Take All the Time You Need - Oh Honey

You are sweet as a honey bee... Won't you say that we'll be fine...

Oh my darling, take all the time you need... Oh my darling, take all the time you need...

There ain't no place I'd rather be... Oh my darling, take all the time you need...

A week later, Phoenix had his second Friday movie night with them, though he couldn't spend his alone time with Aurora because he had to attend Tori's call. But the time he could spend, He replayed it over and over. He hasn't been this smitten with anyone since he chatted with his first crush at 11. Over the years that came, Phoenix was always in a committed relationship that ended on a mutually happy note. But since the past few years, he didn't let anyone get close to him. He had forgotten the last time he had sex, let alone had a normal conversation with a girl.

He couldn't sleep all night thinking how he was gonna approach things Aurora with a speedy level. Before he could come up with something it was already morning. Aurora was already on her balcony when he showed up.

"Morning neighbour." He said, looking at her, extremely happy that they were in the two apartments that were closer to each other while the other two on either of them had much distance between, so there wouldn't be any chance for them to communicate without shouting.

"Good morning, Phoenix." She smiled up at him.

A strange feeling warmed his chest. This was the first time she had taken his name. Her voice in general was sweet, but her morning voice was huskier, and that sounded really sexy. Phoenix imagined her, taking his name in the morning with that same British accent from earlier. In his arms, preferably.

"I got some saplings, seeds and soil, but I don't know where to start," Phoenix asked her, rubbing the back of his neck. He had been meaning to ask her that for a while now but always backed down at the last minute.

"Is this your way of asking me for help?" Aurora smiled. Her dimples took Phoenix's breath away. No matter how many times he has seen them, even when she chews her food, they appear.

"Hell, I am. If I am going to give tough competition to my neighbour's balcony. I must take the expert advice." Aurora chuckled, blushing as she brushed her fingers over the flower vines.

"What time will Rick be awake? I don't want to disturb him. He is cranky when he is drowsy." She said after some contemplation. This time Phoenix couldn't hide the disappointment on his face but still managed to say.

"Well, he told me he would kick me out of the house if I woke him before afternoon. So would you like to have lunch with us? Then we'll see what we can do with this barren balcony." he stretched his arms in exaggeration, in turn, he noticed Aurora checking out his muscled arms. It had been months since he had hit the gym until a few months back when he had so much leisure time that he started gymming again. Thank heaven for that.

"Okay, tell him to text me when lunch is ready." Aurora left Phoenix alone on the balcony with his thoughts.

He debated whether to let her be or persuade her. She clearly doesn't trust him.

Why would she?

She has known me for barely a week.

Why should I be friends with a girl who doesn't trust me?

She said yes to the lunch. In Rick's supervision.

A yes is still a yes.

Not coming to a proper conclusion, Phoenix decided to go with the flow and let the future decide what's in for them.

❄❄❄

Phoenix made some Quesadilla for them, using all the store-bought items and throwing wrappers in the garbage bin that was overflowing with their rubbish. He woke up Ricky earlier, despite his previous warnings.

"Who is coming?" Ricky asked perplexed rubbing his eyes, not believing he had heard his friend correctly.

"Our neighbour."

"What the fuck. Are you insane? I bet your left nut, they are into voyeurism or some shit." Ricky jumped up from his bed, and all the sleep vanished.

"No. I invited our other neighbour, Aurora. And no need to bet on my nut. I saw them kissing in front of their door and things got heated when they noticed me." Phoenix shook his head to rattle out the vivid memories.

Ricky laughed. "Is that why you came home running like you were chased by a ghost yesterday? Wait, did you really say Aurora?"

"Shut the fuck up. Go take a shower or wear a cologne then call Aurora. Apparently, we are supposed to be under adult supervision and unfortunately, that adult is you." Phoenix pointed an accusative finger at him.

"Phoenix, I told you...." Ricky sighed in defeat.

"...to be patient with her and I am Ricky." Ricky smiled appreciatively, being patient and not losing his temper was something Phoenix had to hear one too many times before he had come here. Him, being asked to control his temperament, was perhaps too much to ask and only Ricky knew it.

"I appreciate that," Ricky said, holding the towel, considering whether to shower. Phoenix gave him a look. Ricky sighed, taking the towel.

❄❄❄

Aurora on her own came before Ricky could call her. He was still in the shower when she came wearing a hoodie with her yoga pants and those fluffy socks she loved so much.

