Beth snorts. “You can say that again.” She high-fives Leo. “Where is Alex anyway?”
“He should be here any minute,” Roman says.
Beth and Leo discuss their Uno strategy when Roman turns to Sienna and me. “I’m happy to see things worked out between the two of you.”
Sienna gives my brother a soft smile, one that makes me resist the urge to plant a kiss on her soft lips in front of everyone, “I truly am sorry for this summer. We didn’t really think through our plan entirely, and I?—”
Roman raises his hand, and Sienna stops mid-sentence. “It’s all in the past, Sienna. You don’t need to apologize. I’m sorry for the things I said that night. My brother tells me that I come off a bit grumpier than I intend to be.”
“A bit?” I snort at his downplaying of his own attitude.
Roman throws a glare my way before looking back toward Sienna. “See how happy you’ve made Theo.” He gestures in my direction. “And I’m certain you’re the reason he’s actually made it to work on time every day these past few months.”
Sienna laughs, jutting up her nose in playful confidence. “I might have a thing or two to do with that.”
Roman smiles at her, and I’m happy to see the two of them getting along. She’s warmed up to him over the past few months, reinforcing my sentiment that she fits in well with my brothers and me. Which is a good thing, considering I have no plans of ever letting her go again.
A cold rush of air runs through the living room when the front door bursts open. Alex barges in, wearing the winner’s belt. “Who’s ready to lose to me again?”
Once he settles down, Roman deals out the cards. We decide to play a few rounds among all of us before Alex and Leo play their tie-breaker game.
Sienna wins the first round, taking all of us by surprise.
“What? I may be uncoordinated, but I’m excellent at card games.” When she smiles at me, I kiss her until a chorus of “boos” sound around us.
“Don’t rub your happiness in our faces, Theo. It’s unbecoming,” Alex says.
“You’re one to talk.” I motion toward the belt he refuses to take off.
“Alright, tie-breaker round. If I don’t get food soon, I’m going to get grumpy,” Roman says as he deals the cards between Alex and Leo. We all chuckle at his wordsuntil he levels us with a glare that has the laughter tapering off.
It’s a close game between Alex and Leo. One that’s kept all of us on the edge of our seats. Roman doesn’t pick up his phone once as we watch in anticipation.
“Uno,” Leo says as he drops a draw four, wild card onto the deck.
There’s a collective chorus of gasps as we all hold our breath, watching Alex draw four cards to add to the three already in his hand. He stares at his cards in deep concentration, thinking about his next move.
“You can never go wrong with red,” Beth says, breaking the silence.
Alex tips his imaginary hat to her and sets down a red number six card onto the deck.
Beth laughs before any of us can process the events that unfold. Leo sets down a red number four card onto the deck, winning the game of Uno.
“Hand it over.” Leo holds out his hand, waiting for Alex to hand over the belt as the rest of us burst into laughter, cheering at Leo’s win.
Alex, being the good sport he’s always been, stands up and pulls Leo into a hug, then turns to all of us. “I’d like to remind all of you that I’ve won the last three years, and I plan on winning next year.” Alex pulls the belt from his hips and hands it to Leo.
“Sure you will.” Leo pats him on the shoulder, and Alex brushes him off, laughing. “Who’s ready for dinner?”
“Me,” Sienna says, raising her hand enthusiastically. “I’ve had dreams about your food, Leo.”
Leo laughs as he and the others move toward the kitchen. I stop Sienna before we follow. “What about my food?”
“Oh don’t worry, baby.” Sienna places her hand on my chest. “Nothing will ever compare to your sandwiches.” She winks at me, and a warmth fills my chest at knowing this woman is mine.
“My ego appreciates your lies.” I kiss her on the forehead. The giggle she lets out prompts me to land a small slap to her ass as I follow her to the kitchen. A reminder of the many things I plan on doing to her tonight, assuming she says yes to my proposal of moving in together.
Dinner is full of laughs and embarrassing stories I wish Sienna never knew about me. She says she finds them “endearing,” but I’m reminded to ask Sara to see her baby photo album next time I see her so I can give Sienna a taste of her own medicine.
