Hoops & Harmonies

58.

Monica stirred slightly, turning toward Angel, who was already awake, propped up on one elbow, watching her. Angel smiled when Monica's eyes fluttered open.

"Good morning, beautiful," Angel said softly, brushing a stray curl away from Monica's face.

Monica stretched and smiled back, her body still relaxed from the peacefulness of their surroundings. "Good morning. What time is it?"

"Early. I didn't want to wake you. You looked too peaceful," Angel replied, leaning down to kiss Monica's forehead.

Monica sighed contentedly and looked out of the window. Belize had been everything she'd hoped for. The lush greenery, the tranquility—it had given them the space they needed to reconnect. She felt lighter, freer, as if a weight had finally lifted from her chest.

"What do you want to do today?" Monica asked, her voice soft in the quiet room.

Angel grinned. "I was thinking we could check out that river tour. You know, maybe see some wildlife, get out on the water."

Monica raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "You mean, get on a boat in the middle of a river with who knows what kind of animals lurking nearby?"

Angel laughed, shaking her head. "Come on, it'll be fun! And I'll protect you. I'm a WNBA player, remember? I've got strength and reflexes."

Monica rolled her eyes, though she couldn't suppress the smile that followed. "Alright, fine. But if anything jumps out at me, you're handling it."

They spent the morning lounging around the villa, enjoying a lazy breakfast and the peacefulness that surrounded them. The stress of the last few months had felt like a distant memory. Here, it was just them—no kids, no responsibilities, no tension. Just Monica and Angel, rediscovering the love that had always been the foundation of their relationship.

By late morning, they were on their way to the river tour. The air was warm and the sounds of nature filled the atmosphere. Monica leaned into Angel as their guide navigated them through the calm waters. The boat glided smoothly along the river, surrounded by the lush greenery of the Belizean jungle.

"So, how do you think the kids are doing with Nana and Papa?" Angel asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

Monica smiled, her thoughts immediately drifting to their children. "They're probably getting spoiled. My mom loves any excuse to fuss over them."

Angel chuckled. "Your dad too. He's probably teaching Rodney something new or quizzing him about life."

Monica nodded. "I'm sure of it. They adore the kids."

A small splash in the water caught their attention, and they both turned, spotting a family of howler monkeys in the trees. Angel's eyes lit up with excitement, and she nudged Monica.

"See, I told you this would be cool!" Angel said, her voice full of enthusiasm.

Monica couldn't help but laugh, her fear from earlier melting away. "Alright, alright. You were right. This is pretty amazing."

The boat continued down the river, and they fell into a comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other's company and the beauty around them.

When they returned to the villa later that afternoon, they were both pleasantly exhausted. The adventure had been fun, but Monica was glad to be back in the peaceful surroundings of their temporary home.

They spent the evening relaxing, with Monica opting for a quiet moment by the villa's private pool while Angel caught up on some emails. As the night grew darker, they came back together, both feeling a deeper connection than before.