Page 28 of The Forever Play

“Someone else is using that one, and you’re not allowed to kick him off.” I give her a pointed look.

She stares back at me, her little chin going up as she points and repeats, “Dis one.”

“It’s this one or nothing, lil’ bug. Otherwise, you’ll just have to be patient and wait for your turn.”

As her face scrunches up in that pout of hers, Zander lets out a laugh and shakes his head. “How cute is she?”

“Adorable,” I agree with him, fighting my own grin.

Her pout is priceless.

“Why don’t you push me while we wait?” Zander tips his head at the vacant swing and walks over to it.

He’s ginormous and looks ridiculous trying to fit on the swing. I can’t help laughing and quickly cover my mouth so he doesn’t know how adorable I think he’s being. Zoey giggles and runs over to him, resting her little hands on his knees.

“Too big.” She laughs. “Too big.” Snatching his wrist, she tries to pull him off, grunting when he won’t move.

“But I want to swing.” He fake pouts.

“Me sing.” She tugs on his arm again, and he stands up so she can climb into the swing seat. He has to help her for the last part, and she lets him while I stand there having open heart surgery.

Moving around behind her, Zander starts to push, and Zoey squeals in delight as she rises up high in the air. He’s going way harder and faster than I ever would, and I nearly tell him to stop, but she’s having so much fun.

I watch them together. Father and daughter.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

If anyone had asked me last week if not telling Zander about his daughter was the right decision, I would have said yes. The last time I saw him, it was obvious he had absolutely no intention of missing me while he was away at college.

I couldn’t interrupt his partying to let him know I was pregnant. What had remained of my tattered heart was completely shredded at the sight of him?—

Snapping my eyes closed, I ward off the images while also trying to justify my decision.

But then his quaking voice has me looking at him again.

“She’s so beautiful.” His eyes glisten as he gazes at me, all the pain I never thought he’d feel shining bright and obvious.

I try to blink away the burn in my eyes and nod. “She is.”

He beckons me with his fingers, and I go without protest. I have no idea why. It’s like I’m being pulled by a magical force I can’t counter.

As soon as I’m standing beside him, watching theback of Zoey’s head as she happily swings, he leans in and murmurs, “She’s mine. She’s my daughter.”

My jaw shakes as I try to clench my chattering teeth together.

And then I make the mistake of looking up at him, and there’s no way I can deny it.

CHAPTER 10

ZANDER

“Yes,” Sienna whispers. “She’s yours.”

I knew it already, but finally hearing it from the person who should have told me in the first place makes me feel like I’ve just been kicked in the balls.

Anger spikes, fast and unexpected. I can’t keep the venom from my voice as I whisper-bark, “Why? Why didn’t you tell me?”

She steps back, her expression pale and hard. Her jaw’s still trembling, and I seriously hate that, but what am I supposed to do here?

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