He took her hand and pulled her closer, loving the way her eyes lit up. “I think you should do whatever makes you happy. If you want to buy them something, do it. But if you’re doing it because you’re afraid you need to in order to win them over, you’re wrong.” He kissed her, and then he lifted her hand and kissed her palm. “Time with you is the best gift you can give them, and I think they know that.”

She sighed. “I know you’re probably right. But I’m just so excited about seeing everyone, I want to pick a little something up for them. I know we only spent a few hours with them, but I feel like Anna and Malia are my sisters. How can that be?”

“Because you want it to be.”

Her smile faltered. “You think I’m being silly?”

“No. I think you’re being the big-hearted chick who roped me in.” He set her plate on the table. “Eat up, sweet thing. We’d better get going so we’re not late.”

After they ate, they grabbed her gym bag and kissed as they headed outside.

“Now, there’s a welcome sight.” Biggs closed his car door and made his way toward them.

Diesel lifted his chin in greeting.

“Hi, Biggs.” Tracey waved.

Biggs leaned down to kiss her cheek. “How’re you doing, darlin’? On your way to kick this guy’s ass?”

“I’m going to try.”

“Don’t let her kid you, Biggs. She’s a beast. What’re you doing here?”

“I gotta get some boxes out of the basement. Bud’s birthday is coming up, and Chicki’s been bugging Red for pictures of the old days. You know how Chicki is. When she gets a hair up her butt, she doesn’t let up.” Bud Redmond had grown up with Biggs and had been a member of the Dark Knights forever. His wife, Chicki, owned the salon where Sarah worked, and she was one of Red’s closest friends.

“Biggs, you can’t be carrying boxes up those stairs. How many boxes are we talking about?”

“No idea. We have all sorts of shit down there. Ten? Twenty maybe.”

“Twenty boxes?” What was he thinking? “Where are your boys?”

“Eh.” Biggs waved his hand dismissively. “They’re busy with their families. I don’t want to bother them with this.”

Diesel hated to disappoint Tracey, but he wasn’t going to let Biggs carry boxes while wrestling with a cane. “I’ll get the boxes.”

“Nah, you’re on your way out,” Biggs said. “You got stuff to do. I can handle it.”