Page 119 of The Forever Play

“Foobawl! Wywee!” Zoey runs out of the kitchen, and my heart gets all warm and mushy when I hear them greet her.

A few moments later, Zander walks in with our girl in his arms, and I’m undone.

“Hey, Sparky.” He kisses my lips, his hand resting on my lower back, and I know I’m home. “That smells good.”

“Mine.” Zoey points at herself.

“Yeah, I know. Deeeelicious.”

Zoey giggles. “Deewish.”

“That’s right. Delicious.” Zander makes a big show of licking his lips, then pretends to eat Zoey, munching on her hand and up her arm to raspberry her neck. She gets the giggles, her little squeals echoing throughout thekitchen as Carson stomps in, yanking the fridge open and pulling out a can of beer.

He spins, glaring at me before snapping the beer open and guzzling it like it’s water.

I try for a polite smile and ask him, “How was practice?”

After a baleful glare, he lets out a ripper of a burp, which is his only reply.

I wrinkle my nose, turning back to Zoey’s meal prep while he crushes the can and throws it toward the recycle box. It misses, pinging off the floor, and it takes everything in me not to demand he pick it up and throw it away properly. But I don’t really want to interact with that douchebag right now.

“Dude,” Zander softly warns him.

“What?” Carson bites back.

My boyfriend raises his hand. “Just chill.”

Turning off the stove, I quickly pile chicken and veggie sticks onto Zoey’s plate. I can feel the tension in the air, and my little girl has gone quiet, too, her big eyes looking between Carson and Zander.

The scarecrow scowls at his roommate, his defined nostrils flaring, a muscle in his jaw working as he looks on the verge of eruption.

My first instinct is to grab Zoey and run, but Zander’s got her securely in his arms, and I’m not sure what to do.

“Chill?” Carson finally says, his tone icy.

I dart my eyes to Zander, but he’s not looking at me. His firm, steady gaze is on Carson, and I’m just gonna hold my breath for a lil’ minute.

“How am I supposed to do that? This is my own fucking house, and I can’t chill because you’ve turned itinto a nursery with your little girl and missus walking around here acting like they own the place.”

“Carson—”

“No! This can’t stand, man. And you know it!” Carson points at the ground. “It was supposed to be one night. But as far as I can tell, they’re not going anywhere, and that’s a real problem.”

“Come on. They’re just here for a few days. No one seems to mind.”

“I mind! How the fuck are we supposed to party or have chicks over when these two are here? I can’t even walk around naked in my own fucking home!”

I flinch. They have parties and chicks here all the time?

I didn’t know that.

Gripping the counter behind me, I dip my eyes to the floor while Carson keeps ranting.

“This is not a daycare center, it’s a football frat! You feel me? And I’m not okay with your little family moving in. This should have been a house discussion, but as usual, you just made the call without consulting anybody.”

“That’s bullshit. I asked, and everyone agreed.”

“Not me!”

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