Page 50 of The Forever Play

It has to be.

I used to play hide-and-seek in grocery stores all thetime. Apparently, my mom lost me for a good twenty minutes once when I decided that hiding behind a pile of rolled-up rugs in Target was a brilliant idea.

“Zoey, come on, kid. Mom’s freaking out,” I call down the next aisle, walking along at a fast clip until I hear a little giggle by my left foot.

Stopping, I tip my head and crouch down, spotting a pair of cute blue eyes sparkling back at me from behind a stack of large tin cans.

“How did you get back there?” I can’t help laughing.

She giggles again and shows me by crawling out of her hiding spot, her butt nearly getting wedged by the shelf above until she does a little shimmy and makes it through.

“Wow.” I nod. “That’s kind of impressive, you little Houdini.”

With a playful grin, she bobs on her toes, all proud of herself, and I swear my insides are turning to putty.

“Hi, Foobawl.” She brushes her sticky fingers across my cheek.

“Hey.” I smile and hold out my hands. “Let’s go find your mom.”

To my surprise, she steps into my arms without hesitation, and I lift her up and call across the store, “Found her!”

CHAPTER 19

SIENNA

Zander’s voice rings across the store, and I come running. I nearly take out the poor man who stopped to help us look and have to shout a quick apology over my shoulder as I tear down the aisle and barrel into Zander for the second time today.

Once again, he catches me with his free hand while I let out a surprised squawk, then blink at my daughter, who is happily clinging to him like a spider monkey.

“Hi, Mommy.” She’s using her cutest voice, but I’m not having it for a second.

“Zoey Beth Erling,” I growl at her, taking her out of Zander’s arms and perching her on my hip. “I told you to stay close to me. You know you’re not supposed to play hide-and-seek at the store. That’s naughty.”

Zoey’s expression bunches, her lip sticking out in a dramatic pout before her mouth opens and a pitiful wail shoots out of her.

“Zoey.” I try to calm her before she gets into thatpiercing register that makes my ears bleed. “It’s okay. I’m just frustra?—”

Her wail increases, cutting me off as Zander’s big, blond friend wanders down the aisle, grinning like he can’t hear the banshee cry echoing throughout the store.

“Yay.” He pumps his fist in the air with a grin. “The lost have been found.”

I wince as Zoey’s cry pitches to new heights.

“Okay, that’s enough, sweetie.” I rub her back and go to kiss her cheek, but she lurches away from me.

“No.” Stretching out her arms, she throws herself at Zander, who easily catches her and snuggles her against his chest. She buries her face in his neck, crying like the world has ended while I stand there trying not to notice how incredibly sexy Zander looks holding my little daughter in his big, strong arms.

His hand splays across her back, and he starts murmuring something in her ear that soon has her raucous tears under control.

“Are you kidding me right now?” I mutter, gaping up at him while he gives me a triumphant little grin.

I roll my eyes, and he starts to register that yes, seeing my daughter—who I have been raising for over two years now—launching herself into his arms is making me a little salty.

“Sorry,” he mouths before going back to his soothing murmurs. “It’s okay, baby girl. It’s okay.”

His husky voice is torturing me all over again, amplifying those feelings that I tried to bury deep under a mountain of hurt and anger and pain.

But there I go, erupting in a matter of seconds, my heart melting and bleeding all at the same time.

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