Page 111 of The Forever Play

“Just get that shit out of here!” he whisper-barked in my face before thundering down the stairs and slamming the front door shut.

Zoey flinched and her bottom lip began to wobble, but I quickly distracted her by dancing her down the stairs and outside. We played in the backyard for a bit,running through leaves and then trying to find the biggest one we could. I turned it into a fan, and Zoey jumped and giggled at my feet, reaching up for it and wanting to fan me back.

I crouched low and grinned at her as she fanned me with the leaf, then managed to smear my face with dirt.

I was just wiping it off when my phone started buzzing. Assuming it was Sienna, I answered it without taking my eyes off Zoey.

“How’s it going, Mommy?” I wanted to keep my voice bright and upbeat despite the tension in my chest. I sure as shit hoped Wily and Tyrell were protecting her.

“It’s your father, and this is a video chat. Why am I staring at your cheek right now?”

Oh shit!

Pulling the phone away, I pop to my feet, blinking at my father on the screen and quickly trying to cover my faux pas. “Oh… uh… hi. Hi, Dad. How’s it going?”

His eyes narrow, and I put on my best smile before stealing a glance at Zoey, who is now collecting leaves like a bouquet.

She is seriously the cutest.

“I wanted to go over your game yesterday.”

“Yeah, I know.” I wince. “It’s just not a great time right now.”

“Why?”

“Well, I’m… busy.”

“You look like you’re standing in your backyard. Why, I have no idea, but I’m guessing you’ve got time.”

“Yeah, I just, uh?—”

“Now, the game.” Dad gets right down to business while I scratch the back of my neck and wait for thehammer to fall. “Thankfully, your second half was golden, but what the fuck was up with that pass in the first quarter? Zander, it was just plain embarrassing, and I?—”

“Foobawl, look!” Zoey yells, running over to me with a bouquet of leaves. Her expression is so triumphant, I can’t help an adoring grin…

And my father sees it all.

“Zander, what’s going on? What the hell is foobawl?”

“I am.” I let out a soft laugh, then swallow, my insides turning to cooked spaghetti when I look at my phone screen. Dad’s stern face has always been intimidating. Even as an adult I find it unnerving, but he’s miles away, and fuck it… I’m just gonna have to tell him the truth.

Why delay the inevitable, right?

With a swallow, I explain. “Zoey calls me football.”

I wink down at her and she grins, her nose scrunching just the way Sienna’s does.

“Who the hell is Zoey?” There’s a dangerous edge to Dad’s tone, but I try not to let it rattle me.

Licking my bottom lip, I face the one person in my life who I know will hate this the most and just say it. “Zoey’s my daughter.”

Dad goes instantly pale. I can practically see the blood draining from his face as I get out all the details he probably doesn’t want to hear.

“Sienna had a kid. I didn’t know she was pregnant. I only found out a few weeks ago, and?—”

“Wait,” Dad snaps.

I cringe, holding my breath even though I hate myself for feeling like a little kid about to get bawled out by his old man.

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