“Look at you!”JP called out to Tori.“I’m sorry I didn’t see you get up, but I promise I’ll watch you come down.”Then he added quietly to Ian.“Just move casually over there so you can catch her if you have to.”
“Okay.I’m on it.”He didn’t run, even though he wanted to.
“Daddy, do you see me?”
“I do!You are the bravest little girl.”And the most panic-inducing.
She crawled across the top of the monkey bars, then shimmied down the ladder at the other end like it was the easiest thing in the world.“Tada!Did you see, Dad?”She was all eyes for JP.
Ian couldn’t breathe, eyes searching for Petey, who was in the sandbox playing and whistling happily.
She was so…
So…
Argh!
“I saw, Tori.You’re pretty nimble.Maybe next time you let me or Daddy know before you climb that far up instead of after?”JP said.
“Okay.It was fun.I can do it again, if you want.”
He opened his mouth to scream, when Peter called for her.“Sister!Come play with me.”
“Okay!”She ran over to Petey, spraying sand as she came to a halt next to him.
He swayed, almost stumbling as he headed for the bench.“I’m going to put a leash on that girl.”
“You know one of these days she’s going to break an arm or a leg and it’s going to be okay.She’ll heal, and she’ll learn she needs to be more careful.”
“JP!Don’t say things like that!”He knew it was probably true, given how reckless and brave she was, but still.“God.That’s awful.”
“There are worse things in life than a broken bone or two, Chou.And kids heal way faster than adults.”JP pointed to his own leg.“You can’t wrap her in bubble wrap.”
“I know.I do.I just…well, that’s why she has us, right?”Wasn’t that how that worked?
“To keep her from falling?We’ll do our best, right?”
“To help her grow up.”He smiled at JP.Silly man.Ian adored him.
“Oh, I bet she’s going to do that all on her own.”
He shook his head.“No.No, she’s going to need help, I have zero doubt.”
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”JP grinned at him before turning back to watch the kids build what was looking like an entire city out of the sand.
He handed JP a bottle of water.It was better, he had to admit, having someone else around to help.
ChapterSixteen
Mike glared at him, and JP glared right back.
“What are we pissed about, Mike?”
“Are you sleeping upstairs with him?”
“I don’t think that’s any of your business.”He didn’t understand why Mike was so pissed off.
Mike crossed his arms.“He’s my brother.”
