Page 67 of The Off-Limits Play

I’m definitely not cutting it. Shit. I’m nobody to this poor little kid.

“I’m really sorry to disturb your date,” Nylah’s saying.

Oh, thank God. She’s called.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll see you soon.”

Stepping back into the room, Nylah drops her phone on the bed and cringes.

“Are they okay? Is Sienna panicking?” I whisper.

“No.” Nylah’s black hair rustles against her shirt as she takes a seat facing me, tucking her foot under her butt and looking kinda sad. “She was totally calm. Kinda felt bad for leaving when she knew Zoey had been off, but I’ve offered to babysit again sometime. Make it up to them.” Her frown gets a little deeper. “I’m just so bummed out with the timing. They finally get a date night, and now Zoey’s sick. Kids seriously have no respect for romance.” She darts a look at me, her smile pretty and perfect.

Zoey shifts on my lap and I tense, lifting the bowl in preparation, but she relaxes against me on a soft sigh.

“Mommy,” she whimpers again, and Nylah leans forward to rub her leg.

“She’s coming, Zoey Bird. Don’t worry. She’ll be here soon.”

Reaching out, I rest my fingers over Nylah’s, lightly brushing her knuckles. I just want to feel her again.

She looks up at me, her eyes smiling before her lips do. Then she blows me a kiss, and I try to absorb it because that’s all I’m gonna get tonight.

That should frustrate me. My body is begging for this woman. How can one stupid little air kiss be enough?

But somehow, it is.

My swallow is thick as I look away from her, weirded out by this sensation in my chest.

What the fuck is happening to me? I’ve got a toddler sleeping against my chest and a woman blowing me kisses from the other end of the bed.

Where the hell did Carson go?

I’m sitting here feeling totally lost as I wait for the front door to fly open.

Thankfully, it does only ten minutes later, and then I hear thundering footsteps on the stairs.

“Zander, calm down. She’s just sick, not dying.” Sienna’s voice follows him as he bursts into the room and takes in the scene.

He moves toward the bed, his loud footsteps pulling Zoey from her restless sleep. As soon as her eyes pop open and she spots Sienna in the doorway, she starts to cry, and Zander reaches for her, frowning at me like I’m the culprit.

I nearly tell him to fuck off as I hand his daughter over to him.

“Mommy!” she hiccups and cries, straining to get to her mother.

Zander reluctantly passes her over, leaning in to kiss her cheek and murmur some shit that gets Zoey to stop crying.

Or maybe it’s just the fact that she’s finally being held by the person she wants most.

I slip past the group, hovering in the doorway as Nylah explains what happened.

“I’m guessing it’s just a stomach bug, but I’m not sure.” Nylah shrugs. “She’s a little warm, but I didn’t know where a thermometer was, so I haven’t checked.”

“That’s okay.” Sienna sways from side to side, rocking Zoey against her chest. “I’ve got it. Thank you for everything.”

“Sorry I had to call. If she’d just puked once and settled, I wouldn’t have, but I think you’re in for a long night.” She winces.

Sienna gives her a tired, knowing smile, and I’m hit by how fucking strong women can be. She’s gonna be up and down like a yo-yo for her kid, and I bet we won’t hear one complaint out of her. Sienna doesn’t complain much at all, actually. And neither does Nylah.

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