"I look like a goalie," Sidney whined her big brown sad eyes on Tulip. Her arms were stretched out and her stance was wide as if the arm and knee pads kept the hinge joints from moving. The leafy branches of a massive tree shield them from the sun's blaze although Sidney's head was safe from the rays under the thick helmet.
"Don't you think you're going a little—" Jasper started then stopped from the sharp look Tulip gave him with her hands on her bare, taut waist. He looked back at the sulking state of the little girl and gestured to her protective gear. "Aren't these for riding bikes? She's not even on the street. We're in the park. Plus, it's in the mid-nineties. She's going to overheat in that helmet."
Sidney began fanning herself at his words and Tulip narrowed her eyes at the girl.
"This is staple beginner gear," Tulip said balancing herself like a pro on her peach roller skates with lavender laces. The tight spandex athletic shorts that gripped the top of her thighs and her plump ass like a glove attracted the eyes of several passersby but she didn't pay them any mind. She was focused on Jasper, suited up in Nike gear with a backward baseball cap. "Do you want her to have a scraped knee or bruised palms because if she falls that's what's going to happen."
"But I'm not going to fall." Sidney insisted, still standing rigidly. "I have good posture and excellent balance. I took gymnastics when I was little."
Tulip blinked at her wondering what the ten-year-old considered little since she was still little; five or six. "I love that you're confident but balancing on wheels isn't easy as you might think."
"It's not but..." Jasper set his hand on his chest. "I'm not going to let you fall." He undid Sidney's elbow pads and then her helmet. He left on the knee pads and didn't falter under the heated scowl Tulip seared at him. "Compromise?"
Tulip sighed as Sidney silently begged with praying hands. "Fine but if any part of her hits this concrete, Jasper Young, I'll cut you with a rock."
He laughed then said, "If you must. I'll find the rock for you."
Sidney glanced between the two of them slightly confused if they were being serious or not but she wasn't too concerned. The thing gobbling up most of her mind was on the baby blue stakes resting on the park bench. They watched her as she eagerly laced the roller skates up and tentatively stood to her feet. She wobbled as she tried to straighten her knees and Jasper quickly took hold of her arm stabilizing her. She stood frozen looking up at Tulip with unease as she was unsteady on her feet.
"Stand like this," Tulip said, standing in front of Sidney showing her how to point out her feet and slightly bend her knees. "And then take a little step." Tulip glided backward giving the girl space to move forward.
Sidney flattered backward as she tried to inch forward. Her free arm flailed but it was Jasper's firm, steady gripped to her other arm that kept her upright. A nervous smile curved on her face as she traveled a foot then a bike whizzed by spooking her and she skidded on the steps falling back. A scream rushed from her mouth anticipating the crash to the warm sidewalk but it never came. Jasper's reflexes kept her bottom from hitting the ground and her scream morphed to a goofy laugh. "Meme! I almost fell!"
"Yeah, I know." Tulip breathed out with her arms outstretched as if she was trying to catch the girl herself. She glanced over her shoulder to see the bike rider still barrelling ahead like a Tour de France reject. "Some jackasses think they own the sidewalk." She gave Jasper a look and gratitude as she took Sidney's other hand and he mouthed 'no need."
By the time they made it to the other side of Hermann Park, Sidney was skating without the assistance of her birth parents even though she wasn't going faster than the speedwalking elderly couple she was still happy she didn't need to hold anyone's hands to make it their resting spot.
Tulip clapped as Sidney grabbed the arm of the park bench and fell back on the seat. "You did it! I'm proud of you."
"I'm hot." Sidney wasn't for the celebration as she slumped back on the bench. "Can I have one of those?" She pointed to the people huddled around a snow cone cart as she took a deep breath with sweat sliding down her face.
"Yeah," Tulip said about to glide over to the stand until Jasper's hand upon her arm stopped her.
"I'll get it." He said, letting her limb go as she took a quick glance at his skin upon hers, bringing a shiver down the middle of her back that shouldn't have been through in the heat of summer. "What flavor do you want?"
"Apple!" Sidney said happily.
"One apple and..." He said, taking a step backward and setting his eyes on Tulip. "You still love cherry?"
"No thank you. I don't want one." She said sitting next to Sidney under the shade.
"Come on, MeMe," Sidney begged. "Have a snow cone with us."
Tulip sighed and said, "Sure. I still like cherry."
