Page 17

Phoenix drives JC and Riz back to their cars, down by the lake. Behind us, the sun sits on the edge of the horizon, casting shadows on the beach and coloring the sky in explosive hues of pink, yellow and orange. It's stunning.

"It looks like I'll have to call my driver to take him home. He's leaning a little too much." Phoenix notices as he lets down the window. "Hey, Riz! I'm calling Leon. You can't drive like that, man."

"Cool." Riz stumbles towards a wooden bench overlooking the breathtaking sky and water as the waves come in. He drops down kind of hard, then eases back, resting his head.

"Let's wait with him till Leon gets here." Phoenix calls his driver. ". . . yeah, we're at the lake . . ." When he's done, he looks at me. "So, you had a good time today?"

"Today was pretty perfect. Surprisingly, since it started off so horribly but I feel good now."

It's odd how he's always interrupting your sorrow. He comes in for the save at just the right time.

"I never expected that when I left my house this morning, the day would end up like this. Me coming to the lake, seeing your capoeira group practice, which was so dope by the way, finding you guys, hanging out all day. This was just what I needed to take my mind off all the bullshit."

"Oh, yeah?" His ears seem to cock up.

"But that's a whole other story I'd rather not touch right now. Everything is just too perfect."

An exotic, grey and black luxury car pulls up in front of us. I've never seen one in person. Only in the movies.

"Leon whipped out the Ghost, I'll be right back." Phoenix gets out and to my surprise, helps Riz to the car. He talks to his driver for a moment and they drive off.

He's a good friend.

Phoenix gets back to the truck.

"The Ghost?" I ask, with a puzzled look on my face.

He smiles to himself. "Rolls Royce Ghost Series II. Leon could've brought the Wraith or the Phantom. He chose the Ghost."

"Wraith? Phantom? It's like you're speaking another language."

"Both are cars. Rolls Royce."

"Oh." I glance out the window at the waves. "Can I ask you a question? If you have a driver, why are you driving this truck? I don't get it."

He laughs. "A lot of people don't. I value my independence. I use Leon only when I need to. Taking me to and from meetings when I need to prep beforehand, going in and out of the city on long drives, things like that but when I'm doing my own thing, I like to take the wheel myself."

"That's kind of impressive."

He nods. "So, where were we? Oh. You've been hinting at it all day. I have a pretty good idea what's going on. He's out for good? Your guy?"

"It is so over. It's past over. He killed it." I shake my head. "Such a shame!"

"Wow. That doesn't sound good."

"That's all I can say, too. Wow!" I laugh out loud. "Wow and good riddance! I'll tell you about it someday."

"I hear you." He starts the truck and pulls off. "Where to?"

"Home. I only live a few blocks away. Take a left, here. Go up six blocks, then make another left. I'm three houses down on the right."

"We should hang out some time. You should give me your number."

"What and become victim number three or four? Let you run right through me, huh? I don't think so. Not to mention, I would not want to piss off your girl, Kim. No thank you on the ass whooping that would follow if I messed with her man."

He laughs. "What man? Kim and I are no longer together, smartass."

"Ha! Now, that you say that, it makes sense.

She came into the club Friday and enlisted me as her personal spy.

She was looking around corners all suspicious, asking me crazy questions about you.

She wanted to know if I knew where you were that night.

She asked if I had seen you with any other women.

She particularly asked about that one model you brought in the week before with the long weave.

You know who I'm talking about. She was really nice.

I kinda liked her, actually." I look to him to fill in the blank.

"You're talking about Sara Lee." He laughs.

"What do you mean Sara Lee?"

"She was always whipping out those little snack cakes from her purse.

Actually, she whipped a lot of unexpected shit out of that bag.

A pair of pricey heels she lifted from a store we had just shopped at, a ring from the jeweler we had visited and so much other miscellaneous stuff.

She had a quick hand and knew what she wanted.

She was a gold digger but I found her harmless.

