Page 148 of The Forever Play

“It better be,” Carson warns, grabbing his helmet and pointing it at me with a warning frown. “I want to be able to walk around my house butt-ass naked. I want to be able to bring chicks home and bang them as loud as I fucking want. I can’t do that with a toddler in the room next door.”

I raise my hands. “That’s fair. We’ll figure something out. If you just give me a little time, I’d appreciate it.”

“Make it quick,” he mutters before stalking out of the locker room.

I wince at the rest of my teammates and get various slaps on the back.

“We’ll figure it out. Don’t worry man.”

“I don’t mind having them around.”

“Yeehaw!” Wily makes a coyote call and puts on a thick Southern drawl. “My little cowgirl’s coming home.”

CHAPTER 56

SIENNA

I sing my way back to Russell’s place. Taylor Swift keeps me company, and I belt out the lyrics to her most romantic songs, my body still buzzing after what went down in Zander’s car.

Mmmm-hmmm. I love that man so much I could burst.

Seriously, I feel like I’m flying, giddy laughter bubbling inside me as I pull up beside Russell’s house.

But the light emotion quickly dies when I pull his keys out of the ignition and realize that I’m about to piss him off… or hurt him… all over again.

Shit.

Closing my eyes, I rest my head on the steering wheel and take the chicken’s way out, praying that he’s not home and I can just call him later to tell him what I’ve done, and that Zoey and I will be moving back in with Zander.

I swallow. I wonder what the Football Frat guys will think of that.

Worrying my lip, I try not to let reality spoil what has been an epic afternoon.

Zander and I are back together, for good this time. No more secrets. No more ghosting. We’re making this work. I’m determined.

And that’s what gets me out of the car.

That’s what has me walking up the front steps.

Determination to be with the person I was born to be with.

I’ve only ever loved him, and now he’s mine forever.

A smile tugs at my lips, then grows to full beam when I walk into the house and quickly realize it’s empty.

“Thank you, God,” I murmur to the ceiling as I rush to Zoey’s room, gathering her stuff as quickly as I can.

Reaching under the changing table, I go to grab her diaper bag and am surprised to find it missing. I thought I’d dropped off the small bag at Mrs. Ward’s, but I must have given her the bigger one. My brain wasn’t functioning at full capacity this morning. The small one is probably in the stroller, which is in the back of Russell’s car still.

“Okay, fine. So, I’ll just…” Reaching under Zoey’s crib, I pull out her little pink suitcase and fill it with three days’ worth of clothes. I’ll need to come back again, but I don’t want to clear everything out of Russell’s place until Zander and I have come up with a more permanent solution. Living at the Football Frat won’t work. I’m not sure what we’re going to do, but Zoey’s crib and changing table can stay here until we definitely know.

Skipping down to my room, I pull out my suitcase and start filling it with the essentials when my phone starts ringing.

I glance at the screen, my stomach twisting uncomfortably, but I answer the video call anyway.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hey, Blue!” Dad pops up behind my mother before she can even say hi.

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