"Phoenix! How are you? You were awesome! I had no idea you were into stuff like this!"

Sadly, after drying off with a towel, he puts on a white t-shirt. "Been practicing for two years now. It keeps me balanced and focused. Are you following me or something? Missed me at the club, smartass?"

"Smartass?" I feel myself grinning. "I kinda just stumbled over here. I was out walking and heard the music and clapping. This is so dope."

"I'm glad you like it. Listen, we're grabbing breakfast. Wanna come?"

"I don't know. What would what's-her-name say? You know, the latest girl you brought to the club?" I tease.

"Oh, so you're jealous? I don't think what's-her-name would mind." He laughs. "What was that girl's name?"

"I don't know. Jessica something or other."

"Jessa. That's her name. She's just a friend."

We start walking towards parked cars.

"She didn't act like a friend." I shake my head. "Nope, she was definitely more than a friend and if I remember correctly, your real girl Kim would really not like that."

"Kim and I are no longer a thing. That's been done a while ago." He opens the door to a Range Rover that looks like black liquid sitting on twenty-four-inch rims with red brake callipers.

This is so much nicer than my old rust bucket.

I get in, he closes the door. Chivalry is still alive and well.

Phoenix, Riz and JC jump in.

"Where's your boy? Nixon?"

"He's off with the wife. Probably shopping at Lawn and Garden."

"No, it's Bed, Bath and Beyond. You know how he rolls."

They all bust out laughing.

We head towards the east side, one of the coolest, trendiest parts of town and pull up to a place called Top Hat Garage.

"I've never been here before. How is it?"

"It's good."

"You'll like it," Riz assures me.

Phoenix comes to my side of the truck and opens the door. "After you."

Is he sweet or what?

Phoenix continues. "They transform from a club at night to a breakfast-lunch joint right after the club closes. The food is good too."

We're seated and half an hour later, I find out they're right. The extra thick artisan French toast with turkey bacon and scrambled eggs are heavenly, as are the drinks.

"What's this? Day drinking?" Phoenix asks with a curious look on his face.

"Yes, so what? It's on the brunch menu. I've got guy problems," I reason. "Therefore, I'm entitled." Smiling from ear to ear, I lift my Bloody Mary as if toasting and take a long sip.

"You heard the lady, Phoenix, she's got man problems. So, lay off, Bruh," Riz jokingly comes to my defense.

"Hey!" Phoenix smiles and puts his hands up, "Can't blame me. I had to ask."

"And you don't?" I shoot back.

"I don't what?"

"Have chick problems? One of those being you have way too many?"

JC and Riz elbow each other and laugh.

"Oh, you've got jokes." He looks me dead in the eyes as if he's about to challenge me.

I take a bite of turkey bacon. "Maybe, I do."

"I'm dating. Which, I'm entitled to, as you say. I was in a serious relationship a while back with someone and Kim and I were tight for a while, but that's long gone. The other women you saw me bring to the club, we were just . . . hanging out." He sniffs the air. "You dig?"

"Uh-huh. I dig alright." I smile and shake my head.

JC comes to Phoenix's defense, "He's a single dude. He has the right to fish the sea and get a feel for what's out there."

"I'm not knocking him. Just observing." I sip my drink.

"We've been coming to Lotus for what, two months now. So, you've seen a girl or two or three come and go. That's not that bad if you ask me," JC tries to reason.

I think about my dating pool in the last two months.

My roster looks paltry in comparison, numbers-wise.

I could use a few players but for me, quality rules over quantity.

Troy is the only player on my roster and really, that's not even true.

Sure, I woke up next to him that one day, but nothing ever happened.

He assured me of that. So, really it doesn't count.

Now, the only time we even see each other is if we bump into each other at the studio for work on new T-shirt designs.

It's a little awkward, but we're still good. I love Troy to pieces.

"You're right. I'm busting your balls, Phoenix. When you're free, you're free. When you're single, you're single. You shouldn't hold onto someone who doesn't want to hold onto you." I lean back in my chair and give him a smile.

Phoenix agrees wholeheartedly. "Amen to that."

"Amen," JC echoes.

"Amen, sista," Riz pipes up.

"On second thought, I'll have a drink with you, Aria. I won't leave you hanging." Phoenix flags the waitress down and orders a second Bloody Mary for me and a round of beer for everyone else. "After we leave here, let's go to the River Rat. Play some pool? Shoot some darts?"

"I'm down."

"I'm in."

"Let's do it!" I feel a floating day party coming on.

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