Page 2 of Riptide

Hudson grins like an idiot. “That’s my girl.”

Rosie lets out a little satisfied sigh, and I swear I can see Hudson physically melt through the screen.

“You’re such a sap,” I tell him.

“No shit,” he agrees easily, still staring at his daughter like she hung the damn moon. “But for real, you’re enjoying the babysitting gig?”

I narrow my eyes. “I prefer ‘nanny.’ It gives me purpose.”

“Oh, my bad. How’s nannying going?”

“Got peed on earlier. That was a fun surprise.”

Hudson barks out a laugh. “Welcome to the club, bro.”

“Yeah, I’ll pass on the membership card.” I shift Rosie in my arms again, as she glugs the last of her milk, glancing at the clock. “I might need to head to the store before you guys are back. I need food that isn’t made of sad vegetables.”

Daphne chuckles in the background. “Can vegetables be sad?”

“They can,” I shoot back. “That fridge is a graveyard of health. Where’s the good stuff? The chips? The leftover pizza?”

“We have hummus,” she offers weakly.

I stare at her. “Did you just say that to me with a straight face?”

Hudson’s trying—and failing—not to laugh when Daphne relents. “Fine. I’ll grab something on the way back. What do you want?”

“Anything that doesn’t taste like disappointment.”

“I’ll take that as a burger and fries,” she says dryly.

“A big-ass burger and fries.”

Daphne salutes me through the screen. “Got it. Alright, we gotta go before Hudson misses his next class and flunks his test today.”

“Excuse you.” Hudson scoffs. “I am agreatstudent.”

Daphne pats his cheek. “I know, baby.”

I roll my eyes at the two of them. “Study real hard, guys. Focus and do whatever it is you do over there.”

“Goodbye, Rosie girl. Bye, Finny boy,” Daphne says before the screen goes black.

Shaking my head, I toss my phone onto the couch. Rosie’s done with her bottle, her tiny fingers curled into my shirt, her breathing slowing.

“Just you and me, kid,” I murmur, shifting her to my shoulder to burp her. “Guess we should find something to do while we wait for the parental unit to return.”

Rosie doesn’t answer, obviously, but she lets out a surprisingly loud burp.

“Atta girl.”

I grin as I stand, bouncing her gently as I make my way to put her bottle in the sink. I might not know what the hell I’m doing with my life, but for now? This, Rosie, lazy mornings, avoiding my problems, isn’t the worst way to pass the time.

Even if I have to suffer through a vegetable-based household.

Chapter two

Foxx