Crazy Stupid Love (Dirty Dicks 3)

“Oh yeah, who’s the boss now?” she gloats.

Lucas rolls his eyes, but he has a huge smile on his face, and I have a feeling this game is going to get intense.

“You two have fun. I’m going to grab a water.”

Neither one of them acknowledges me as I move down the hallway; they’re carrying on as if I’m not even here. I take a water from the refrigerator and stop outside the kitchen to twist the cap and have a drink.

The building is full of kids and mentors today, and as I watch them interact, I’m reminded why I enjoy coming here. These kids need adult interaction and guidance, and here they can get it in many different ways.

The Kid Connection building has multiple rooms packed with anything and everything a kid could want—the latest and greatest video games, pool tables, dart boards, ping-pong tables, a crafting and scrapbooking area, a media room to watch movies, and out back there’s a small blacktop with a basketball hoop.

Word on the street is that Kid Connection was started by Braydon McAllister, an NFL superstar who, as a child, was transferred to thirty different foster homes before being adopted at age sixteen. I’m not sure if that’s true because I’ve never seen him here, but if it is, I’d love to shake his hand someday. What he’s done for the kids in this area is nothing short of amazing.

“Hey, you.”

I look to the left and smile at my baby sister. “I was starting to think you weren’t going to show up.”

“Johnny Garfield stopped me out front and asked if I could help him with his jump shot, so I’ve been out back with him.”

“You don’t play basketball. Do you even know what a jump shot is?”

Chloe pretends to be offended, resting a hand on her chest. “I know how to play basketball.”

“What’s a jump shot, Chloe?”

“It’s when you dribble and take a few steps toward the goal—”

“You mean basket.”

“Whatever. And you lift a leg and drop it in.”

“Wow,” I laugh. “That is the worst description of a layup I’ve ever heard.”

“A layup.” She snaps. “That’s what it’s called. Oh well, Johnny is going to be darn good at those.”

“Remind me to find Johnny before we leave and show him what a jump shot is. But first, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

“Oh yeah?” She pulls a list of the kids out of her back pocket and studies it. “Is there a new kid here?”

Chloe always makes a point of introducing herself to all of the new kids. She knows their names and wants them to know hers so they’ll feel comfortable approaching her if they need something.

“No new kids.”

“Oh.” She looks up and follows my gaze across my room. “Ohhhh…”

Adley must’ve just beat Lucas, because she’s doing a happy dance around the table. Lucas is laughing and saying something we can’t hear, and it’s obvious by the starry look in his eyes that he just fell head over heels in love with my girl.

“Is that…”

I nod. “That’s her.”

From across the room, we watch Adley hold a hand up for Lucas to high five. He goes to slap it, and she pulls it away, causing him to laugh, and I find myself smiling along with them.

“Wow,” Chloe breathes. “She’s beautiful.”

“Thank you. I think so too.”

“I’ve gotta admit, Linc, I was not expecting this.”