CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Sunshine city

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Sunshine city

It took Aiden a while to regain his sight again. At one point, I was almost tempted to take him to a doctor but then I would have to explain to EMT why I emptied a bottle of pepper spray on his eyes.

Aiden sat quietly on the chair while I gobbled my breakfast. For some reason, Noah slept through the commotion of trying to get the pepper-spray out of Aiden's eyes. After breakfast, I checked on him but he still was asleep.

"If you keep checking on him, you will wake him up, Red" Aiden said from the armchair he sat.

"I honestly thought you would have regained your sight and do me the honor of disappearing from my room" I sneered at him.

I walked back to where he was sitting and pulled a chair and sat down. He was gradually regaining his vision but not quite everything. I was thankful or he would have seen me ogling him like a piece of bread toast. His wet shirt wasn't doing much for my sanity as it clung tightly to his well defined lean muscles of his chest.

I could see clearly as his chest rise and fall gently. The man was oblivious of his effect on most human and it seemed like he had a magic touch. Even Noah wasn't immune to it.

"You are looking at me like you want me for breakfast, Aaliyah"

I felt his breath on my face and I was jolt back to the real world. I felt myself starting to blush and I turned away fast enough to hide it from him.

"You wish dude but not in your wildest dream" I stood up and walked to the window and gaze out front.

"I thought you called a friend to come and pick you up. I can't babysit you all day, Mr. Sunshine"

I wanted him gone, so I could get on with the business of the day which was finding Noah's father.

"I did. Just give it a couple more minutes. I mean it not like you emptied a bottle of pepper spray in my eyes and rendered me an invalid" Aiden scoffed at me too.

"Well, I don't know how often you want me to say sorry before you stop being a brat and suck it up" I told him and poured a cup of coffee on a cup and handed it to him.

Actually I jammed it in to his hand and part of the liquid splashed on his hand and he almost dropped the hot coffee on the floor.

"How about you say sorry for once, in case you haven't noticed you haven't apologized yet!" Aiden yelled as he wiped his hand on his pant.

"My bad…gee, you are one sensitive guy" I rolled my eyes at him.

As if on cue, Noah woke up from sleep and he was very hungry. His screams confirmed it. I took him and feed him a bottle and ran a bath for him in the smaller sink in the bathroom.

"You see Noah; I am getting better at this caregiver routine. At least I didn't make the water too cold this time around" I conversed with the infant.

"Wow! The poor little bean has gone through a lot in your hands, Red" Aiden startled me as he spoke. He could see clearly now.

"Aiden! If you don't mind I am giving Noah a bathe and I'd like you to go away now"

Aiden moved closer and lifted Noah's head higher than I placed him and practically pried him away from my hand.

"What are you doing?" I asked feeling a little bit pushed.

"It is actually a miracle you have not drown your baby with the way you were holding his head. I thought these things came naturally to mothers" Aiden criticized

"Judge much! It is not like Noah came with a baby manual, I am just making it up as I go, okay?"

Aiden saw that I was offended and it wasn't his intention.

"Aaliyah…I was making a joke. I am sorry I didn't mean to offend you" He apologized

"Okay" I whispered and handed him a bar of baby soap.

"What are you doing in hot spring, Aaliyah?" Aiden asked "And before you answer you are here on a vacation, I goggled you and you are a good criminal attorney in Manhattan and you wouldn't up and leave for a vacation."

"First of all, I am not a good criminal attorney. I am one of the best criminal attorney in Manhattan and…"

"You are really humble, Aaliyah" Aiden mocked but I ignored him.

"Secondly, you are right. I am not here on a vacation. I am actually looking for someone"

Aiden took Noah out of the sink as he was done with the bathe. The child showed his toothless gum as Aiden played with his tiny hands.

"Who are you looking for? Maybe I can help"

"I am looking for Noah's father. He was here in Hot spring sometime last year"

"Don't tell me he ran away. With your sunshine attitude, I will be in shock if he did." Aiden mocked and I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Ha-ha you are so funny" I was being sarcastic.

"What does he look like?" Aiden asked as we made our way back into the bedroom.

"Actually, I don't remember his face…just his back. He had a tattoo on the left…"

"Ooh… fun night, let me guess, it was a one night stand"

"Aiden, it is not right that. Anyway, think whatever you want but I need your help finding him. His name is Alex" I told him.

I could swear I saw Aiden stiffen but I wasn't sure.

"Did you say Alex?" he asked.

"If I remember correctly, his name is Alex B. I don't know what the B stands for"

"Are you sure?" he asked again but before I could answer someone knocked at the door and I went to the door.

A gorgeous tall brunette woman stood there in a pair of body hug jeans and white shirt. She was on heels too.

She was sophisticated but she looked friendly enough. She was really beautiful just like Charity.

"Hello, my name is Zahra. I am here to pick up the jackass that broke into your room. Where is he?" the woman pushed her way inside my room without waiting for an invitation.

'Of course come right in" I said more to myself and closed the door.

"Dum-dum where are you?" the lady yelled

I saw Aiden emerge and he wasn't holding Noah.

"Hi babes" he smiled brightly. His smile was genuine.

The woman jumped into his hands and he lifted her and twirled her around. It couldn't be more obvious. Abruptly, the girl pry herself out of his arms and in a totally unpredictable movement, she punched him right in the face.

"Wow! It feels really good that I am not the only girl that feels the urge to punch you right in the face" I jeered at him. I decided I liked Zahra even though she was Aiden's girlfriend and I might have a thing for him.

"Hi, my name is Aaliyah. Nice punch by the way" I extended my hand.

"You are... Aaliyah" the woman said slowly as he threw a look at Aiden "It is really nice to meet you"

Aiden wiped the little blood at the corner of his mouth and shook his head.

"You still punch like a girl, Zahra" Aiden said.

"Well, that was my warm up punch for disappearing on me"

"We can always talk about that later but right now, we've got to go" Aiden grabbed Zahra's hand and pulled her towards the door"

"What is it, Aiden?" Zahra asked resisting.

Aiden whispered something to her ears and I saw her expression change.

"I actually have somewhere to be. We will catch up later, Aaliyah"

Within seconds both were gone from my room.