"Are you sure this is right?" Tulip asked, looking in the wooden bowl. "This doesn't look like the Caesar salad I had last week."

"Romaine. Parmesan cheese. Croutons. Caesar salad dressing." Sidney called out the list of ingredients from the iPad on the other side of the island then leaned over, stretching her neck to look at the contents inside the bowl. A smile spread across her face, "It looks like the picture. See." She turned the screen towards Tulip.

Niesha smirked, tipping the bottle of wine over the bell of the glass. "She's referring to the chicken. There's no chicken TuTu." She bumped her hip into her friends. "You lost the bet so eat up. One meal without meat won't kill you."

Tulip was sure she wouldn't die but she was almost certain she'd be hungry before midnight. She admitted to herself that this was all her fault. Why would she make such a bet with Sidney knowing she hadn't ridden a bike that wasn't stationary in years? Too much confidence. Yep, that was it. Granted, people always used 'it's just like riding a bike' as a euphemism for something easy.

So, when Sidney wagered a vegetarian meal for dinner if she couldn't pop a wheelie there was no doubt in Tulip's mind that she wouldn't get her new bike off the pavement. Technically, she did get it off the ground just not in the way she was supposed to. Once, that squirrel darted in the street and she swerved she knew fried chicken, baked chicken, and smothered chicken were off tonight's menu. The Pikachu bandaid on her forearm was cute and it matched the Charmander one on her knee so at least she had that.

"Nah, I'm good. I'll have you know that I've had meatless meals many times. PBJ and Cheetos. Rice Krispies and grilled cheese. " Tulip stated,  plucking a piece of romaine from the time after one good toss and started to nod as the crisp greenery crunched between her molars. "The dressing's good."

The smile Sidney beamed as she looked back at the device convinced Tulip to toss another piece of lettuce in her mouth. As soon as she swallowed she nodded to her friend. "How is it?"

"It's good." Niesha quipped, then poured a little of the Rosé into the empty wine glass next to her half-filled glass.

The pinkish liquid flowed in the glass and Tulip's mouth did something it didn't do frequently from wine; it watered as anticipation rushed through her. She liked her grapes sweet and still on the vine. However, she made an exception for this particular. First of all, it was free, and secondly, it was Jasper's wine. She was curious about how the wine that grossed him millions tasted. She relied primarily on Neisha's tongue since she had more knowledge of the beverage but as the liquid rolled over her taste buds she knew she didn't need the input of anyone else. She hummed completely surprised by the not-too-sweet, not-too-dry liquid with notes of strawberry, melon, and citrus playing on her tongue.

"It's good." She swirled the wine around in the glass. "I see why you like it."

Neisha nodded. "I'd buy it."

"Can I have a taste?" Sidney asked.

"Uh...no," Tulip said, setting the glass down, and before the little girl began with the rebuttal she continued. "I know what they do in France but this ain't there, so savor that strawberry lemonade."

Sidney's mouth twisted as she swept her eyes to the glass on her side of the counter that was almost empty. "Lemonade's good."

"I know." Tulip agreed, checking on the food in the oven. The cheese was melting nicely so she closed the door and reclaimed her spot by the island. "Are you all packed for the trip."

"Just about," Niesha said after draining the last contents from her glass. "I had to Google what one needs for Lake Tahoe but I think I cover all my bases with two suitcases."

This dinner wasn't just the wager for a loss bet, it was also a little meal before Niesha went away for a couple of days. Tulip was happy with the progress her friend was making and it showed in the Kool-Aid smile she beamed. Flying off to Ireland was too big of a step for Niesha but she and Lachlan made a happy compromise; a domestic trip.

"You're really going to do white water rafting?" Tulip asked but before Neisha could answer the doorbell cut her off.

Tulip ambled to the door shooting down Sidney's offer to answer it. The orangey glow of the setting sun painted Tulip as she passed through the living room. She nodded to the familiar beats of a song she heavily repeated in her youth. In the middle of another rap of knocks, she opened the door.

"Hey." Tulip confusingly grinned at the man on her doorstep. "What are you doing here?"

