18

We're heading back to L. A tomorrow so today I was going to spend the day with my brother Baris and his family. I was beyond excited I haven't seen him or Aaliyah or Summer in over 5 months, I miss them so dearly. Especially missing out on Summer's childhood makes me really sad. She's my only niece and I barely get to see her because she's half a world away.

Taylor and Cory had some registry things to sort out so they offered to drop me at Baris's.

"You want us to come pick you up?" Cory asks and I smile at how parenty they were being.

"No mom and dad, Baris will drop me or I'll get an uber," I say and Taylor chuckles.

"Be safe okay?" Taylor smiles and I nod.

I walk into their apartment building and decide to take the stairs to the 4th floor where their apartment is. Need to burn off all these calories I've consumed since being in London. Just thinking about how much weight I've put on makes me want to punch a hole through the wall. Oh to have some sort of self-control.

I knock on the door and I was greeted by my 6'2 brother grinning at me, "Oh my God it's Maria Reed" He throws his hands in the air, mimicking an excited child.

I roll my eyes as he pulls me into a hug, "How are you kiddo?"

"I'm great, where are my favorite girls." I asked stepping into the apartment, "No offense but I missed them more than I missed you" I shrug casually.

Baris chuckles, "None taken"

"Maria" Aaliyah squeals as she hurries down the hall.

I smile and rush to give her a hug. I have known Aaliyah for over a decade now, she and Baris met in college and were friends for a while before they fell in love and she's honestly like an older sister to me. I love her to bits.

"I missed you" Aaliyah smiles holding onto my arms.

"I missed you sissy in law" I joke and she giggles.

"Someone else is very excited that you are coming today" Aaliyah raises an eyebrow.

"Where is she," I ask stepping into the living room.

"Where is my favorite niece?" I ask looking around.

"Boo!" I hear a voice behind me.

I turn around and smile, I bend down and open my arms, embracing my adorable niece in my arms, "Oh my you're so big now, when did you get so big?" I pick her up and spin her around.

"I am almost 5, I am a big girl now" Summer smiles at me as I set her down.

"You're 5?" I ask shocked, widening my eyes for dramatic effect.

"No not yet" She giggles, "Almost" her British accent was the cutest thing in the world.

"Come here let me show you my room!" Summer grabs my hand and drags me into her room making me smile.

"This is the prettiest room I have ever seen!" I squeal, it really was. Summer is a girly girl, she's just like me when I was her age. Obsessed with pink and anything remotely advertised as "girly".

Her room was painted in pretty lilac color, she had a matching side table and dresser. She had white rugs on the floor, white lamps on the shelves, and the bed was covered in lilac and white sheets it was a princess tale canopy type bed. Her room was absolutely magical. I was in awe. This girl was really living the life I wanted to live when I was her age.

"I helped mom and dad set it up" Summer smiles jumping on her bed.

"Can I move in with you?" I joke taking a seat on the bed.

"Yes!" She hugs me and I smile.

My eyes land on a frame on her bedside table and it's a picture of her and me. The biggest smile appears on my face, as always I was getting emotional, "Is that a picture of you and me?"

Summer nods, "Yes me and my favorite aunty" she smiles.

"Aren't you the sweetest?" I grab her and give her a hug.

"Auntie Maria, you're squeezing me" She laughs.

"Well too bad" I squeeze her tighter and she giggles.

"How long are you here for?" Summer asks.

"Not long sweetie, I'm going back tomorrow." I pout.

Summer frowns, "Can we have a sleepover tonight?"

I wasn't planning to stay the night but maybe I could, "Sure anything for you"

Summer smiles, "Oh silly me" I hit my forehead, "I got you some presents, I think I left them in the living room"

Summer squeals clapping her hands, "Presents! Yay!"

....

"Here you go" Aaliyah hands me a cup of tea.

I smile, "Thank you" as she sits down next to me. Summer was down for her afternoon nap and Baris had just gone out to get a few things from the store.

"I love the song you sent me 2 weeks ago, it's so pretty. When are you putting it out?" Aaliyah asks.

"I don't know, I'm writing a lot and recording too but don't have a plan as to when I'll be putting out music. I don't know if I even want to put out an album right now? Maybe I'll release some songs here and there, I don't know" I shrug.

"Is there anyone in your life inspiring you to write so much?" Aaliyah wiggles her eyebrows as she takes a sip of her tea.

"Maybe" I smile at her sheepishly.

"Do tell."

"There is a guy in my life" I tilt my head, "He's my boyfriend."

"Tell me all about it" Aaliyah smiles at me.

"I met him in June, his name is Karter."

"White boy?" Aaliyah imitates my mom's accent and I laugh out loud.

"Yes, white boy." I laugh.

"How old is he? What does he do?"

"He's a CEO for this telemarketing company, his company sponsored my tour. That's how we met actually. He's 34 and he also has a kid" I say.

Aaliyah's expression is a little surprised, "Oh"

"Yeah, he also lives in New York so we don't see each other as much as we would like which sucks because he might be the best guy I've ever been with, he's a good guy" I smile.

Aaliyah smiles, "Do you love him?" Aaliyah raises her eyebrows.

At that moment Baris walks into the living room and sits down next to Aaliyah, "What are you guys talking about?" He picks up a cookie and starts munching on it.

"Oh just about Maria's new boyfriend" Aaliyah smirks at him.

Baris raises an eyebrow at me, "You have a boyfriend? You do realize that's haram. I am going to call Mama right now" Baris jokes making me roll my eyes.

"Is he a good guy?" Baris asks.

"He is" I smile.

"Good, that's all I need to know" Baris shrugs throwing his hands in the air.

"He has a kid so she's practically a mom," Aaliyah nudges him with her elbow.

I shake my head, "Okay no, I've met his son once and he's a cool kid. We've been together for only a few months I'm no one's mom"

"Yeah I was just going to say your life and headspace is too messy for you to be a mom" Baris jokes and Aaliyah laughs.

I scowl at him and flip him off. Oh, how I've missed my family.