Page 95 of The Forever Play

That buzz in my chest quickly dies. Why the hesitation?

“I want to say yes, but Russell gets home tonight, and I’m not sure how it will go down if you’re here.”

Anger spikes through me thick and fast. That assface better not get in the way of me and Sienna.

“I just need to talk to him about us first. Give him a heads-up. It’s all going to be okay. He just has a bit of a thing about you, and I need to talk him around.”

“Do you need me to be there for support or anything?”

“That’s really sweet, but no… I think I better field this one on my own. Maybe Zoey and I can see you tomorrow, though?”

“Yeah, definitely. I’ll try and get all my studying out of the way first thing in the morning, and then we can spend the rest of the day together. Would that work?”

“Yes.” I can hear the smile in her voice, and it makes my lips twitch. “Zoey can always have her afternoon nap in her stroller. We can go for a walk or something.”

“Sounds perfect.”

“Looking forward to it already.”

“Me too. Last night was…” I grin down at my sweaty uniform and shake my head with a no doubt dreamy smile.

“It was everything,” she finishes for me, and I can picture her blue eyes sparkling the way I love so much.

“I love you, Sparks.”

“I love you, Hot Lips.”

I’m laughing as we say our final goodbyes and hang up. And then I must be blushing, because Wily walks past me at just the wrong second, and I am toast.

The number of hassles and jeers I have to put up with for the next ten minutes is ridiculous, and I end up giving them all the finger before stripping off my uniform and showering up.

The rest of the afternoon and evening is lost in celebration, but I don’t stay up too late, because I have myself a pretty perfect afternoon lined up for tomorrow, and I want to make sure I’m ready for it.

CHAPTER 35

SIENNA

Dreams of Zander kept me entertained through the night, and I was already buzzing to see him by the time Zoey woke me. I couldn’t wait for the afternoon to roll around so we could visit him again.

Getting up with a yawn and a stretch, I pull my pajama shorts down so I’m not exposing the curve of my butt and head into the hallway. Russell has already collected Zoey from her crib and is dancing around the kitchen singing with her in his arms.

She’s giggling, resting her head on his shoulder and looking all kinds of cute with her messy bed hair. Her pink-and-purple dinosaur pajamas just add to the whole effect, and my heart blooms with affection.

Until Russell murmurs, “Dada’s gonna make you pancakes, okay?”

“Pancakes!”

“Hey, nicely said. You’re getting so good with your words, honey. Dada’s proud of you.”

Zoey smiles at him while my stomach twists into a tight knot.

“Morning, Uncle Rusty.” I enunciate his name with more clarity than I ever have, giving him a tight smile as I breeze into the kitchen and speak to my daughter. “Is Uncle Rusty going to make you pancakes?”

“Yeah. Unca Russy.” She rests her head on his shoulder again, and now my stomach is trembling.

At least she got his name right, though.

I’m really not loving his Dada bullshit, and I need to shut that down.

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