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"How serious?" Lucas presses.
"Are we getting a new sister?" Chloe asks, snapping her gaze from the window to me.
"It wouldn't be a sister," Lucas corrects instantly. "It would be a niece. Victoria already explained."
"Whatever." Chloe darts her tongue at her brother. "Are we getting a new baby? I don't want to be the baby forever." She practically winces at the word “baby,” and she's downright adorable. But I'd be a liar not to admit that hearing that word made my entire stomach coil with panic.
“You’re not a baby anymore,” Lucas says. “You’re a midget now.”
“I am not.” Chloe balls her little hands into fists.
"Lucas, stop being mean to Chloe,” Sienna hisses. "Chloe, you're our lookout. Lucas and I are asking the questions."
"Okay, listen up. Relationships between adults are complicated, but Victoria and I want to make this work," I tell them.
"That sounds like bullshit," Lucas affirms.
"Language," Sienna, Chloe, and I say at the same time.
"He’s right, Lucas," Sienna explains patiently. "Relationships are complicated."
I grimace, trying not to give too much thought to how much she knows about relationships firsthand. She's only seventeen. I make a mental note to do some digging on this topic later on when I'm back in Sienna's good graces.
"But you're going to take care of Victoria and spoil her, right?" Sienna presses.
"I give you my word."
"If you make her cry, don't forget I have my sisters' backs. I protect them. That's what brothers do." Lucas frowns in a very un-Lucas way, crossing his arms over his chest. I have déjà vu, remembering the day I told him that. Talking to these kids is like talking to the police. Everything you say can and will be used against you.
"You'd better, buddy," I encourage. "That's what siblings are for. Kicking any guy's ass who messes with his sister."
Sienna smiles, and Lucas gives me a thumbs-up, and I know the grilling is over. Just in time too, because Chloe squeaks, "Victoria's here."
"You two sit on the couch, bickering as usual." Sienna points her siblings to the couch. "I'll bring the cookies."
"I'll help," I offer, following her to the kitchen.
"Err… I think Lucas got into his character a little too much," Sienna says once we're out of earshot. "He wasn't nearly as menacing when we rehearsed."
"You rehearsed this?" I ask in amazement.
Sienna gives me a sheepish look while opening the oven and taking out the cookies. "After the airport incident, I thought it was for the best. Victoria already talked to us today, but we wanted to hear your version too. I'm glad you and Victoria are dating. It's been hardest for her. We all miss our parents." Her eyes become glassy, but then she takes a deep breath, smiling again. "But Victoria also had to take care of us on top of it all, and she's kind of put her personal life on hold. Just take care of her, okay?"
"Will do."
We carry the cookies in bowls to the living room, where Victoria awaits.
"Nachos with guacamole," Victoria barks. "Sienna, I'm murdering you. I had to wait forever for the vendor to bring it from the back."
Sienna's cheeks turn pink as she relieves Victoria of the bags.
"Hope you survived this bunch on your own," Victoria says when she sees me. "How long have you been here?"
Sienna shoots me a panicked look from behind Victoria, shaking her head, and it doesn't take a genius to know what she means. Don't tell her.
"I just arrived," I tell Victoria, winking at Sienna, who lets out a breath of relief. It'll be our secret. We unpack all the goodies she bought, laying them out on the coffee table, loading it down.
"What are we watching?" I ask.