"Good." He said with a smile growing on his face. "A cherry and an apple coming up." He jogged over to the cart before the line expanded longer than three people deep.
Tulip was happy the little one persuaded her to get the ice treat as it rapidly cooled off her hot body. They would've been eating flavored ice in silence if it wasn't for Sidney's need to tell them about the time she went to a friend's birthday party and they had an ice sculpture of them as a baby and Armend bit off the foot.
"Who's Armend?" Jasper asked as balled up the paper cup his snow cone was in.
"My Albanian boy—" Sidney started then Tulip jumped in and said, "Her best friend."
Jasper nodded with a chuckle. "He seems fun."
"He is." Sidney slumped back, sliding her roller skate-fitted feet across the ground as she sadly peered down at her green snow cone. "I miss him."
"I know." Tulip stroked the little girl's back. "You should write him a letter or maybe we can call him."
Sidney's eyes lit up, "Does this mean I'm getting the new iPhone?"
"No." Tulip quickly shot down. "But I have an old one floating around somewhere I can give you."
"But..." Sidney was about to protest.
"A ten-year-old doesn't need an iPhone ten." Tulip insisted.
Sidney turned to Jasper and he shook his head. "Your Meme's right."
"Fine but can I have AirPods?" She asked before tipping the cup to her mouth, her snow cone was now a slushie.
"Yes," Tulip said. "As soon as you get AirPod money." She knew Sidney used to have money flow like milk and honey and was accustomed to getting whatever she wanted whenever she wanted but she wasn't about to raise a spoiled child that didn't know the value of a dollar even though she probably had enough coins in her trust that would sustain her from working until she was eighty-eight.
Silence fell upon the trio as they finished up their snow cones before they completely turned to liquid. Tulip thought the day would be awkward but was surprised that it was unusually easy for them to be together even though she and Jasper didn't engage in full conversations. All of their attention was on Sidney and that was just how she wanted it and how it was supposed to be. Although she wasn't surprised that the strong disdain that weighed her down like an albatross every time she thought of him had released itself from her soul after they had their late-night conversation at his loft.
A faint smile curved up her plump lips as she peered at the cute little family playing biking on the other side of the park and she wondered if that could be them. A family.
"Are you single?" Sidney's question yanked Tulip from her introspect thoughts.
"What?" Tulip jerked her head towards the girl and before she could tell her to stop prying in Jasper's personal business he answered.
"I am." His sight was squarely on Sidney. "Why?"
"No reason. Just curious." Sidney shrugged with a smirk then she stood cautiously. "Can we go around one more time?"
"Yeah," Tulip said slowly as she rose to her feet. "Then we have to go before traffic gets crazy."
They took another lap around the park's courtyard and by the time they made it back to the parking lot the brightness of the sun had dimmed a degree. A new set of vehicles had claimed the spot near her SUV and his truck. She didn't have to look at her watch to know they'd been there for more than an hour. Sidney jumped in the car as soon as the door was unlocked and Tulip was right behind her.
"Thank you," Jasper said as she strode to the driver's side of her yellow SUV.
She twisted on the heels of her sneakers. "For what?"
"For giving me a second chance." He pushed his hands in the pockets of his shorts. "You didn't have to and I'm grateful."
"Well..." She shrugged as she toyed with her keys. "I'll do anything for that little girl...just don't tell her."
She smiled and he mimicked her elation.
"It'll be our little secret." He winked. "But same."
The space between them swelled with a palpable energy that birthed goosebumps to the back of Tulip's neck and as his brown eyes rolled over the curves of her face. His lips parted as if he wanted to utter words but nothing tumbled out.
"Um...it's hot in there." She jutted her thumb to her vehicle breaking the awkward moment. "So, goodnight."
"Yeah. Yeah." He nodded abruptly. "Goodnight. Be safe. Call me...whenever."
Tulip climbed in the Bronco and cranked it up blasting both of them with the air conditioner. It wasn't until she sitting in traffic on I-45 with cool air whirled around as music played and Sidney was fast asleep that she began to wonder what he meant by 'call me...whenever.'
What do you think Jasper meant by 'call me...whenever'?
What do you think Jasper wanted to say during their awkward goodbye?
Why do you think Sidney wants to know if Jasper is single?
Do you think Tulip is right for not letting Sidney get the latest iPhone?