I can tell Heather thinks I've lost my mind with my ridiculous introduction but I'm just glad she plays along with the bit. Alisha immediately relaxes, her face aglow as she smiles at my sister. Heather brings out her hand and Alisha takes it in a shake.

"So you're Sierra's mom!" she says enthusiastically, "she's always talking about you and how you're a big time American reporter"

Covering her face with her palm Alisha cracks up "She tends to tell people that" her eyes slowly moving to me, their gaze kind but tired and I don't blame her for the night she's having.

"Oh she's telling the truth! It's the same with Jack, I can't get him to shut up about you either!" she nudges me in the stomach with her elbow. Wait, what? Trying to mellow down whatever she plans on saying next I give her a very subtle pinch on the shoulder I'm still holding on to but she quickly squirms out of my hold. Shit. Heather's eyes are glowing and she has that crazy look on her face that she gets only when she's got some ridiculous plan in her mind.

With a dubious smile Alisha just blushes and I can't help but feel a little annoyed at my sister. No, I may have not spoken about her but it's only because she's the one good thing I have in my life right now, the one thing I look forward to at work – within just a short span of time and I'm just not ready to share her with anyone else. We're still smiling at each other when I realise that no one is speaking. I clear my throat and ask my sister if she needs a ride back.

"Its fine, I drove, you should probably drive Alisha and her family back once Sierra is out though." Tugging onto the strap of her cross bag she waves goodbye and turns to leave when suddenly she doesn't move. She stops and turns right back running over to us with yet another crazy look in her eyes.

Oh good lord, now what.

"Alisha," she clamps her hands on Alisha's arm with a smile so big it's about to split her face.

"We're having dinner on Friday..." my eyebrows must have risen so high they're probably hitting my hairline .So this was what the mischievous look was for. I don't try to stop her from speaking, I'm dying to get to hang out with Alisha, even if it means dinner with my family. Her smile drops and she looks at me. Okay so clearly she doesn't like the idea of where this is going. I clear my throat trying to get the attention of Heather to tell her to back off.

"We'd love if you could join us." The air in the room becomes heavy with anticipation, unsure of what her answer might be, I'm suddenly transformed back to the early 2000s when rejection from a college girl was inevitable. What you think I always had it so easy? Psht, no.

"I'd love to come." I don't miss the weight on the word 'love'. " But my aunt leaves tomorrow and from then on it's just going be myself and Sy...I don't trust anyone around here well enough to leave her and go out for the night." she adds with a helpless one shouldered shrug. I don't know what happens next. My brain clearly shuts down and my mouth moves at lightning speed.

"The invitation was for the both of you...Please, it would be great if you could both join us. I'll pick you guys up. No UBERS or Lyfts." I slice my hand in the air for effect, somewhere in the corner of my eye, my sister is giving me that scary ass smile of hers.

Alisha contemplates my words, her eyes moving quickly back and forth at mine, searching. Swallowing the innate need I've suddenly developed to grab her and kiss her, I smile and nod my head in encouragement.

She takes a deep breath and smiles. Her gaze falling back on Heather, "Dinner on Friday night would be great."

Heather lets out a squeak and we break into a laugh, the mood around us changing – the awkwardness dissipating in the air. With a final wave, she leaves, for good this time and then it's just the three of us, waiting it out at the waiting area for Sierra.

***

After what seems like forever, in reality it was just maybe an hour since we got here, the doctor finally makes an appearance walking right up to us. He's a tall and imposing figure but my focus is elsewhere, at the little person he's carrying. If I thought staring at Aunt Kelly was a window into Alisha's future then this little person was the past.

She's got those tumbleweed curls, the exact shade as her mom. Her caramel skin is lighter, more toffee toned and she's got the same brown eyes, little embers that shine under the fluorescent light. Her cheeks are tear stained and the minute she spots Alisha, her tiny lower lip and chin tremble and she throws her little lanky arms out, stretching with a whimper for her mother.

Placing her on her hip Alisha whispers soft soothing words and flutters a million tiny kisses all over the little girl's face. The sight of the two tightens something in my chest and my mouth goes dry. I look at the picture before me and envy the man who had them. These two beautiful people...how could he have let them slip through his fingers? It' s his fucking loss.

Walking up to me, Alisha sits down at the empty waiting room chair next to mine and readjusts the little person to sit on her lap.

"This is mama's friend Jack, can you say Hi"

Two little embers stare right at me, up close they're the colour of tea, brimming with curiosity. I hold up a little wave and smile, her little mop of curls move to the left as she cocks her head and takes me in. A shy smile crawls up her lips.

"Hello." the tiny voice says, it's so soft, almost a whisper. I lean in closer and whisper a hello right back. Aunt Kelly who was seated right opposite us stands up abruptly.

"Alisha, I need to finish my packing" I don't miss the strain her voice as if to say "get fuck up and let's leave".

Standing up I pick up Alisha's handbag and gesture to the front exit. "It's late, let me give you guys a ride back".

The drive back is excruciatingly painful and awkward as fuck. Since the wrangler has no car seat Alisha opts to sit behind with Sierra on her lap, the both of them fast asleep while Aunt Kelly sits in front passenger seat with me. I keep sneaking looks at the two of them from the rear view mirror. Watching them sleep. Sierra's little head of curls nuzzle at the crook of

Alisha's neck, her own wild curls crawl up on the glass of the window.

