Piece of My Heart (Fostering Love 4)

“Damned nice to meet you, too,” she said, using the curse word he’d just apologized for and giving him a lopsided smile. Dad chuckled.

“Good pick,” he said to me.

“I think so,” I replied, standing beside Sarai once he’d moved away.

“I like your family,” she said, leaning against my side.

“They’re wondering how the hell I got you to go out with me,” I teased.

“Would I have to wrestle around with Ani?” Sarai asked jokingly. “Because I’m bigger, but I think she’d win.”

“I’d definitely win,” Ani said, joining our conversation.

“You have ears like a bat,” Sarai said, her eyes wide.

“I’m a superb eavesdropper,” Ani confirmed. Then she pulled Arie off her hip and held the baby in front of her. “This is Arielle. She smells much better now, and she’s ready to meet you.”

“Hello, Arielle,” Sarai said softly, reaching out to tickle the bottom of Arie’s foot. “You’re adorable.”

“Don’t let her fool you. She’s a demon who rarely sleeps and steals my food.” Ani pressed loud kisses to Arie’s neck, making her tense and giggle. “But she’s so cute that we love her to distraction.”

“Sounds about right,” Sarai replied.

Arie blinked up at me curiously, and I smiled but I didn’t reach for her. It usually took a little time for my nieces and nephews to warm up to me. I’d learned my lesson the hard way the last time I’d been home, because when I’d held Arie, she’d screamed like I’d bitten her.

As Ani walked away and handed the baby off to Bram, I kissed the top of Sarai’s head. I’d never imagined that Bram of all people would settle down before I did, but I had to admit that it suited him. It smoothed down his rough edges and seemed to center him.

For the first time that I could remember, I was a little jealous of my brother. I’d always wanted a family someday. Sarai laughed at something Ani said, and I tightened my arm around her. Someday felt a lot closer than it had before.

* * *

“You two can stay in here,” my mom said later that night, pushing open the door to the bedroom my sister, Kate, used when she was home. “The other rooms have bunk beds, and I doubt that was what you were hoping for.”

“I don’t know,” I replied. “I haven’t slept in a bunk bed for years.”

Mom laughed. “I’ll see you in the morning. If you hear me moving around early, I’m just up putting the turkey in the oven. Don’t feel like you need to get out of bed.”

She left, closing the door behind her, and I dropped our bags onto the bed, grinning at Sarai.

“I know for a fact that this bed doesn’t squeak,” I informed her.

Her mouth dropped open in surprise. “Why would you tell me that?”

I laughed in confusion at her expression, then stopped when she began to look angry. It took me longer than I’d like to admit to realize why she was so mad.

I kicked off my shoes and jumped on the bed, raising a hand above me to make sure that I didn’t smack my head against the ceiling. Been there, done that.

“There’s a reason I’m the fun uncle,” I told Sarai, still jumping.

Realization dawned, and she covered her face with one hand. “Duh,” she mumbled.

I laughed. “You want to jump? I advise against any gymnastics, though. My nephew Keller learned that the hard way.”

“Took a fall, did he?” she asked, slowly shaking her head from side to side as she grinned.

“Smacked right into the dresser,” I replied, pointing to the dresser a few feet from the foot of the bed. “No blood, though, so we still considered it a successful dismount.”

“Did his mother kill you?”

“Kate loves me best,” I said, but I could tell she didn’t believe me. “Actually, she chased me out of the house with a mop.”

I stepped off the bed with a thump and wrapped my arms around her.

“I’ve never slept with a woman in this house,” I said, tipping my head down so I could meet her eyes. “I don’t bring women to meet my parents, period.”

“Just me, huh?”

“Just you,” I confirmed.

“Why is that?” she asked, leaning into me.

I thought about it for a second. “Growing up, my parents had to say good-bye to a lot of children that they considered theirs for a short period of time, and I love my parents enough to not bring people around that won’t stay for long.”

She stood quietly for a moment. “Well, they won’t have to say good-bye to me.”

“You’re sticking around?” I asked, a smile playing at my lips.

“You’re stuck with me now,” she replied cheekily.

I grabbed her around the waist and threw her over my shoulder as we laughed. I couldn’t remember being this happy before.

“Marry me,” I whispered as I laid her on the bed.