Page 3

CHAPTER 3

SIENNA

I check on Zoey, smiling as I watch her create mountains of sand in the sandpit. She loves doing that. I should be over there playing with her, but my phone keeps buzzing with texts from Russell, and I don’t like to be on my screen the whole time I’m with her. I want her to see me present, not distracted on my phone and think that’s normal.

She seems content in her own imagination right now, so I glance back down at my screen and read Russell’s latest text. I want to wrap up this conversation so I can get back to my daughter, but I can’t just go ignoring him because the last time I did that, he got all worried and came to find us, wondering why I wasn’t replying to his messages.

Apparently, turning off my phone while I’m out and about is not okay .

Rusty: David Attenborough is legendary. If I wasn’t a hockey coach, I’d totally become a wildlife photographer.

I raise my eyebrows. Two very different jobs, but whatever.

Russell’s been playing hockey for as long as I’ve known him. He’s wanted to be a coach since he was fourteen years old. Getting this job at Nolan U was the biggest win for him. It’s his first year being an assistant coach of a college team. He spent his first two years out of college coaching a high school team in Nebraska and teaching PE. When this job came up, he couldn’t apply fast enough. He’s moved his whole life here, even bought a house. I think he’s hoping it’ll lead to a more senior coaching position.

He’s capable, although sometimes I think he acts like he’s the senior coach already, and I’m sure the players don’t love that. But it’s not like I can say anything. What the hell do I know about hockey? I’m more of a football girl, which Russell hassles me about constantly. But I’m not giving up on it.

I fell in love with football my junior year of high school, and I’ve followed it ever since.

The Broncos are my pro team, but I actually enjoy watching college ball more.

My insides twist as I try not to think about the reasons why. How every time I sit down to watch a college game, I’m not eyeing every player, wondering if it could be Zander.

He plays for Kelsey U, and I’m smart enough never to watch any games in that division, so why the hell do I think he’ll be on some other team?

Yes, I really am insane.

I glance up and spot Zoey, still happily playing, while I try to decide how to tactfully end this text conversation. I don’t want to be rude. The guy is letting me live with him, which is saving me bucketloads of money. My parents gifted me my college account when Zoey was born. They could sense how much I wanted to stay home and raise my little girl. I haven’t had to use to much of it yet, as they’ve been generous beyond reason, but they’re away right now, and I’m having to dip into that account on the regular. Living rent-free is a huge help, and I have to be nice to my provider, right?

Russell obviously thinks I’m lonely hanging out at the park with my daughter and is trying to keep me entertained.

But I’m at a crowded playground. Why would I be lonely?

My gaze shifts to the group of moms chatting near the swings. Two of them are holding coffees and laughing about something, while the other one pushes her son on the swings and chips into the conversation when her other kid isn’t shouting at her to “Watch me, Mom! Watch!”

The mothers all look to be in their late twenties/early thirties. And here’s me, only twenty-one, just a baby myself compared to those around me. They probably think I’m a nanny or babysitter.

Shit.

My phone rings and I eye up Zoey, noticing her chatting with a man holding a football .

Crap. She is always talking to strangers. I watch her carefully as I gather our stuff and answer the call.

“Hey, Rusty. What’s up?”

“Just checking on my Zoey girl. Does Mommy need backup? I can pause my doco and come join you guys.”

“No, that’s okay.” I try to keep my voice bright and not let it bother me how he always refers to Zoey as his. “I’m just about to head back anyway. Zoey’s due for a nap soon, and?—”

“You don’t want to miss that window. Got it. I’ll see you soon, then.”

“Okay, see ya.” With a little frown, I shove my phone into my back pocket and check on Zoey again.

She’s still talking to that guy. Seriously, she’s going to be the biggest flirt when she’s a teenager. God help me!

“Zoey!” I call, snatching her drink bottle off the bench and shoving it into the stroller.

“Mommy!” she calls back, and my heart smiles like it always does when I hear her voice.

“Hey, baby girl! Time to go!” I try to keep my tone bright. She doesn’t need to know that thoughts of Russell and what my parents said and how he behaves are making my skin itch. I should be happy and grateful that Russell loves Zoey so much, that he cares enough to let us live in Nolan with him. The guy is twenty-five. He’s a young bachelor and could be living it up, but he’s choosing to be Unca Russy to a two-year-old and putting up with restless nights, the odd tantrum, and a chaotic house.

Yeah, you really should be so grateful.

Hitching the diaper bag onto my shoulder, I push the stroller toward my little girl, pulling out my phone one more time and rereading Russell’s text, trying to find my happy feels before I get back home to him.

Be grateful, Sienna. Because of him, you don’t have to live on your own while your parents are away.

My chest pinches as I send a smiley face emoji back to his “see you soon” GIF, and it hits me yet again that I can be as grateful as I want, but that doesn’t change the truth.

Russell’s not Zander.

And even though I don’t want Zander in our lives… it doesn’t change the fact that if I was returning home to a man who owns my heart the way Zander did, I’d be a lot happier to go back there.

But that’s never going to happen, now is it?

With a heavy sigh, I slide my phone into my back pocket and walk toward Zoey, but my steps quickly falter.

I jerk to a stop, my lips parting as I take in the man standing next to my daughter.

Shit. His daughter.

No.

What the hell is he doing here?

This… no… no!

Zander blinks, staring at me like he’s seeing a ghost.

Why is he in Nolan right now?

Why isn’t he at Kelsey U where he’s supposed to be?

He blinks again, his expression buckling like he can’t believe I’m real.

Shit. Shit. Shit!

This is bad.

Zander Donohue is standing six feet away from me.

Six feet!

I never thought I’d see him again, and now he’s here. In Nolan .

What the fuck is he doing in Nolan?

My heart starts to thunder, my body frozen as Zoey shouts, “Mommy!” with her usual glee. I can’t even smile in response.

Zander’s eyes bulge, his skin paling as he watches Zoey run toward me. I scoop her up, perching her on my hip, my eyes still glued to the one person I swore I’d never speak to again.

But there he is.

He looks stronger, more manly somehow.

He’s still just as gorgeous as he was back then. Dammit.

Anger flares through me as I gaze at that face I used to trace with my fingers, my lips.

He held my heart in the palm of his hand… and then he closed his fist and squeezed the life right out of it.

“Sparks.” He whispers my nickname, and I…

I can’t!

I can’t do this with him.

I don’t want that thrill of desire dancing through me when I hear his voice.

I don’t want anything to do with him!

But does he know I’m holding his daughter? The little girl I never told him about? The little girl he didn’t deserve to know about?

Shit, I have to get out of here.

He shifts toward me, and my head is shaking before I can stop it.

“Nope!” Snatching the stroller handle, I spin in the opposite direction and start running like I’m being chased by a masked gunman.

Zoey giggles, thinking I’m playing a game and clinging to my shirt while her body jostles against mine. “Fasser, Mommy. Fasser.”

“Sienna!” Zander shouts behind me, and I pick up my pace.

“Faster. Mommy’s going faster.” My voice is trembling, and thank God Zoey doesn’t seem to notice. She giggles again, loving this game while I fight a wave of panic.

This can’t be happening.

This cannot.

Be.

Happening!