Piece of My Heart (Fostering Love 4)

“Ani didn’t sleep last night,” Bram said finally, laughing a little. “I bet she’s hell on wheels today.”

“Why didn’t she sleep?” I asked, leaning back into the couch again.

“Arie woke up as soon as we got home, and didn’t fall back asleep,” Bram replied. “Ani’s gonna be pissed when she finds out that the little monster fell asleep right after she left.”

“And that you got some rest and she didn’t,” I said.

“Yeah.” He nodded. “But she’ll nap when they get home, and I’ll have to wake her up for dinner.”

“Better you than me,” I said.

“I don’t know,” Bram said. “She’s getting used to surviving on little sleep. Once Arie starts sleeping through the night, Ani’s not going to know what to do with herself.”

“Maybe you’ll finally get laid again,” I said slyly.

“I pray for it daily,” Bram replied, deadpan.

“And then you’ll adopt another one, and the whole process will start all over again,” I joked, making Bram jerk his head up to look at me.

“Ani’s been talking to you?” he asked. “About the adoption shit?”

“Not in a while,” I replied, watching his expression. “You guys get that figured out yet?”

“Yeah, maybe,” he said, looking back at Arie. “It’s just a lot, you know? I love Arie, but it’s a lot of work.”

“It won’t always be so hard,” I murmured, thinking of my older nieces and nephews. “If scatterbrained Kate can do it, you’ve got it handled.”

Bram laughed. “You make a good point.”

“Don’t take it for granted, man,” I said, meeting his eyes. “You’re a lucky motherfucker.”

“I don’t,” he replied seriously. He picked up a cardboard book and threw it at my head. “And watch your mouth around my kid.”

“Hey,” I said, dodging the book. “You’re just as bad!”

“I’m the parent—I get a pass,” he said flatly.

I scoffed. “Hey, you, uh, feel like going into town with me today?”

“Oh hell no,” Bram said immediately.

“Come on,” I wheedled. “I need to get Sarai a ring, and I don’t want to go to the jewelry store by myself. I’ll end up buying something I can’t afford and Sarai will never wear, and you know they don’t take returns on that shit.”

“Ask Trev to go with you. He’ll do it.”

“I don’t want Trev,” I replied. “I want my brother there.”

Bram laughed. “You already asked him, didn’t you?”

“He turned me down flat,” I confessed. “He said that Etta slipped in dog poop outside and got it everywhere and he couldn’t leave the house until all the evidence was cleaned up.”

Bram laughed.

“And not to tell Morgan,” I said, laughing with him. “Because she asked him to clean the shit up the day before yesterday, and he didn’t do it.”

“Animals are a pain in the ass,” Bram said.

“I’d still like a dog, if I wasn’t gone all day every day,” I replied.

“Yeah, me too.” He stood up. “Maybe once this one’s a little older and wiping her own ass. I can only clean up so much shit in a day.”

“You just threw a book at my head for cursing,” I accused, putting my feet up on the coffee table. “My niece is going to have a filthy vocabulary if you and Ani don’t start filtering yourselves.”

“Fuck off,” he replied, knocking my feet off the table. “I’m gonna get dressed so we can go.”

“Missed you,” I said, smiling up at his scowl.

“Missed you, too, asshole.”

* * *

A few hours later, I sat on my parents’ couch, staring at the ring I’d found for Sarai. It hadn’t taken me long to find it once Bram, Arie, and I walked into the jewelry store, but it had taken me a long time to buy it. The place was like a damn car dealership. The salesperson had shown me practically every other ring they had before finally selling me the first ring I’d liked.

It was simple. A round diamond, a little over a carat, so it wouldn’t look ridiculous on her hand. I also stashed away another simple gold band that matched it for when we got married. The engagement ring felt heavy when I held it, and it cost more than I wanted to think about, but I was sure Sarai would love it. It looked like something she’d wear. God, I really hoped she liked it. She’d have to wear it for the next forty years or so.

I sighed and leaned my head back, tapping the ring box on my knee. I hadn’t heard from Sarai in a couple of hours, and I couldn’t wait for her to get back. My dad was hanging out with my uncle, and I had the house to myself. I hated having the house to myself. Being alone was normal in my apartment, but my parents’ house was supposed to be noisy and filled with people. It felt lonely when I was the only one in it.