So, I gave her a cute little name to match, Sara Lee. "

I smack his arm in disbelief. We both laugh loudly.

"You are some character! Why do you keep people like that around? A stealing, shoplifting, gold-digging model? Really?" I ask, squinting at him. "Are you even sure she was a real model? From the sounds of it, she was more like a hustler."

"I don't know. I don't judge. I just accept people for who they are. I could see her coming a mile away and as long as I know her motivations, she's harmless to me."

"Huh. I guess so." I drift off for a second, looking past the front dash of his truck.

"Here, take my card. If you feel like talking, hit me up."

"I had fun today, a lot of fun actually." I look down at his card. "Thanks for the distraction."

"So, we cool now?"

"Yes. We're friends now. Oh! By the way, I have an interview coming up with Ally Williams in your marketing department. She finally called me last week!"

"Good. You'll do well."

"Thanks for everything. See you around."

"Will I?"

I smile as I open the door and jump out. Phoenix and his perfect timing.

Summer is in the air. It's opening weekend of Summerfest, better known as The World's Largest Music Festival.

Milwaukee hosts it every year and every year we say we're going but end up missing it for some reason or other.

This year, we're going. Mia, Penelope, and I decide to get tickets and see what all the fuss is about.

"Ladies. I'm thirsty," I declare, dabbing sweat off my forehead with a napkin.

"It's high noon, the hottest time of day, what did you expect, Ari?" Mia whips out her sunscreen. "If I could walk around naked, it wouldn't keep me cool enough right now."

A girl walks up to us. "I love your shirts. Where'd you get them?"

Like a proud mama bear, I boast, "From the Sassy Savvy Tees website. They're not in stores yet. Online exclusives. I design them. Here's my card."

She looks at the card. "That's awesome! I'll check it out. Thanks!"

"Get your money, girl!" Penelope high-fives me.

"I plan to. Brought plenty of cards to pass out."

"She's right, Ari. These T-shirts are badass." Penelope looks down at her shirt.

Each of our T-shirts has the phrase, "Sassy Savvy Sexy" with the appropriate trait bolder and bigger than the other two. My T-shirt has "Sassy" in bold, Mia's has "Savvy" in bold and Penelope has "Sexy" in big, bold lettering.

Mia fans herself. "The sun won't quit today. Let's get some drinks."

"Drinks? Or Dranks?" Penelope asks with a huge grin. "Oh, look! Margaritas! I want mine blended." She floats over to the margarita tent and places an order for all three of us.

"Make mine a virgin!" I interrupt the order.

"Day drinking on one of the hottest days of the year. Wise idea? I'm not so sure, Penelope. Make mine a virgin too," Mia adds.

"OK, no liquor in any of the drinks." Penelope whips out her card to pay. As soon as the drinks are blended, Penelope passes each of us a delicious virgin strawberry margarita.

In the distance, I hear a low hum. "What's that sound?"

"What? That's blues coming from that stage." Mia points to a soundstage on the right.

"Not that. You guys don't hear that . . . that drum?"

"I hear it. Weird, right? I think it's coming from that direction." We all walk in the direction Penelope points to.

"I know that sound!" Excitement builds as I remember my encounter with Phoenix, JC, and Riz. I'm curious to see who's at the other end.

We pass a country music stage, the audience is packed with beer-guzzling, party-loving fans. It's not coming from that stage, so we keep walking. We pass the concession stands.

"Aww! Do you smell that?" Penelope looks around, trying to follow the sweet, home-baked goods aroma.

"Hmm. I know that smell anywhere! That's the smell of every festival I've ever been to."

"Funnel cake! Let's stop and get one or two," Mia pleads.

"We'll come back, Mia. Right now, I need to know who's on the other side of those drums. We're getting closer. Come on!"

We keep walking and pass several pop-up tents with art and jewelry inside. The drums grow louder still. We keep going.

