Things were escalating between Jon and Phil. Thankfully, after the fight in the hotel room, they kept it away from the girls. I wasn't sure how much more I could take when suddenly, it seemed to stop.

Phil seemed to be back to his usual, semi-grumpy self. He would joke with Jon, seemed to be comfortable around us. He was even spending more time with the girls.

"I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop." I confessed to John.

"You're going to jinx it." He warily told me.

John and I were putting up the free weights at the gym, having finished a particularly grueling workout. Lately, our fitness routine has been the only time that it's just been me and John.

"I'm not trying to."

"What were they arguing about, anyway?" John asked.

"Want to know how silly this situation is? Phil had taken the girls for the spa day and they were supposed to spend the night. They forgot their overnight bag, so they came back to the hotel to get it."

"Doesn't seem silly so far."

"Jon asked Phil to bring the girls back early the next day. He said that he had planned a big family day for the four of us."

"Ah, and Punk lost his head."

"You got it."

"I honestly get where you are coming from, but just relax. Either Punk has finally come around and accepted it or he's good at faking."

"Or he's planning something." I flatly said. "I don't trust it."

"Honestly, Jessie, I think it's fine. He's a grown man who knows he lost."

That's what I'm afraid of. Phil didn't lose well.

Instead of voicing the concern, I simply shrugged. Maybe John was right and I was just being paranoid.

"Anyway, some news on my end." John said. "I'm thinking about asking Nikki to move in."

John laughed at the stunned look on my face. It took me a few moments to clear my reaction.

"That's huge for you. Are you sure?" I asked.

"I love her." John replied.

"Well, bud, I'm happy for you."

"Here's the thing." John rubbed his head. "I think I need an out, in case something happens."

I automatically frowned. "John..."

"I know, but you remember what it was like with Elizabeth. It would be a simple document that just outlines a few things."

"Like a renter's agreement." I said.

John's ears started to turn pink. "When you say it that way..."

"Come on, John." I shook my head.

"Bad idea?" He asked.

I had longed suspected that John had an issue with OCD. To him, this document would just be as an insurance policy for him, but I knew Nikki wouldn't see it that way.

"She's not going to understand." I told him. "If you do this, just tell her about it before she moves from Phoenix."

But John didn't heed my advice. When Nikki excitedly told us that she was moving in with John, there was no mention of the agreement.

"Bad play." I told him.

"Look, if I give her the paper before she's here, she might not come. I really want to live with this woman."

"John, don't trick her. Do the right thing."

"You aren't going to say anything, are you?"

"I think this would be better coming from you, but you should talk to her." I said.

"I will. After Nattie's wedding." John promised. "I think I'll start off small. Ask her to meet my family."

"That's not small, John."

"You know what I mean. It'll be a good ice breaker."

"You think you'll change your mind about getting remarried?" I asked.

"Absolutely not." John automatically said.

"Hey." I said, grabbing his arm. His cool blue eyes met mine, looking determined. "Not every marriage is you and Elizabeth."

"I know that. But you know how everything changed between us after we got married. I couldn't handle that with Nikki."

"You really love her, don't you?"

"I really do."

"Alright, buddy. I'm not going to lecture you."

"Good. I don't think I could handle any Jessie Coleman speeches right now." He half-jokingly said.

"Ha ha." I punched him lightly in the arm.

John laughed, playfully rubbing his arm. I teasingly called him a big wuss.

"Seriously though, if you are that concerned that the other shoe will drop soon, then take my advice. Enjoy the serene while you can."

Later that night, Jon and I gathered with the others to celebrate Nattie's wedding. Thankfully, Sarah had agreed to stay with the girls for the night. The party seemed to be hopping in the club. Ariane brought Vinnie, who got real drunk real quick. I thought Jimmy was going to punch him out at one point. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, especially Brie, who was dangerously close to entering in 'Brie Mode' as Nikki called it. I looked over at Nattie, who seemed to be lost in her phone.

"You're missing one hell of a party in your honor." I pointed out.

"I'm sorry. It's just, well, you remember Jaret, right?" Nattie asked.

Jaret had been an hold friend of Nattie's. She had gotten into a fight with TJ on her birthday and ended up spending her birthday dinner with him. Brie and I both had previously told her that she was dangerously flirting with temptation.

"You've been texting him all night?" I asked.

"He's really sweet and attentive. I just miss that." She said.

"This is dangerously close, Nat. Don't you want to marry TJ?"

"Of course I do. It's just nice, you know?"

"The attention?"

"Yeah." She downtrodden said.

"I think you should stop texting him." I told her.

"I know. You're right." She said.

I watched her for a second, her thumb still poised on her keyboard. "Do I need to take your phone from you?"

"No." She said, sliding her phone into her pocket. "It's okay."

I couldn't have been happier the next day watching Nattie and TJ get married. Jaret did show up to the wedding, which did upset TJ. Thankfully, they were able to move passed it. The next several days went by without any incidents which is why I was taken completely by surprise when the other shoe did drop.

Only it wasn't Phil. It was AJ.