A curly haired, ten-year-old boy named Lucas throws his arms in the air and does a victorious lap around the ping-pong table. This kid just whooped my butt three games in a row.

“Who else wants to take on the champion?” His triumphant smile alone is enough to make the trip to Kid Connection worth it, and I toss my paddle on the table for the next victim.

Adley wraps her arms around me from behind. “This place is wonderful. Thank you for bringing me.”

I told Adley where we were going this morning when we woke up together at her house, and she was more than excited. I told her about all the kids I’ve connected with, including Lucas, and the various activities available, and she hounded me about when we were going until we walked out the door.

“You’re welcome.” I kiss her head, and she grins.

“Now, let me show you how it’s done.” She reaches around me and grabs the paddle.

“Careful. He’s ruthless.”

“He’s right. And I don’t mind beatin’ a girl.” Tossing the ball in the air, Lucas bounces it off his paddle and catches it, but Adley isn’t deterred.

Legs apart, body angled to the right, she takes her position at the opposite end of the table. “Good, because I don’t mind beatin’ a kid.”

Right arm raised, Lucas drops the ball and whacks it across the table. The ball is quick, but Adley is quicker, and when she returns the ball, Lucas whiffs.

“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.”

Swallowing, I peel my eyes off Adley and look at my sister. “You and me both. What you said yesterday got to me. I don’t know how or when it happened, but she’s important to me. I realized I should act accordingly.”

“So, you two are what, a couple?”

“I think so. I just know we’re not temporary, and we’re taking things one day at a time.”

“I’m really happy for you, Linc.” Chloe wraps her arms around my neck. “And I’m glad I’m finally getting to meet the girl who stole your heart.”

“Whoa. Easy there.” I step back, but keep my hands on her arms. “No one said anything about my heart.”

“That’s such a typical man thing to say,” she says, rolling her eyes. “So, when are you going to tell Rhett? Because you know he’s going to kill you, right?”

“I’m one of his best friends. He’s not going to kill me.”

“Yeah, well, when he finds out you’re sleeping with his baby sister, you’ll be transferred from the friend list to enemy number one.”

“Shit. I hope not.” I run my fingers through my hair and grip the back of my neck as I look back at Adley. Lucas is putting their equipment away, and she’s standing across the room glancing between me and Chloe.

“Uh-oh.”

I look back at Chloe. “What?”

“You didn’t tell her I was coming today, did you?”

“I told her I wanted her to meet someone, but no, I didn’t tell her who.”

“Looks like your girl has a jealous streak.”

“No way,” I say emphatically.

Chloe nods at me like I’m some dumb schmuck who has a lot to learn. “Trust me on this one.”

“Why would she be jealous?” And why does that turn me on? “She’s all I see.”

“Have you told her that?”

“Yes.” I think about it a second and then shake my head. “Not in those exact words, but after last night, she should know.”

“Sorry, big brother, but that’s not how women work. Come on, let’s go get this introduction over with so your woman can breathe again.”

Chloe tucks her hand in my elbow as we make our way across the room. We get stopped twice by two different groups of kids, and when we finally make it to Adley, Chloe pulls her hand off my arm and holds it out.

“You must be Adley. I’m Chloe, Linc’s sister. I’ve heard so much about you.”

Relief washes over Adley’s face, and she goes right past Chloe’s hand and pulls my sister in for a hug.

“It’s so great to finally meet you. Lincoln talks about you all the time.”

Chloe’s eyes widen.

Our family doesn’t show affection the way the Allens do, and it can be a little overwhelming at first. But Chloe warms up quickly and wraps a delicate arm around Adley’s shoulders.

“All good things, I hope.”

“Oh, yes.” Adley releases Chloe and moves to my side. “He’s told me so much, I feel like we’ve already met.”

“Oh yeah?” Chloe lifts a brow at me, and I know what she’s thinking. How much exactly have you told her? But Chloe should know better. Four people are privy to the details of our childhood—five if you count the social worker—and Adley isn’t one of them.

