Helping Aria

They finally pulled up to her apartment building, and Travis couldn't help but raise his eyebrows in mild surprise. The building stood tall, with sleek, modern architecture and large glass windows that reflected the sunlight. It was the kind of place that exuded sophistication and wealth—a far cry from the usual modest apartments he was used to seeing.

"Wow, this is quite the place you've got here," Travis remarked as they parked in front of the entrance. The polished exterior, complete with neatly trimmed hedges and a doorman at the front, made it clear this wasn't your average apartment complex.

Aria smiled softly, noticing his reaction. "Yeah, it's nice. Perks of having a husband with a good job, I guess," she said with a mix of pride and modesty.

They got out of the car, and as they walked towards the entrance, Travis took in more of the surroundings. The lobby was just as impressive as the exterior—marble floors, modern art pieces hanging on the walls, and soft lighting that gave the place an air of quiet luxury.

"Wow, I feel like I need to be on my best behavior just stepping in here," Travis joked, glancing around with a grin.

Aria laughed. "It's not that serious. But yeah, it's a bit upscale." She led him towards the elevator, and they rode up in comfortable silence, the hum of the elevator filling the air as they both thought about the conversation they'd just shared in the car.

The serious topics they'd touched on had deepened their connection, and the quiet now wasn't awkward but rather reflective.

When the elevator doors opened, they stepped out into a wide, well-lit hallway. Aria led him to her apartment door and unlocked it.

"Welcome to my little sanctuary," she said as she pushed the door open, revealing a spacious, elegantly decorated living room with plush furniture, large windows that offered a view of the city, and tasteful decor that made the place feel warm despite its modern style.

"Little?" Travis repeated, chuckling as he looked around. "This place is huge. You could fit my entire dorm in here twice."

Aria smiled warmly, leading him further inside. "Well, it's home. Do you want a drink?" she asked.

Travis nodded, and she headed towards the kitchen, disappearing momentarily before returning with a cold glass of water. He took a sip, noticing how refreshing it was despite how warm it was.

"Sorry it's pretty warm" Aria began, a slight look of frustration crossing her face. "Which is honestly the reason why I called you over. I need your help bringing my new refrigerator up here. I got it at a great price, couldn't pass up the deal. But, the only downside is that while they delivered it, they refused to help bring it up."

Travis raised an eyebrow. "Couldn't you just use the elevator? That would make it way easier, right?"

Aria sighed, shaking her head with an exasperated smile. "Believe me, I thought of that. But it has a strict weight limit, and the larger service elevator is still under construction. I've tried everything—don't ask any more questions, I've exhausted all my options. So, can you help me? It's not *that* big."

He finished his drink, setting the glass down with a shrug. "Sure, I'll help. Let's get this done."

Without hesitation, Aria's face lit up as she wrapped her arms around him in a grateful hug. "Thank you! Let's go."

They headed out of the apartment together, making their way downstairs to the shipping room where all the packages were stored. As soon as they reached the room, Travis's eyes landed on the fridge in question. It was a massive double-door refrigerator, gleaming in the dim light and looking far heavier than he had expected. He turned toward Aria, who gave him an awkward, sheepish smile.

"You lied," Travis said flatly, eyes still fixed on the behemoth appliance.

Aria winced, holding her hands up in defense. "Sorry," she mumbled, clearly caught.

With a sigh, Travis took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the task ahead. His natural strength kicked in as he bent down and lifted the fridge with relative ease. Despite its daunting size, the real challenge lay in the journey up to the fourth floor. The stairs seemed never-ending, and the narrow corners didn't make it any easier. But to his own surprise, carrying it wasn't as difficult as maneuvering it up the tight stairwell.

Step by step, Travis managed to get the fridge up the four floors, occasionally having to stop to adjust his grip or shift the weight. By the time they reached Aria's apartment, he set it down with a final huff, feeling victorious.

Aria stared at Travis with a look of disbelief, her eyes lingering on his figure. His shirt, now drenched in sweat, clung to his body, making it impossible for her not to notice the sculpted muscles beneath the fabric. Each movement he made only highlighted his toned physique, muscles flexing subtly as he stretched his arms after the heavy lifting.

'I didn't know he was so ripped,' she thought, her heart skipping a beat as she quickly turned away, trying to mask the sudden rush of warmth that crept onto her cheeks.

Travis turned to her and smiled, his eyes gleaming with playful mischief. "Now, you owe me dinner. And a bath, I might add."

Aria blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his teasing words before a soft smile curved her lips. "Yeah, you're right. Let me show you where it is," she said, gesturing for him to follow her.

She led him down a short hallway to a spacious, modern bathroom. The sleek marble tiles glistened under the light, and the large tub sat invitingly in the corner, already half-filled with warm water. Travis couldn't help but admire how neat and luxurious everything looked.

"Here you go. Make yourself comfortable," Aria said before turning away to head to the kitchen, where she started preparing dinner. She paused at the door for a moment, casting a glance back at him. Travis flashed her a grin before she walked away, leaving him to his thoughts.

Once alone, Travis stripped out of his sweat-drenched clothes, stepping into the tub. The water was the perfect temperature, and as he lowered himself in, a deep sigh of relief escaped his lips. He laid his head back against the tub's edge, staring at the ceiling as the warmth soaked into his tired muscles.

His mind wandered to his upcoming date with Aliyah. Tomorrow was supposed to be a big day, and he wanted it to be special. She was clearly interested, but how far did that interest go? He wasn't sure yet, but the idea of figuring it out excited him.

'Gotta make it memorable, not just for her but for me too,' he thought, a grin creeping across his face. Travis shifted in the tub, letting the water slosh gently around him as he strategized for the big day.

As the thoughts of the date filled his mind, another realization struck him. He needed to be careful not to overstay his welcome here. Aria's husband, Ethan, was due to come home soon, and Travis wasn't keen on creating any awkward situations. Even though it was all innocent, having dinner and a bath in another man's home while he was away wasn't exactly the most comfortable scenario.

'Better finish up here before little old Ethan comes back,' Travis thought with a chuckle. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, letting the moment of peace settle over him, knowing that his next move—both here and tomorrow—needed to be perfectly timed.

TO BE CONTINUED