Page 98 of The Forever Play

“He came over on Friday, and we had a long talk. We managed to clear the air on a lot of things, and…” My lips twitch as my insides turn just a little mushy. “And now we’re back together.”

“Here?” Russell points to the floor. “He came here? Tomyhouse?”

“Well, I mean?—”

“He gave you that in my house!” He points at my chest.

I place my hand over my cotton shirt, pressing it close to my skin.

“You had sex with him, didn’t you?” Throwing the spatula into the sink, Russell leans against the counter like he needs support.

I swallow and struggle to figure out how I’m going to smooth things over.

Spinning back around, he gives me an incredulous glare and raises his voice a little higher. “I can’t believe you had sex with that prick in my house!”

“Russell, please.” I raise my hand, glancing into the living room to make sure Zoey’s okay. She’s looking our way, obviously confused by the fact that one of her favorite people is so angry. I spin back to try and placate him. “This is a good thing. I know you’re mad about the way he treated me, but he’s apologized. He wants to make up for the lost time, and… I want that too. He’s the love of my life.”

“Why?” Russell looks disgusted by the very idea. “Theguy completely betrayed you. I can’t believe you’re even willing to trust him again. He’s gonna hurt you. He’ll cheat on you or he’ll leave you, or something will happen that will break your heart all over again, and I can’t watch that happen.”

“He’s not going to hurt me like that again. He loves me. He loves Zoey. He’s her father.”

“Well, he shouldn’t be!” Russell’s eyes flash. “He doesn’t deserve her. He doesn’t deserve you!” His voice breaks as he snatches the pan off the stovetop and throws that in the sink as well.

It makes a noisy clatter and I flinch, crossing my arms, resisting the urge to bolt from the room.

“I’m the closest thing to a father Zoey’s ever had. It should be me! Not him. Me!” He slaps his chest, then throws his arms wide. “God, how could you do that, Sienna?”

He looks completely wrecked, and I don’t know what to say.

An uncomfortable minute ticks by that feels more like a millennium as I stand in the kitchen, curling my toes on the cold kitchen floor while he clenches his jaw and keeps shaking his head.

Zoey patters in, raising her arms for me to pick her up.

I hold her close, drawing comfort from her soft cheek against mine. She plays with my hair at the nape of my neck, and I stare across the room at Russell.

He lets out a huff, gripping the counter behind him and muttering, “Look, this is my house. And I know you live here, too, but I should get a say in what goes on under my roof, and that guy is notspending any more nights here. In fact, you’re not seeing him.”

“What?” I can’t stop a surprised laugh popping out of me. “Russell, you can’t…” I laugh again, shaking my head. “You can’t say that to me. I can see whoever I want.”

His nostrils flare as he gives me more headshaking and huffing.

I stand up a little straighter, a sudden spike of anger making my voice terse. “You’re not the boss of me, and… I can’t believe you’re acting this way. You’re treating me like a naughty teenager or something. I mean, I know you don’t like him, but?—”

“That’s right.” He moves like a snake, darting across the room, getting up in my face. Zoey clings to my neck, hiding her face while Russell spurts a little venom on me. “I don’t like him. I despise him for the way he treated you. I mean, what the hell? Who the fuck leaves you?”

“Russell.” I bulge my eyes at him. I don’t like him talking this way around Zoey, so I cover her ears, giving him an urgent “Shh.”

“You’re making a huge mistake.” He waves his finger at me. “And Zoey will end up paying the price for your selfish, sex-crazed, emotional behavior!”

Emotional? He thinksI’mbeing emotional?

I have never seen this side of Russell before, and I seriously do not like it.

Flashing my eyes at him, I start rubbing Zoey’s back. She’s whimpering against my shoulder. I hate that Russell is scaring her. She can feel the angry tension in the room, and I need to get her out of here.

“I’m gonna… go.” I move to leave the kitchen. “Give you time to cool off.”

He snatches my arm before I can leave.

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