Page 115 of The Forever Play

“Coming!” Looking at the screen, I’m not about to go into the details of Sienna’s morning, so I cut the call short. “Guys, we’ve gotta go.”

“Byeeee!” Zoey starts waving.

My parents wave back and blow more kisses, and I have to hang up on them because they won’t end the call.

Racing back into the house, I place Zoey and her handful of leaves on the dining room floor and open my arms for Sienna.

She rushes into them, resting her head in the crook my neck while I share a look with Wily and Tyrell.

Tyrell shakes his head, looking pissed as he trudges up the stairs with Zoey’s portable crib. At least I think that’s what that is.

Wily appears with an armload of toys and gives me a sad smile that quickly morphs into a playful grin when Zoey bounds toward him yelling, “Amimals!”

“Are these yours?” Wily sounds so surprised it makes Sienna laugh, and I ease away from her, smoothing back her hair.

“How bad was it?”

“It sucked.” Her smile is tumultuous, and I brush my lips across hers and pull her back into a hug.

“It’s over now. We can just switch off and enjoy the rest of the day together.” I nibble my way along her jawline and lightly suck her neck. “And we’ve got the whole night too.”

Sienna tightens her hold on me, then starts to softly giggle as I kiss and tease her neck until I find that ticklish spot I discovered when she was seventeen.

CHAPTER 41

SIENNA

The rest of the day goes by in a happy blur. Zander helps me get the crib set up. We squish it into the corner of his room, and I can’t help glancing at his bed, knowing I’ll be snuggling up beside him tonight.

Is it too soon? I know it’s only a night or two, but it feels like we’re moving in together. It’s so fast and unexpected. Logic keeps hounding me to see reason, but…

It’s where you belong,a soft voice in my head reminds me, and this warm tingly sensation in my heart is louder than Mr. Logic and his judgments.

I’ve loved Zander for years, so in that sense, it’s not rushed at all. It’s more a case of “about damn time!”

“You good?” Zander takes my fingers, lightly playing with them and kissing each tip.

I smile up at him and nod, loving the way his arm sweeps around me and pulls me close.

“Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!” Zoey calls from downstairs, and I reluctantly let my man go and head down to see what our daughter wants.

And that’s pretty much my day.

Zander making me all mushy, and Zoey demanding my attention.

Teah and Grady show up around lunchtime and we eat together, laughing over Zoey’s antics as she puts on a show for her adoring crowd. Teah’s laughter is so sweet and amps Zoey up even more until she’s practically a performing monkey.

It’s an effort to settle her after that, and even quiet play isn’t enough. I know if Zoey doesn’t go down for a nap soon, she’s going to go full-blown Hulk on everyone.

She doesn’t settle easily, because she’s not used to Zander’s room and all these big people around. There’s been so much conversation and laughter, her poor little senses are on overload. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just an adjustment, and it’s one I hope she can make because I seriouslylovebeing at Football Frat.

I rock Zoey until my arms just about drop off. She battles me the entire time. In the end, Zander comes up to help me, but that just wakes her up all over again.

After a tearful meltdown, she finally drifts off to sleep, and I lay her down, holding my breath and praying she doesn’t wake up as I creep out of the room.

The door creaks when I open it and I freeze still, glancing over my shoulder, but finally my little girl is out for the count.

Thank God.

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