CHAPTER 195: THE OFFICIAL LITTLE SISTER STAMP OF APPROVAL

Dominic chuckled softly. "Hold on, are we doing math or gossip hour?"

"It’s both," she said, scribbling on her notebook. "So like, if Jayden leaves Violet, and Violet leaves him for Mason, that’s like...a love triangle. And that’s math, right?"

" That’s...not how it works," Dominic said, shaking his head but still listening.

"Anyway, Violet is now with Mason just to piss Jayden off, which is like, girlboss behavior. But then Mason said he likes Ava. But then wait....the square root of 81?"

"Nine."

She kept chattering....names, drama, who liked who, while pretending to solve equations.

And he let her, nodding, asking little questions, like he actually cared about her dramatic world. He looked weirdly patient, like he wasn’t even pretending.

"Okay, see? You’re so good at this." She slapped her notebook shut dramatically.

"Honestly, you should be my teacher. You’re way better than Mr. Paul. He stinks.

Dominic laughed. "I’m not sure this was math tutoring. This was ninety percent gossip."

"You’re a natural," she said matter-of-factly, pulling her sketchbook into her lap like the math was done. "Ash doesn’t know how to multitask like you."

I leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching them.

"Phew," I exhaled quietly, turning back to the stove, finally dishing out dinner. "Thank God she found a new victim."

I set the plates on the table. "Alright," I said, forcing a smile. "Dinner is served."

"Yayy!" Alia threw her arms up, swinging her legs.

But Dominic’s voice cut gently staring at me. "So... I heard something happened today. About child services. What’s happening, Ash? Please talk to me."

I froze with the spoon still in my hand. My chest tightened. Not right now. Not in front of Alia.

"Hey, baby," I said softly.

Both of them turned to me. Dominic even raised his brows like, yeah?

I smirked. "Not you. Her."

Alia giggled.

"Dinner’s ready. Go wash your hands before you eat."

"Alright, Ash," she said in her sing-song voice, skipping off toward the sink. "Teacher says washing hands drives away germs. Germs are like... tiny invisible cockroaches."

Dominic snorted quietly. I waited until the water was running before turning back to him.

"Her teacher called child services today," I whispered. "Said I wasn’t enough for her. Said I wasn’t taking care of her properly. They think she needs a better home."

His jaw tightened. "So... they want to take her away from you?"

"No!" My voice cracked. I swallowed, forcing it down. "They wanted to. But they didn’t. And they won’t. No one’s taking her away from me."

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Yes, baby. No one’s taking our baby away from us."

I let out a shaky breath, wrapping my arms around myself. "Honestly, I’m scared, Dom. They said next time they’ll come with paperwork. They already had videos....the day she got lost in the rain, when she ended up at the police station. What if the government sides with them? What if I lose her?" My throat tightened.

"I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. I’d feel like the worst brother alive. I can’t..." My voice dropped to a whisper. "I can’t live without her."

Dominic stood, chair scraping back, and pulled me into his arms. He smiled faintly of cologne. His lips brushed my hair as he whispered, "Ash, listen to me. You are the best brother in the world. No one, no piece of paper, no social worker, is going to erase that. And as long as I’m here..." his arms tightened around me, "no one is taking her away."

My voice cracked as I mumbled against his chest. "But be honest with me... am I really enough? Maybe she deserves someone better. A real parent. Not... me."

Dominic pulled back just enough to look me in the eye, disbelief all over his face. "Ash, wooow." He said, tilting my chin up. "You? Not enough? Ash, you’re the most competent person on this planet."

I snorted weakly. "You really think so?"

"No, listen. Babe, don’t forget...you’re Alia’s hero. With your six-pack abs, your crazy onion-standing hair, and your perfectly triangular nose." He grabbed her sketchbook off the counter and flipped it open, pointing a finger at the drawing she made of us last month. "See this? That right there is the best big brother ever. That’s how she sees you."

My throat ached as I looked at it. "God, you only say sweet things. Do you always remember everything I tell you?"

He smirked. "Mmm. Oh, so you think I only have sweet words? Want to taste it? It’s even sweeter in person."

