Herbert immediately pushed past Eliza, ready to fight them off. William recognized Herbert from the times he'd staked out in front of Eliza's house. And so he was more than willing to stand from his seat. The two men stared at each other, fists at either sides of their legs.

"Stop!" Eliza shouted out and moved between them. The air was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. "Herbert, it's okay. I know them."

"Doesn't seem okay to me." Herbert answered, ready to fight. But then he finally allowed her words to resonate. "Wait, you know them?"

"This is William." Eliza pointed to him, and there he stood with a grin on his face. "And that's Connor. And there's Bunny."

"Why did you seem so startled?" Herbert asked. William didn't take his eyes off Herbert, he sized him up. He wanted to know what all the fuss was about when it came to the man with the Model A.

"They're friends of mine, I wasn't expecting them." Eliza explained away, then her voice turned stern. "But, they'll soon be out of here in no time."

"Eliza, I have to talk to you." William told her.

"I don't want to talk to you." Eliza answered under her breath, trying to hold back the anger. "My friend Herbert is here to visit and I'd like you to leave."

"And what am I? Chopped liver?" Bessie asked while she stood in the front door frame. While leaning on the door, she relaxed with her arms crossed under her bosom.

Connor looked at her feet, then his eyes slowly crawled up her legs. He spotted her dress which loosely fell off her body, but the hem was mighty high just as the neckline was low. When he got to her face, he knew exactly where he'd seen her before. But he didn't need to look into her eyes to know that, those legs could be recognized anywhere. Bessie grinned at Connor, giving him a wave. He he rolled his tongue in his mouth, whispering to Bunny. "Isn't that one of the chorus girls from the club?"

"Looks like." Bunny smiled. "And we're not so different in height. She's perfect for me."

Connor glared at Bunny, causing him to question what happened. "What?" Bunny' asked. Connor chuckled and looked over to Eliza and William to see exactly what was transpiring with them.

William looked rough, as though he'd been to hell and back. His hair fell in front of his forehead, perspiration glistened on his skin even though it was winter, and all he wore was a white tank top tucked into brown slacks. This was unusual attire for him, usually he only looked his best.

Eliza's studio apartment was far too small for all those people and all of that tension. She decided she needed to get to the bottom of why William was present.

"William, come with me into the bathroom. We need to discuss a few things." Eliza told him. William grinned as he followed her into the bathroom. Herbert fixed his tie as he watched them disappear behind the bathroom door.

As Eliza moved further into the bathroom, she felt a pinch on her butt.

"You!" Eliza swiftly turned to face William. His blue eyes were hooded and lazy, they didn't have the same fire that she was used to. "Are you drunk?"

That was question that he conveniently avoided.

"Eliza, I need to stay here." He told her. "I've no where to go."

"Well you can't stay here." Eliza insisted. "I said I was through with you and I meant it!"

"Eliza, please." William begged, but she was too caught up in her own emotions. She didn't want to fall for his game again.

"I'm tired of every minutia of my life involving you! I'm ready to be rid of you!" Eliza complained, but became silent when William grabbed both of her shoulders.

"Eliza, if I don't stay here, I'm gonna either go to jail or I'm gonna die." He said. "I tried to call up my Pop and go there, but he doesn't want me."

"He and I have that in common." Eliza removed his hands from her shoulders. "What gave you the idea that you can just come into my home and stay?"

"What makes you so defensive about it?" William asked. "I've done it many times before. Or is it that you wanted to be cooped up with Mr. Cab Calloway out there?"

"His name is Herbert. And he's a very fine man." Eliza corrected him. "A much more upstanding one compared to you."

"Baby, he might have nice suits and a Model A too. But I'm sure he won't make you feel like I do." William's words left his lips like butter. Eliza squinted at William, crossing her arms in suspicion.

"How do you know what car he drives?" Eliza asked. William's expression went blank, then he scratched the slight stubble coming up on his face.

"You've been watching me, haven't you?" Eliza asked. Then she pushed on his chest. "You've been watching to see who's coming in and who's coming out!"

"I wanted to make sure you're safe!" William answered. "You've had creeps on you before. I needed to know you were okay."

"I don't need you protecting me, William." Eliza told him. "I can make it good with you!"

"I know you can..." William tried to get a word in, but Eliza kept talking.

"And I think it's mighty backward how you just bust in here at the drop of a hat!" Eliza complained more.

"I know..." William agreed.

"And not only did you break in but you look horrible too. Lord knows what street fight you've been in now!" Eliza cried out.

"I love you!" William shouted as he stepped toward her. Eliza was silent, once again she was in shock. It was as though his words echoed throughout the bathroom then buzzed itself into her veins. She felt it all through her body, almost to the point where she felt she may faint.

William stepped toward her, placing his hands on her waist. "I can't just let you be good on your own because I can't live without you."

"No..." Eliza tried to stop herself for once again falling for him. She tried to block her emotions, but he kept coming in. He was knocking down her wall and stepping right back where he belonged.

Eliza kept repeating that word, 'no' as if it were going to make his words less true. Only for William to leave a kiss on her forehead, then on her cheek, then all over her face. She exhaled as his kisses trickled down to her neck, then to her lips.

Their lips connected like two puzzle pieces that found each other again. Her arms went limp behind her as he held her waist close. Then she slowly held onto his biceps, tracing up his arm until she wrapped hers around his neck. They kissed deeply and unapologetically, that is until Eliza realized that she is going against everything she promised herself.

"I can't do this again." She wiggled her way out of his grasp, then walked toward the door. She didn't dare face him, she didn't dare look into his blue eyes. But he'd already done it, he already found his way back deep inside of her. He reignited her desire for him more than ever before. "You can stay tonight. But by tomorrow you've got to be gone."

"Great." William grinned. "Just tell your little friend that it's a wrap. He should probably get going.

"That's the thing." Eliza lifted a finger. "He won't be going anywhere."

"What do you mean by that?" William asked.

"Just because you put on this little production doesn't mean things are back to being the same. Herbert stays tonight, whether you like it or not." Eliza insisted, then opening the door she returned to the others. William looked in the mirror and leaned forward, his hands on the sink. After whispering a profanity under his breath, he followed behind.