"Smells really good, Phoenix. Do you still need help with something?"

"I made some Quesadilla and a Caesar salad. You can help make them look presentable, especially the salad. Ricky is like a kid when it comes to healthy food."

"I know. It took me 2 months to realize that. So have you known him from before?" Aurora asked, piling up the salad carefully

"Ahem...Ummm yeah...We were... We are from The Hamptons and we were in the same high school." Phoenix told her, seeing Aurora nodding like this simple thing was news to her was confusing him. How can she be friends with him for years and not know where he lived.

"Hamptons, it's a beautiful place." Aurora's eyes lit up as she said that.

"Yes. Have you been there?" He asked instead of asking where she lived which was a natural question one would expect and immediately understood why she didn't bother knowing where he lived because it would sprout some counter questions.

"Huh, no. I just have seen it in movies. I heard a lot about it." Phoenix knew she was lying.

Slow and steady, Phoenix. You will get there.

❄❄❄

"They are as good as the last time, Captain." It slipped from Ricky's mouth, forgetting not to call him that.

"Captain." Aurora couldn't help but ask. Phoenix noticed it was out of her character. If she wants to push people off. Then she cannot be doing the same thing with the others. One step forward.

"Yeah, he was the captain of our football team." Ricky said, waggling his eyebrows at Phoenix.

"So are you planning to join here as well." Aurora asked.

"Nah. It was a high school thing. It's been... It's been a while."

"I used to be a cheerleader in high school," Aurora said, her face showing immediate regret. Another small victory for Phoenix, he will cook every day if it means Aurora opening up to him.

"You two are still young. Stop talking like it happened 100 years ago." Ricky took a bite of lettuce Aurora had placed carefully under the chicken.

"We don't have any official cheerleading team. Girls just stand in the bleachers and cheer, but we have an official football team." Aurora said suggestively, directing things back at Phoenix.

"We have studies. Ricky here doesn't take it seriously, but I do." Phoenix answered with a shake of his head.

"As if you need it. You don't even write anything, you just scrutinize our professor's teaching skills." Aurora said.

That was a big victory for Phoenix. He had to respond early before Aurora could realize that she had admitted to noticing him in class.

"I will go for tryouts if you cheer for me." Phoenix challenged, dropping his fork with a clank as he leaned in his chair, giving a smug expression to Aurora.

"If you are selected." Aurora accepted his challenge, raising her nose high, meeting Phoenix's challenging gaze.

"Damn, this is on. I will announce the tryouts on Monday." Ricky said, excited to have his captain back, no matter how many years has it been. Phoenix will outshine everyone else.

Aurora took a deep breath, realizing what she had done, but it was too late to back out now. Damage is done.

❄❄❄

Aurora stayed over to help Phoenix with the dishes, even after Ricky announced meeting with his team to prepare for the upcoming tryouts. Phoenix thanked the Angel on his shoulder who advised him to be patient. It fucking does pay off.

"Let's see what you have here," Aurora said looking at his gardening tools as she adjusted the sleeves of her hoodie to her elbows.

"I have aloe vera, it clears the air. Buttercups, they look beautiful we have a garden in our home back in The Hamptons. It's..It's beautiful." The beautiful part was for Aurora when he looked at her.

"Sweet alyssum saplings, these flowers grow in October or November. So we have like a month. Just take good care of the seed and you will get to smell its sweet aroma, but you have to be patient."

"I am patient, very. I have recently realized that." Phoenix breathed out, Aurora met his gaze to catch him looking at her intently.

"And you didn't need this huge shovel. We are planting saplings and seeds." Aurora laughed, as she had to force herself to tear her gaze from him.

"You are rude. I saw some space around the trees outside and the sidewalk. I thought they could use some colours."

"Been there, done that. Just like the elevator, they also peed on the flower beds, they looked burnt." Aurora shuddered at the reminder, and Phoenix's laughter echoed in the room.

"It's not funny, Phoenix. We live in a decent neighbourhood, this kind of behaviour is unacceptable." She scolded him.

"Blame the beer bar two blocks away. I heard the Irishman organises a drinking competition every week...." Aurora gave him a look that frightened him "....Not that I am justifying their actions." Phoenix covered quickly his voice laced with mock fear.

Aurora chuckled at his overacting skills, "Either way, it's wrong. They should be careful and good luck planting on the pavements."

he saw her leave as he had nothing else to make her stay, for now. He looked at the pot where they had planted sweet alyssum saplings.

Patience.

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