"So, we're both named after a city...what else do we have in common, Mr. Lewis, and why are you interested in my MeMe."

Tulip heard the ten-year-old interrogating her date like a newbie detective from Rookie Blue as she trotted down the stairs. He had just stepped through the door and Sidney already pounced on the man. Tulip didn't hide her grin once his eyes caught her descent, she anticipated his answer to the question.

She knew they had good sex, they both loved sports, and he made her laugh but she wanted to know more; more that would explain the swarm of bees that fluttered in her stomach feigning from the sweetness of his smile, the swagger of his step, and the texts of funny memes and gifs he sent her throughout the day that made her giggle like the tween. She needed more justification for the headiness that took hold of her as she inhaled the top notes of his cologne and admiration that swept her up as his eyes ticked slowly up her body and settled on her eyes. She felt all those emotions before and the person that evoked them was closing the door as he wore humor on his face while telling Sidney to ease up a bit.

"It's fine. Although, I'm good under pressure." Austin rebutted to Jasper with his locs swept up in a bun not being able to touch the crisp white collar of the shirt that made his rich dark brown skin shine with regality. His sight didn't shift to Jasper even though his words were pointed towards him, he peered down at Sidney with a flight of a smile. "I like you're Meme because she..." He paused letting his eyes dance around as he thought then uttered. "She's fun, smart, beautiful, and infectious."

"Infectious?" Sidney's brows furrowed as she tasted the foreign word on her tongue tilting her head. "What did she infect you with? MeMe, you made him sick?" She looked up at Tulip with pure confusion

Niesha snorted with laughter as she stepped off the last stair behind her friend. "I'll help you download the Dictionary app and explain that to you later." She pointed to the old iPhone 7 Tulip gave her that was floating in one of the drawers of her desk. "But doesn't your MeMe look pretty?"

Sidney gave Tulip a once over then plainly said. "She looks wonderful." Her eyes fell to the floor as she leaned against Jasper's side and his arm went instinctively around her shoulder pulling her in closer as if he'd been executing the action for years upon years and not just two weeks.

Tulip however didn't notice. She was still transfixed on the answer Austin gave to her little one's question. The stirring in her gut gave her an eerie feeling that it wasn't and her brain took that worry and amplified it with more doubts. Was it enough to be fun, beautiful, and smart? Those were all great things. She loved those things about herself. She worked hard at being smart, read books that weren't her usual faves about superpowered people defeating villains and scrolled through her news app to stay current.

Her beauty was something she grew into as a late-teen after being dubbed too dark and too skinny by the boys who deemed themselves popular during middle school. With the tutelage with the nurturing words and advice of a volleyball coach and speech teacher, she found her voice and fell in love with her natural beauty. But those weren't things Austin knew, yet. Those were things he knew, she remembered when she told him all about it years ago.

She glanced over at Jasper as he gave her a closed-mouth smile then quickly plucked his eyes from her to place them on down the hallway. She wondered what notions and emotions were pooling in his mind, just from curiosity but she didn't linger in those thoughts. She shook them off to focus on Sidney. The little girl had drained of the youthful, happy energy that Tulip took days and all of June restoring with laughter and time. All thoughts of Austin vacated her and those mother instincts that were activated once Sidney appeared at her doorstep overpowered every caveat of her soul.

She knelt even though the leather of her skirt didn't give and it felt like her bellybutton was being pressed into her spine. "What's up, Sunshine?" She smoothed her thumb across the soft surface of Sidney's cheek.

"Nothing." Sidney shook her head although the melancholy flooding her irises told a different story. "You'll be back at ten, right."

"Yes." Tulip gestured to the delicate gold watch linked around her wrist. "On the dot. But there's no need to worry about me. You're going to be having so much fun with your da—" She caught herself from completing the word but it had been incredibly hard not calling Jasper daddy. He'd taken on the role with ease since the day they roller-skated in the park and Sidney clung to him as if he was always there.

Some should've been jealous of how quickly they bonded but she wasn't. She was proud but a little anxious. She prayed and hoped he wouldn't let her down or do anything to erase the love Sidney had for him. She wanted him to always be the hero and protector in the little girl's life.

"Your Fasa," was short for Mufasa, which was what Sidney started calling him after he killed a flying roach that caused screaming chaos in the house one night. "You still have to watch Endgame and make rainbow kettle corn."

"And you're supposed to teach me how to do a proper manicure, right," Jasper said leaning over tucking a strand of Sidney's hair behind her ear. "I know how to paint walls but nails..." He clenched his teeth and shivered for posterity. "You might be Rainbow Brite when all's said and down.

Sidney started laughing and then asked, "Who's Rainbow Brite?"

Austin shrugged as she stood at Tulip's side and Niesha chuckled as she snuck off to the back to answer her phone.

"Fasa's showing his age." Tulip smiled as she rose to her elevated height from her heels. "But I'll show you a picture when I get back."

"You'll wake me up, right,"  Sidney said as she watched Tulip grab her keys from the table in the foyer.

"You want me to wake you when you're getting your beauty rest."

Sidney nodded. "I'm pretty already."

"Love the confidence, babe." She kissed Sidney's forehead leaving behind a print of her lips from the glossy nude lipstick she applied upstairs. "See you at ten."

Just after Sidney nodded, Tulip gestured for Austin to lead them out the door and she turned to Jasper. "Call me if you need anything."

"We'll be fine." He said a corner tipped up as if something was stopping him from smiling. "Enjoy yourself. You deserve it and you look...beautiful." His lips finally turned all the way up as his eyes stayed entranced to hers then his sight went to Austin. "You both look fantastic. Have fun." His face held the happiness of his words as he clung to Sidney a little tighter.

"We will," Austin said as he claimed Tulip's hand.

Tulip didn't know what to say so she went to her word of default before walking out the door. "Thanks."

The walk to Austin's sedan was a battle for her. She wanted to turn back and go into the house. It was where she was supposed to be right? Sidney seemed so sad as she left which didn't do anything to dampen the guilt she was feeling but she had spent every day with Sidney since she had taken up the duty as guardian. She deserves a night of free time. Right?

Yeah. She was right. She slid into the passenger seat as Austin cranked up his late-model Dodge Challenger and she decided to commit to her date. She glanced over at Austin with a faint smile as she backed up out of her driveway let herself be taken up in the pre-date jitters and gave in to the hope of budding love. Tonight was going to be just for her.

Austin shifted the gear to drive and then asked her. "You ready?"

"Yes." She confidently said, settling into the seat safely behind the seatbelt. He fed the ignition gas and she took one more look at the house thinking her baby girl was going to be just fine with Jasper. He was her dad after all. She could trust him to be just that. Sidney's dad.

Should Tulip wake Sidney up when she gets back from her date? And why do you think Sidney wants to be made aware of when Tulip gets home?

Why do you think Austin's answer to Sidney's question isn't quite the answer she was looking for?

Why do you think Jasper had to hold Sidney a little tighter to him as he complimented Tulip and her date?