Page 39 of The Hard Hitter

Sam

I’m not sure who’s at Zander’s door, but I hope he gets rid of them quickly and joins me back in bed. I fix the bedding, and breathe in the scent of him on the soft pillowcase. My entire body is warm, relaxed, yet in need of him again. I try not to read too much into that, when I hear voices from downstairs.

I jackknife up, and tug the sheets up to cover myself. I listen harder, sure it’s Quinn downstairs. When I hear a child’s cry, my heart leaps.

Daisy.

I glance around the room in search of my clothes, but they’re nowhere to be found. I’d stripped by the pool, and now I can’t get dressed and get out of here.

I slide from the bed and go to Zander’s big closet. I’m pretty sure he won’t mind me borrowing a few things, so I tug on a button-up shirt and a huge pair of sweats that tie at the waist. I listen at the bedroom door, and when I hear the front door shut, I inch it open.

Zander is talking to Daisy in a soft, soothing voice. I want to yell down to see if she’s okay, but it’s not wise for Daisy to find me here. This relationship is a secret, and we don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea. Then again, how much of a secret is it if he agreed to go to the BBQ with me?

Soft footsteps sound on the stairs, then a door creaks open. I slip from the room, and I’m walking past Daisy’s bedroom when Zander’s whispered words to his daughter stop me.

“Daisy, sweet girl. I never meant to let you down. I promise from here on out I’ll do better. I should have know you were getting sick. If I could be sick for you, or run to the moon and back to make you feel better, I would.”

I suck in a fast breath, and that’s when Zander calls out to me.

“Sam,” he says quietly.

I back up, poke my head into the room. “Hey,” I say softly, as he tucks Daisy into her small pink convertible bed that is so adorable.

“Chickenpox,” he says quietly.

“Oh no!”

“Quinn bathed her and put calamine on the sores, but Daisy was crying to come home. She likely got them at the daycare.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

He shakes his head and tucks in his sleeping daughter. “No. I might have to bath her again in cool water if she wakes up itchy, and Quinn left the lotion for me.” He stands and scrubs the back of his neck. “I can’t believe I didn’t notice the signs.”

I cross the room and put my arms around him. “Hey, chickenpox can come on fast.”

“She had a small bump on her back. I noticed it when she was in her bathing suit at Quinn’s, but I thought it was a bug bite.”

“Easy mistake,” I say, and lead him from the room. We go back downstairs and he slumps onto the sofa. He rests his head on the cushions and closes his eyes. As I look at him, it occurs to me that he’s always taking care of everyone in his life…but who’s taking care of him?

I grab the remote and flick on the TV. I surf the channels until I come across some scary movie.

One eye pops open. “I thought you didn’t watch scary movies.”

“Never Have I Ever,” I say, and walk into his kitchen. I come back with a slice of pie for each us and the half-empty bottle of wine under my arm. I set everything on the coffee table.

“I’ll grab the glasses,” he says, about to stand.

“No,” I say and push him back down. “Tonight, I’m taking care of you.” I dart back into the kitchen and come back with glasses. I pour wine into both and hand one to him.

“What did I do to deserve this?” he asks, and hold his glass out for a clink.

I look him in the eyes and we tap glasses. “You’re a good dad, Zander.”

He takes a sip and lets out a slow sigh. “Sometimes I wonder.”

“Daisy is one of the happiest girls I’ve ever met,” I tell him. “She’s full of life and love, and compassion.” His smile is soft, and he looks off into the distance like he’s a million miles away. “All kids get the chickenpox sooner or later. Best she gets it over with now.”

“I should have paid more attention to the bump.”

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