Austin's eyes swept over her, lingering on the part of her thighs not covered by the cutoff denim shorts. "You texted me." His sight went over her shoulder, the music, and Neisha and Sidney singing along to the song catching his attention. Humor played on his face as he refocused back on her. "You...going to let me in." He laughed as she remained standing in the doorway.

"No." She shook her head still perplexed. "Why would I do that? Our date isn't until Saturday. Tomorrow." She squinted at him. "I still don't know why you're here."

The humor drained from his features as he read the seriousness on her face. "You texted me an eggplant." He swiped through his phone and showed her the image.

"Yeah." She chuckled. "Because you asked me what I'm having for dinner."

"You're having eggplant."

"Parmesan." She finished pointing to the block of cheese and tomato that followed the purple vegetable. "I don't know how you read any of that as an invitation to drop by." She leaned against the doorframe with a curve to her lips. "But at least you know what's on the menu for the weekend."

"Oh yeah," He smirked as he moved to enter.

But she shook her head. "Uh, no...It's almost dinner time and this is girl time."

"Really." He stepped back with a crinkle in his eyebrows. "You're not going to make an exception. For me."

Tulip let her eyes shift from side to side as she thought and gave him the answer that was well with her soul. "No."

"Really." This time his words sounded more like a question and a warning.

She nodded feeling slightly upset that she couldn't just move to the side and let him strut in but she'd been working hard all week and had limited time with Sidney so on her first free Friday in a long time she spent most of it with her little girl, except for Niesha it had been just the two of them all day.

"So you're just going to..." His nostrils flared as he let out a deep breath. "Never mind, I get it." He quickly turned from her and headed for the porch steps.

"What do you get?" Her question caused him to stop.

"That you don't have time for me."

She frowned at his words, slightly taken aback. It had been two weeks since their first date and they'd been seeing each other every Saturday since then. She'd carved out the day for him and made time on her schedule for their dates no matter the type of event she had, be it an early date or a late one.

"I make time for you." She rebutted. "Isn't that enough."

"No." He said walking back onto the porch and claiming the space in front of her. "People that are dating aren't limited to one day. I should be a priority, too."

"You are." A nervous quirk took hold of her upper lip and it evened out as a realization surfaced in her mind. "You're just not my first priority."

"I didn't think I was, I just want more time with you." He reached for her hand.

She pulled her hand back before he could grasp it. "I don't have more time to give." She glanced over her shoulder seeing Sidney and Niesha dancing in the living room. "My daughter comes first, then work, and then me and what's left is for us."

"So, I'm last." He sneered. "I get the leftovers."

"You're the one that wanted us to be more than good sex and texting." She pointed at him sharply. "I've always been upfront. You wanted a date so I gave you one. I gave you my Saturdays." She threw up her hands. "I don't have time for—"

"For this." He finished the statement for her. "Yeah, you don't." He abruptly turned darted to his car and sped out of the driveway.

She peered at the space where his car was parked in a daze. She ran the conversation over in her mind and wondered if she should've done more, said something different, and offered up her Sunday also. But once she walked back into the house a strange sensation flooded her synapses. She was relieved he was gone. She knew she should've pulled the ripcord long ago because being where she was, was more important. She joined her friend and her baby girl in the living room taking part in the dance party. Trying to learn the dance from Are You That Somebody with Sidney was more important to her than Austin which was surprising to her.

She loved good dick but she loved her daughter more. She had to uphold their Summer of Joy, dating would have to wait for a while and she wasn't sad about that.

Do you think Tulip should've done more for Austin? Or was she right in choosing Sidney?

Tulip is putting off dating for a while, do you think that's a good decision?

When do you think she should try to start dating again?

Was Tulip right for telling Sidney to just enjoy her 'strawberry lemonade'?

How do you think Niesha and Lachlan's trip to Lake Tahoe will for? Was it a good compromise?

What's your favorite Aaliyah song? Honestly, there's no limit to how many times I can listen to Are You That Somebody, More Than A Woman, and If You're Girl Only Knew.

https://youtu.be/Nr03OPoXNrw

You if don't know the dance that I'm referring to for Are You That Somebody, here's the video.