Page 90 of Play Book

“I think she’s going to be resistant to any woman that comes in as a potential mother figure. She sees Stevie as a big sister, so she’s safe. But me? She subconsciously thinks I’m going to replace her mom, and she’s going to push back against that as hard as she can.”

“Yeah, it’s one of the things we need to talk about in therapy, but I just haven’t had time. I make the time for us to go together, and Ally will be going on her own as well, but there are only so many hours in the day. Even when I’m traveling, it’s hard to find a time that works for both the therapist and me.”

“It’s not going to happen overnight,” she says softly, curling against my chest. “We have to be patient.”

“Patience is not a virtue of mine,” I mumble.

“Mine either, but we don’t have a choice with Ally. She’s the child. We have to be the adults.”

“You do know who you’re talking to, right?”

She lightly pinches my thigh. “Yes. I’m talking to her uncle and guardian.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I wrap my arms around her tightly.

“What time do we have to get up?” she asks. “Should I set an alarm?”

“Nah. I’ll wake up by seven. I rarely sleep late unless I’ve had a lot to drink and that wasn’t the case tonight.”

“Okay. I usually can sleep in, so wake me up when you do.”

“Oh, I will.” I reach down to cup her bare ass. “I like morning sex.”

“Me too.”

It’s hard to keep my eyes open when we’re together like this, and I drift off without a second thought.

The next thing I know, a phone is ringing, startling me awake.

Saylor turns over and fumbles for it.

“It’s Stevie,” she mumbles.

Crap.

“H-hello?” She answers on speaker.

“Hey, it’s me. Is Canyon with you?”

“Yeah. What’s wrong?” I ask automatically.

“I just picked up Ally from her sleepover. She’s pretty upset.”

“Oh, shit.”

“She said she tried calling Canyon for half an hour.”

“Shit.” I realize I’ve left it in the living room. “Ally okay?”

“I don’t know yet. But she sounded upset.”

“All right, I’m on my way.” I sit up. “Is she at your place, Stevie?”

“I was planning to head to your condo. Ally said she has a key. I can stay with her until you get there.”

“Thank you,” I say before disconnecting.

There’s a moment of frustrated silence.

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