We arrive at a stage with shirtless men wearing white pants in a semi-circle. In the center of the semi-circle, two men are demonstrating moves. I spot Maestro Milan and there are the berimbau and African drums I was hearing.

"What's this?" Penelope asks enthusiastically. "You see that? Caliente!"

Mia fans herself. "Too hot!"

I smile to myself.

"Umm." Penelope's eyes are glued to the stage. "I think we should stay . . . and . . . umm watch this show."

"It looks very . . . educational." Mia gulps.

"We can learn a lot. Let's stay and watch.

" I spot Phoenix in the group and I can't take my eyes off him.

He's hypnotic. His body is spectacular. Those arms and abs take me to places.

Did he put baby oil on before getting on stage?

His body is nothing short of glorious and his confidence is incredibly sexy.

A natural, on stage in front of at least a thousand people, he's totally in his element.

The fact that I know him personally makes it even more of a turn-on. Damn, he's sexy as fuck.

The show ends, and Mia and Penelope want to meet the capoeiristas. We go to the front of the stage, Maestro Milan sees me and in the chaos of it all, motions for us to come backstage.

"Can you believe they've invited us back?" Penelope yells above the crowd.

Mia jumps up and down wildly. They can't believe our good luck. They meet a bunch of capoeiristas from the stage. I look back to find both Mia and Penelope laughing, flirting and asking a million questions. Quietly I duck out, leaving to find Phoenix.

I find him by the lockers unpacking a gym bag. "You blew my mind!"

Phoenix turns around surprised to hear my voice. "You saw the show?" he asks smiling. "Like it?"

"I loved it! You were so good! What don't you do? You have your hands in everything!"

Phoenix laughs. He looks even better up close. Sweat rolls down his pecs onto those washboard abs and down his heavenly white linen pants. Even though he's sweaty, he still smells fresh, like clean cotton. He's intoxicating.

I gulp in spite of myself.

He takes a towel and wipes his forehead, face, neck, and chest. Then he comes in for a hug.

"I see you didn't use that business card I gave you." He reaches in his bag and grabs another. "Like I said, call me when you're ready to talk." He hands me his card.

"Maybe I will this time." I can't conceal my huge smile.

"Where you off to after this?"

"I have to go find my girls, they're back here somewhere. Hopefully not kidnapping any of your friends. You should've seen them watching the show. They were drooling all over themselves! They tried to play it cool, but I knew better."

"Yeah, we get that a lot. Ladies love us."

"Tell me about it."

"Call me sometime. I gotta go and change my clothes," he says pointing behind him.

"OK."

I wish he'd leave those white linen pants on. Just the pants, no shirt.

I leave to find Mia and Penelope surrounded by shirtless men. Mia spots me and comes over, Penelope follows.

"Fulfill your fantasies?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"Oh, yes! Sexy sweaty men, who can't take their eyes off me? Anytime. I'd do that any time of the day." Penelope walks away on air.

"Did you see the one, with the hard, tan body and blue eyes? I couldn't stop staring. Sizzling! Ow! Ow!" Mia howls.

"Where did you disappear to?" Penelope asks.

"I was just talking to some guys. They're really talented, right?"

"They are and they look good enough to eat. I mean, is it just me? Or can you see yourself taking a bite out of that?" Mia points directly at a capoerista walking towards us.

His eyes follow Mia as he passes us. Then he turns and asks, with a heart-throbbing smile, "Can I help you with something?"

Mia giggles and covers her mouth, shaking her head.

He laughs at her and keeps walking.

With his back to us, Penelope leans in. "You take a bite! I'll take a lick!" Penelope licks a pretend ice cream cone and high fives Mia.

We all laugh at the naughty encounter.

"You see that?" Mia asks, looking as if she's on a serious high.

"Girl, I see it. Trust me. I see it . . ." My mind drifts to Phoenix.

Penelope looks down at the concert schedule and park map. "That was fun! What stage do you want to go to next?"