She's holding onto Sierra tight, as though she's all she's got, maybe that's how she feels, how she's always felt and it constricts something within, my hand tightens its grip on the wheel. What is wrong with you? You met the woman just three weeks ago, met her kid only an hour or so and yet you want to take them in and keep them. These are people, not pets! Are you fucking insane? She probably thinks you're just as nuts.

Aunt Kelly must have caught my eyes move to the mirror because her voice cuts through the stifling silence between us.

"She's been through a lot you know." I don't give her an answer, just nod and keep my eyes on the road. The sky broke into a slow drizzle just as I was backing out of the hospital. The summer sunset creeps to my left, its amber and tangerine hues wash over the city. The hustle and bustle of the city this evening truly lives up to its name, it never sleeps.

"She left her home. Her family. Her people, just so she can make a fresh start and as grateful as I am that you were here today for her – you are not that fresh start."

We've stopped at yet another damn red light when she once again speaks. I swallow. It's not that I don't have anything to say, it's just I want to make sure I say the right thing. Alisha's asleep but she could be listening and as much as I'd like to be disrespectful to this woman who's judging me based on what? The fact that I'm an actor? I grip the steering wheel harder, my knuckles going white. I don't want to do anything that could hurt Alisha.

I peek at the rear-view mirror, Sierra stirs in her sleep, Alisha unconsciously holds her closer, her head turning with those perfectly messy curls following ensue. Chewing on my bottom lip I contemplate my response. We turn into her road and make it to the brownstone apartment, I face Kelly directly, my gaze pinning to her place.

"I know she's been through a lot, I don't plan on doing anything to hurt her or complicate her already very complicated life but I won't stop seeing her or being there for her," I look back and realise Alisha is watching me so I say my next few words into her eyes. "for them."

Since Alisha and I are yet to put a label on whatever it is we've got going on, I swallow before adding, "even if it's just as a friend"

***

"Would you like a cup of coffee?" I'm standing in the middle of Alisha's living room, its small but cozy, the walls are a dull yellow, the floors wood. Her furniture is the bare minimum. A four piece brown leather sofa set with a mahogany coffee table set in the middle of the room. A few ceramic lamps decorate the room and in the very centre of it all, she's got a decorative fireplace, up on its mantle are a bunch of hand-made macaroni and pistachio crafted picture frames painted in bright blues, yellows and pinks, inside are the photographs that tell her story.

There's one of her with two women on either side. One is a dark haired, olive toned woman holding up a glass of wine, her glasses slipping down to the tip of her nose, she's laughing. The other is fair skinned with purple hair, she's got glasses too –the picture was taken at such a bad angle and you can see the light reflect on her glasses, she's squeezing Alisha in a tight hug and Alisha, her hair is let loose, brown tumbleweeds washed by the colour of the club's lighting, her eyes closed shut and her smile so open and free. She looks beautiful.

I turn around and my answer is lodged somewhere in my throat. She's changed out of her clothes in the time she went to tuck Sierra into her bed. Instead of the plaid shirt and jean shorts she's now in a pair of yellow sleep short-shorts, her lean and toned legs out in the open, she's got on a baggy nightshirt but even with it on, I can see the faint shaping of her nipples, no bra. My mouth goes dry.

"No thanks," I shake my head. "It's late and I should probably let you guys get some rest." I look about hoping her damn aunt doesn't come and shoo me out.

She turns around, "What are you looking for?"

"Nothing" I mutter, walking past her and to the front door. I turn back around. She's crossing her arms, but from where I stand I can see what she's really doing – holding herself up. I walk up to her and tuck a stray curl behind her ear. She leans into my touch so I cup her face. My eyes falling on those perfect pink lips. They're naked of any makeup and look as soft and inviting as they did on the night I kissed her –last night. I give myself a mental shake, you can't do anything with her aunt in the house.

"What happened today, you can't hold yourself to blame, besides she's fine. Sierra is okay," I slowly draw a circle on her soft cheek, her eyes close to my touch and she sighs, it's a soft sound but I feel it in my core and well, my dick too as I'm suddenly sporting a semi.

I drop my hand to my side and clear my throat. Her eyes open and she smiles, we walk in companionable silence to the front door and she opens it for me.

"See you tomorrow?" I ask with a smile.

"See you tomorrow", with a feeble smile she closes the door.

Standing outside the dark hallways of the apartment, I'm suddenly reminded of our conversation from the elevator...Today is Sierra's birthday. Fuck, the kid got stitches instead of a cake and presents. I think of Kylie, my niece and how she'd have wanted the night to really go. This needs to be fixed. Fast.

I take out my phone and call Liam between her aunt's random detest towards me and Heather inviting both Alisha and Sierra to dinner what I really need is a drink but instead I call him and hoping he'll agree to go shopping with me. He picks up on the first ring and I ask him to meet me at the Claire's, just off Madison Avenue.

"You sure you got enough?" Liam asks eyebrows raised in amusement. He's got a dozen yellow and pink helium balloons in one hand and a bag of princess themed accessories in another. I'm carrying a cake which I bought from Lara Mudes, a designer cake studio where the two of us rushed to right after the Claire's escapade and practically slammed on to the glass door just before Lara herself was turning the closing sign on.

The man had readily agreed to helping, not once asking me a single nosy question. That's why I could trust him enough to explain about Alisha and Sierra. He even bought the little girl a colouring book, his own present to her.

Giving him the stink eye, we march back up the stairs of the brownstone hoping to hell, the three of them haven't already gone off to bed.