Page 27

CARSON

This has got to be the grossest night of my life.

Alcohol puke smells very different to whatever the hell is coming out of Zoey tonight. It’s taking maximum effort to keep my dinner down, and when Nylah leaves the room to make a call, I quickly snatch the bowl and pull it closer, worried I’m gonna have to play Catch the Chunks all by myself.

Zoey is listless against me. She’s getting weaker after each session, and worry is gnawing at me like termites, feasting on my stomach and making me feel sick.

I may not want to live with the little thing, but if anything happens to her, I’m not sure I’ll get over it.

Okay, fine. I like her.

She’s adorable and funny and cute and… I don’t mind so much when she crawls onto my lap.

“It’s not that bad,” I whisper, pressing my lips against her curls. “You’re not really a pain in the ass, and I’m getting used to having you around. So just… get better, you know? Don’t… don’t get super sick on me, okay?”

My throat gets thick and clammy as she whimpers in her sleep.

“Mommy,” she rasps, and I look at the door, willing Nylah to come back so she can at least be a female presence in the room.

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.

I glance at the two women together. They look so different, yet there’s something about them that vibes. They’ve both carried their share of shit, but they walk like the world doesn’t weigh a fucking ton.

There’s something weirdly attractive about it.

Clenching my jaw, I look to the ground, gripping the back of my neck and wondering if I should disappear to my room.

Until I hear Zander offering to drive Nylah home.

“I got it.” I ping straight, no doubt giving myself away.

I try to make sure my face is neutral—better yet, a little annoyed. That’s more like me, right?

Dipping my eyebrows, I stare back at Zander’s surprised expression. “You sure?”

“Yeah. I mean, you want to stay with your girls, right? I can do you this favor.” I shrug.

“Or I can just catch an Uber,” Nylah says.

“No,” Zander and I reply in unison before he digs out his keys and throws them to me.

Nylah shares a quick look with Sienna, her lips fighting a grin.

“They’re protective here,” Sienna explains. “You just have to go with it.”

Shaking her head, Nylah lets out a soft snicker and says her goodbyes before grabbing her stuff and trailing me downstairs.

Finally, I can get her alone again.