I didn’t even realize I was leaning in until our foreheads brushed. His lips was almost brushing until....

"Uh, excuse me?"

Alia appeared right between us, hands on her hips. "Hungry person standing here. Can you give me my food? Please."

I jumped, nearly knocking the plate over. Dominic burst out laughing, hiding his face in his hand.

"Oh my god," I muttered, passing her a plate.

"She has the worst timing," Dominic whispered against my ear.

"No," I grinned, handing her a plate. "She has perfect timing."

"Thank you," she said sweetly, before sitting down at the table like nothing happened. "Also, fun fact, Ash....Jayden dumped Violet today. She cried in class for like thirty minutes."

Dominic shot me a look, biting his lip to keep from laughing again.

"That’s nice baby." I laughed, cleaning my hands on the kitchen napkin.

Alia kept going, waving her spoon around. "Nice? Ash, he has a new girlfriend, she wears lip gloss and brings homemade food."

Dominic leaned his chin on his hand, nodding as she kept talking. He was so invested in her drama. "Phew, drama."

I shook my head, setting food down in front of them. "Thank goodness," I muttered. "At least someone’s eating."

Alia grinned at me, then turned back to Dom.

"So, do you like anyone? You better not say Ash because ew, that’s my brother."

Dominic nearly choked on his food. I smacked my forehead.

"Alia!"

"What?" she said innocently, shoving a spoonful of rice into her mouth. "It’s a simple question."

Dominic’s eyes sparkled across the table at me, teasing. "Should I answer honestly?"

"Don’t you dare," I muttered, glaring at him.

Alia shoveled another spoonful into her mouth. Then she stopped, squinted at Dominic, and pointed her spoon.

"You’re blushing."

"I am not blushing," Dominic said, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

"Yes, you are. Don’t lie. Who is it?" She leaned forward interrogating him.

Dominic glanced at me, the corner of his mouth twitched. I shook my head quickly.

He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms, with that calm confidence. "What if it’s your brother?"

Alia froze mid bite. Then, slowly, she put her spoon down, and widened her eyes. "You really like Ash?"

My heart stopped. "Dominic...."

Omg, I hope she’s okay with it.

What will she think about me?

God I hope she’s not homophobic?

But before I could open my mouth, Alia’s whole face lit up. "I knew it. That’s actually perfect."

"What?" I sputtered.

"Think about it!" she said, flinging her hands in the air. "You’re already always here. You buy me snacks. You help me with math. And you’re tall, which means you can reach the top shelves Ash can’t. You’re also good in maths."

"Hey...." I cut in.

She ignored me. "And Ash won’t be alone anymore. He won’t be sad all the time, ’cause he’ll have you. And you guys can kiss or whatever and I’ll just... I dunno, go draw." She shrugged like she’d just solved every problem.

Dominic grinned, leaning his chin on his hand, watching me unravel. "Well, there you have it. The official little sister stamp of approval. Thanks baby girl."

I buried my face in my hands. "Alia..."

"What?" she said, genuinely confused. "I’m just saying the truth. You both already look at each other like those people in romance dramas who almost kiss but then someone interrupts."

Dominic nearly spit his drink out laughing. "Oh my god."

I glared at him, but my chest ached in that soft way.

Still, the weight of today pressed heavy. I picked at my food. My mind kept replaying the words....paperwork, evidence, better home. I forced myself to swallow.

Dominic noticed. His laughter died down, and his hand slid under the table, brushing against mine.

"Hey," he murmured so only I could hear. "Don’t go spiraling on me now."

I whispered. "Dom... what if they really take her? What if I lose her?"

His thumb rubbed slow circles against my knuckles. "Ash, look at her."

I did. Alia was happily humming some random TikTok song while drawing hearts with ketchup on her plate.

"She’s happy. She’s safe. That’s all that matters," Dominic whispered. "No social worker can change that. And if they try..." His jaw tightened. "They’ll have to go through me first."

My chest loosened. I let out a shaky laugh. "You sound so dramatic."

He smirked. "Maybe. But it’s true."

Alia looked up suddenly. "Ughhh, are you two secretly holding hands under the table? That’s so gross."