Tarzan traipsed into the house, with three large boxes stacked into his arms.
“You’re not supervising,” he countered. “You’re just making a nuisance of yourself.”
Teddy tossed a gummy bear at Tarzan’s head.
“Meanie. That hurt my feelings.”
I laughed, listening to their banter. It had been like this all morning—the relentless teasing back and forth, and a house full of bikers helping us get settled into our new house. The Reckless Order had volunteered to carry boxes and move furniture for us, which made the work fly by. What should have taken us all weekend was now almost completed in one day.
A notification chimed on Teddy’s phone. He pulled it from his back pocket as he hopped off the counter.
“Lunch has been delivered,” he said with a smug look. “Maybe I’m not so useless after all, huh?”
Tarzan made an exasperated noise as Teddy swaggered out of the room. I chuckled, stacking pots and pans on the kitchen island.
“You shouldn’t laugh at his antics,” Tarzan said. “It only encourages him.”
“Can’t help it,” I replied. “I’m finally getting the sibling that I always wanted, and I’m having the time of my life.”
“Yeah, well, let’s see if you change your tune when Teddy puts Nair in your shampoo because he thought it would be funny.”
I gasped. “He wouldn’t dare.”
Tarzan clucked his tongue. “He did it to me. Watch your back.”
Teddy returned to the kitchen, carrying a tower of boxes from Pepper’s Pizzeria. On top of the boxes was a brown paper bag.
“Teddy,” I scolded. “Is it true that you put Nair in Tarzan’s shampoo?”
He shrugged. “Yep, I sure did. But I bet he conveniently left out the reason why.”
I glanced at Tarzan with a firm look. He scrubbed the back of his neck and looked away.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Teddy continued, setting the pizzas on the island. “Tarzan put itching powder in my boxers. On prom night. When he knew I was going with the hottest cheerleader in school. So I got my payback.”
I rounded on Tarzan with my hands on my hips.
“Tarzan,” I scolded, fighting to hold back the laughter in my voice.
Tarzan shouldered Teddy aside, reaching for the brown paper bag on top of the pizza boxes.
“That was a long time ago. It’s water under the bridge now. And stop turning my woman against me, kid. Where are those cheesy breadsticks with extra dipping sauce?”
Teddy elbowed at Tarzan and snatched the paper bag protectively.
“That’s for Cherry, you giant ape,” he said.
“For me?” I echoed, surprised.
Teddy stripped the paper bag away to reveal a wooden sign, painted to resemble a slice of cherry pie. The plump cherries and glossy syrup looked good enough to eat. Arching across the top were looping red letters that said,Home Sweet Home.
“Teddy, it’s beautiful,” I said.
He shrugged and the tips of his ears turned pink.
“I was thinking about giving it to both of you as a wedding present. But when it was finished, I knew it couldn’t wait. You’re officially the woman of the house now. You sweetened up my big brother’s life—and my life, too. He gets the wife of his dreams, and I get a sister.”
“Did you make this?” I asked, incredulous as he placed it in my waiting hands.
