Page 102 of The Forever Play

It’s no doubt some chick here to see Carson… or Carson himself because he forgot his key again and no one’s been downstairs to unlock the door yet.

I roll my eyes, shaking my head and focusing back on the screen in front of me.

CHAPTER 37

SIENNA

It takes ages for someone to answer the door, and for a second, I worry that I got the wrong house.

But there’s a Harley Davidson parked in the drive, so I knock again and cross my fingers.

Zoey’s stopped crying now. Her lollipop is all gone and she’s probably still hungry, but she’s distracted by what I’m doing. I’ve left the stroller at the bottom of the stairs, and she’s in my arms.

It’s frickin’ freezing out here, and I’m wearing next to nothing. Thank God the streets were basically empty as I hurried here. Even so, I’m shivering while trying to wrap the dirty blanket more securely around my daughter.

I can’t believe I let Russell drive me out like that. I should have used my brain and taken the time to at least get dressed and grab a coat, my wallet, and keys. I just mindlessly walked out the door because I couldn’t stand another second of him.

And now my insides are turning blue and my skin is covered in goose bumps.

We’re at that time of year where you almost need thermals in the morning and shorts and T-shirts in the afternoon. I love and hate fall weather.

At least the leaves are pretty, though.

I glance at the lawn behind us, scattered with browns, reds, and yellows. Idyllic. Like a painting with this villa in the background.

But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m freezing my ass off out here.

Knocking on the door for the third time, I finally hear someone shout, “Would someone get the damn door!”

“All right!” someone else shouts, and Zoey tenses in my arms as the door swings open and we’re staring up at grumpy-looking scarecrow.

His hair is a wild mess, his refined face made even more angular by the blurry-eyed scowl he’s wearing. His jeans hang low on his hips, ripped and scrappy, while the open shirt he’s wearing looks—and smells—like it could use a decent wash.

I take a small step away from the door and wonder if I’m about to start running down a second lot of front steps today.

“What do you want?” His voice is husky, but not in the sweet sexy way Zander’s is. It’s more like a gravelly growl, and the way his eyes are traveling down my body puts me on edge.

“Oh, um… I’m… uh… I’m looking for Zander. Zander Donohue.”

The man gives me a quizzical frown, shooting his gaze to Zoey before narrowing his eyes on me again.

Tears quickly start to burn my senses and I blink, begging them not to fall as I take another step back andstart babbling. “I’m sorry, do I have the wrong house? I thought this was Football Frat. I was here not long ago, and it looks familiar, and the?—”

A large body appears behind Mr. Scarecrow, and I deflate with relief the second I spot Wily’s smile.

“Hey, Sienna.” I could just about kiss that wide grin of his.Oh, thank God.“And my lil’ cowgirl.”

Zoey giggles.

“Come to Uncle Wily, kid!”

He reaches for my daughter, and she goes to him willingly, smiling when he hands her his football, then starts complimenting her dinosaur pajamas.

“I wish I had a pair of those. They look super comfy.” He turns back to wink at me, but his smile drops away when he notices that I’m in my pajamas, too, and my teeth are chattering. “Carson, move.” He shoulders the guy aside and beckons me to come in. “You’re freezing. Here.” Leading me into a living room area, he grabs a blanket off the back of the couch and wraps it around me.

Carson’s now standing in the archway, leaning against the oak frame and studying me like I’m a big problem. His eyes dart to Zoey again, and his frown only deepens. I bite my bottom lip, wrapping the blanket a little tighter around myself, then sending a silent SOS to Wily.

He rolls his eyes and pulls me into a side hug. “Don’t mind him. He’s going for the Prick of the Year Award.”

---