I shake my head just enough for Chloe to notice.

“Yes.” Adley beams at Chloe. “He’s very proud of you and your accomplishments. He told me you’re graduating soon with your degree in early childhood education. Is that right?”

Chloe nods. “Only one more final to go. I cannot wait to be done. I’m so burned out on school.”

“Tell me about it. I just finished myself, and I feel like the last four years have lasted forever. Do you know what grade or subject you’d like to teach?”

“To be honest, I’d just like a job. I figure I should get my foot in the door somewhere first. Then I can find out what I love and work my way toward that.”

“That’s a great plan.”

“What about you? Linc says you’re going to be a nurse. There are lots of different areas for you to get in to.”

“I don’t know. I really like labor and delivery.”

Adley’s arm drifts around me while she talks, as if it’s the most natural move in the world for her, and something about the three of us standing here shooting the shit feels so…right. I should’ve introduced them sooner.

“Hell yeah,” Chloe agrees. “Who wouldn’t want to hang out and hold babies all day long?”

Adley laughs. “There’s a lot more to it than that, but getting to hold the babies is definitely the best part.”

“Excuse me.” Our conversation is interrupted when a little girl tugs on Chloe’s shirt.

Heather Durham ended up in the foster care system a year ago when her mom died of a heroin overdose. She was extremely shy when we first met her, but she’s slowly opening up. Mostly to Chloe.

“Hey, Heather.” Chloe crouches down and tugs gently on one of Heather’s pigtails. “These are super cute.”

“Thank you. Miss Lori put them in for me,” she says, referring to one of the regular mentors. “I really wanted braids, but Miss Lori doesn’t know how to braid. Do you?”

“I do. Would you like me to braid your pigtails?”

Heather’s little head bobs, her eyes wide with excitement. “Yes, please. But I want my hair to look like Rachel’s.” She points to another little girl in the room, and Chloe frowns.

“That’s called a French braid, and I don’t know how to do that. I’m sorry, Heather. But I can still braid your pigtails, if you’d like.”

The little girl’s face falls, along with her arms at her sides, and Adley takes a step forward, lowering herself beside my sister.

“Hi, Heather. My name is Adley. I’m a friend of Lincoln and Chloe’s.”

“Hi,” Heather replies sadly.

“I know how to French braid.”

The little girl turns her frown around. “You do?”

“I sure do. Would it be all right if I French braid your hair?”

“Sure.” Heather thrusts her hairbrush into Adley’s hand. “But can I have two braids instead of one?”

“I think I can manage that. Let’s go find a chair.”

“Do you mind if I join you?” Chloe asks.

But the question isn’t directed at Heather so much as it is Adley.

Adley grins. “Absolutely. And I can teach you how to French braid, if you’d like.”

“I’d like that a lot.”

The girls snag some chairs a few feet away, and I watch Adley gently remove one of Heather’s ponytail holders, run a brush through the hair, and section it off. Chloe follows the same steps and observes carefully as Adley starts doing something fancy with her fingers.

I should find Johnny or one of the other kids, but I can’t pull my eyes away from the two women in my life.

Chloe tries to mimic what Adley is doing with the other half of Heather’s hair, but she messes up and has to start over three different times until she finally gets it. The girls hoot, and Adley holds her fist up, but Chloe hasn’t mastered holding all those strands with one hand so she gives Adley a little hip bump.

My heart expands in my chest, pushing painfully against my rib cage, and I know in this moment that I made the right decision yesterday morning when I went after Adley.

Adley is perfect. Perfect for me. And it’s not because she’s gorgeous with a killer body or because she’s insanely smart. It’s because she’s kind and sweet and good.

She’s good for me, and maybe she’ll be good for Chloe.

And now I can’t wait to get her home so I can show her how good I can be for her too.