Tulip woke up the next morning with a slight spring in her step. There was something about waking up and not having to be responsible for anything and everything that undid the knots in her back muscles and eased the stress upon her shoulders. Although her body naturally woke itself up around seven, it was the rich hearty aroma of fresh perking coffee that lured her out of the room. 

After getting turned around twice in Jasper's spacious home, she finally arrived in the kitchen that had more than java heating. Her nose picked up the sugar, butter, and jalapeno that filled the air as she shuffled passed the expansive island, and the man at the stove flipped something that caused a sizzle to cry out over the small barks of a puppy.

"I see you found your new friend." Tulip jested, lowering herself on the floor next to Sidney.

"He's my best friend." Sidney quickly said, without looking over at her. She was far too busy trying to keep its eager mouth away from the stuffed animal that squeaked every time she pressed its belly making the puppy immediately go into a better downward dog than Tulip could even attempt.

"He made a mad dash out of my room while I was cleaning his cage...." Jasper said, handing her a steaming mug. "...and Ms. Early Riser caught him in the hallway. Surprise ruin."

Tulip reached up, claiming the mug and gifting him with a soft smile in return. She caught sight of the same shine in his eyes that he had last night reassuring her that it wasn't the moonlight that gave his brown irises the glimmer.

"I was surprised," Sidney said playing tug-of-war since the puppy had its little teeth dug into the leg of the stuffed animal. She leaned towards Tulip and said. "But you know what?"

"What?" Tulip asked.

"You can't keep best friends apart." Sidney nodded her head as if she had just convinced herself of that fact even more. "

"You may be on to something." Tulip sounded glancing over at Jasper retrieving plates from the cabinet. Although she and Jasper weren't best friends they did have a connection and there had been times when she felt that connection make a resurgence and last night it was even stronger, like a volt of electricity zap through her.

Before Tulip took a sip of her coffee she asked, "What are you going to name your best friend?"

"Daequan."

Tulip choked on the liquid, thankful she only took a small swallow.

"Dae—what?" Jasper stopped at the dining table with three plates in hand.

"Dae...Quan." Sidney said, emphasizing each syllable as if it was her speech that caused the adults to react so strangely. "It's one of MeMe's favorite names."

Jasper's eyes went to Tulip and she shook her head. "I mean it's a fine name but it's not my favorite. I don't even think I have a favorite name besides Sidney that is." She said pushing herself off the floor, stretching her free arm to the ceiling while not disturbing the coffee mug attached to her other.

"You say it all the time." Sidney relinquished the toy to the puppy and took him in her arms in consolation. "Daequan this...Daequan that. You always say it."

"Because it's my default name," Sidney said meandering to the kitchen to see what Jasper had cooked up. "I use it as a name for guys whose names I don't know or a hypothetical person."

Jasper paused from pouring orange juice into the trio of glasses on the island. "Are you sure you want to name your puppy after your MeMe's fictitious men?"

Tulip playfully scowled at him and he smirked without even looking at her. "Name your friend whatever you want." She turned to Sidney cradling the dozing puppy in her arms as if it was a newborn. "But just know that you'll have to call his name a lot and Daequan is sort of long."

"Hmmm." Sidney sounded rocking the puppy side to side fully sending him into dreamland. "What if we call him 'Dae' for short then it'll work."

"Yeah, that'll work." Tulip nodded. "Go put him back in his cage and wash your hands so we can get stuffed on this spread." She motioned to the platter of buttered biscuits, pillowy scrambled eggs, a bowl of cheesy grits, and the platter of golden brown jalapeno salmon croquettes.

"Okay." Sidney sweetly said then waltzed out of the kitchen.

Tulip pointed to the biscuits and asked. "Are these homemade?"

"What do you think?" He countered resuming his task.

She glanced at him and then back to the food, "It looks a little too good to be true."

"I don't play about my food, Tulip." He set the pitcher of juice down and placed his sight firmly on her and she wondered if there was an 'or' to follow in his statement. "Taste one and tell me."

He gestured to the plate and she eagerly obliged. Her hand hovered over the platter of biscuits like a helicopter over a crime scene which was fitting since whichever biscuit she picked was going to get massacred. She chose one on the end that had golden edges from being in one of the pan's corners. She pulled it open and was greeted with warm flaky layers. Before she could even ask, Jasper reached over and spread butter across the dough with the tip of the knife.

Her eyes widened as the cream melted and her mouth watered, getting wetter the closer it came to her mouth. She bit into the half and a moan hummed in her chest. She closed her eyes savoring the rest knowing something that scrumptious couldn't have popped out of a can. Her eyes slowly scrolled open as she swallowed and she knew he was looking at her before turning his way.

"So, what's the verdict?" He inquired with a cocky grin.

"It's ight." She teased with a shrug. "Pillsbury. Maybe, Grands."

"Bullshit." He quipped, putting the pitcher back in the fridge. "You know I made those."

She chuckled before taking another bite of the biscuit that was almost orgasmic or was it the man that made them? She didn't quite know but she didn't ponder on it for too long or else she was going to begin second-guessing her choices last night which she didn't want to do. She was trying to make good, sound decisions for her and Sidney, and having a one-night stand with Jasper didn't seem constructive. So, she focused on devouring the remainder of her biscuit and took a seat at the table.

"So, our kid's puppy is going to be named after your childhood crush." He said, pulling her from her bread feast and placing the rest of the food on the table. "...and first kiss."

"What?" She started, reaching for the cup of juice in front of her. "Are you jealous?"

He took the seat across from her, leaving the seat at the head of the table vacant and since the other plate was set up next to her no one was going to claim it.

"Maybe." He answered, peering at her as the morning sun washed over the room eradicating the need for manmade light. "But just a little. I know you love hard and cherish good memories and I adore that about you."

"Adore." She spoke the word as if it was foreign then glanced at the doorway leading to the hallway. "What's taking her so long?"

"She probably can't let go." He said taking a glance at the same doorway she was peering at. "I'll go check."

"No, I'll go." She said pushing her chair back."

"No, TC." He effortlessly insisted, already standing up. "Let me. You just relax and have another biscuit." He grinned and then headed to the hallway. "I'll get the kid so we can eat."

Something about the way he said those last words made her feel warm and comforting inside; like everything didn't rely on her and she could let her hair down and maybe her guard. That maybe, just maybe he meant what he told her early—that he was there to stay and committed to making her sure of it.

What do you think about 'Daequan' the puppy?

What do you think it means that Tulip let Jasper call her by the nickname that he used to use?

How do you feel about Tulip letting her guard down with him? Should she?

Is Tulip right, that having a one-night stand with Jasper wouldn't be constructive for her and Sidney?