“We know. We’ve been waiting forever to meet you.” Malia beamed up at Diesel. “And you’re her boyfriend, Diesel, which is the coolest name ever. Dad said you’re a biker and that’s your road name. I want a road name.”

Anna, who was also tall and thin but had thick, curly hair, rolled her eyes. “You’re not a biker. They don’t give road names to kids.”

“Actually, I give some kids road names.” Diesel looked at Malia. “How about we call you kicks? And since your sister is tough, like Tracey, we can call her spitfire.” That earned a smile from Anna and a squeal from Malia.

“Yes! Perfect. I love them!” Malia hugged him, and he patted her back awkwardly.

Tracey laughed. “Diesel’s not much of a hugger.”

“Why not?” Malia asked.

“Malia, let the man be,” Tony said.

“But you always say hugs are what keep our hearts beating. He’s a big guy,” Malia said. “I bet his heart has to work really hard.”

They all laughed, even Anna, who was still eyeing Tracey. Anna shifted the soccer ball to her other hip. “I heard you played soccer, too.”

“I did, a long time ago,” Tracey said.

Malia tilted her head. “Your mom said you were really good.”

“She was. She scored a lot of goals, just like you girls,” Michelle said.

Anna stood up taller. “Want to show us what you got?”

“I haven’t touched a soccer ball since high school.”

“It’s like riding a bike.” Anna twirled the ball on her index finger.

“Okay, but don’t laugh at me if I suck.” Tracey followed them into the yard, with Malia chatting up a storm.

“Anna can be a little tough at first,” Michelle said.

“So can Tracey.” Diesel watched her kicking the ball around with the girls, remembering how she used to give him hell before they’d gotten together. She was still tough and snarky, but now it came with a halo of something deep and playful. He looked at Michelle. “Are you close with Anna and Malia?”

“Very close,” Michelle said.

“The girls’ mother left when they were young, and she has no contact with them,” Tony explained. “They fell in love with Michelle right away, just like I did.”

“Then it sounds like Anna has a reason to be tough,” Diesel said. “She’s lost one mother. She doesn’t want to lose another.”

Michelle looked at him thoughtfully. “I didn’t think about that. You’re probably right. What’s your family like, Diesel? Are you close to your parents?”

He shifted his attention back to Tracey, laughing with the girls as she showed them some fancy footwork. “It was just me and my mother. We were close, but she passed away a long time ago.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Tony said.