Page 65 of The Surprise Play

“Carson and Nylah are out tonight, baby.” Sienna takes Zoey’s hand and gives it a little kiss.

“Date night,” Zander fills in.

“They’ve got some making up to do, I guess.” I grin at my friends, stoked that Carson finally got his shit together and didn’t lose the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

“Me want day.” Zoey touches her chest. “Zoey day nigh’.”

Sienna grins, smoothing her hand over Zoey’s curls before glancing at Zander.

His smile is all mush as he leans around his girlfriend and tells their daughter, “I’ll take you out, Lil’ Bug. Just you and me. We can go on a daddy-daughter date.”

She perks up, grabbing her plastic spoon and announcing, “And me want day Kai too.”

“What?” Zander frowns.

“Zoey day Kai,” she explains like this is so freaking obvious.

She’s become pretty good friends with a few kids in Nolan, and her top favorites are Kai and Dayton. Sienna and Kai’s mom are around the same age, and they’ve been hanging out quite a bit, plus Kai’s dad would bring him around when he was working on the garage renovations.

Sienna starts to grin, sharing a wink across the table with me.

I take the pasta bake from Tyrell and scoop some onto my plate while Zander shakes his head and pops Zoey’s balloon with gusto. “No way, kid. You’re not going out with some boy until you’re at least twenty-five.”

“No, Daddy!” Zoey laughs.

“Yes, little girl.”

She shakes her head, still laughing like he’s crazy. “Zoey day Kai.”

Sienna snorts, then slaps a hand over her mouth and starts giggling as well.

Zander shoots her a side-eye and mutters, “Thanks for the support, Sparks. Now our daughter’s gonna berunning around town with some boy who is two years older than her.”

This only makes her laugh harder, and soon I’m snickering, too, though when Zander’s eyes shoot across the table to meet mine, I give him a solemn nod.

There’s no way in hell some guy is touching our Zoey.

Whoever is brave enough to eventually date that girl… yeah, I feel sorry for him already.

There’s not one man in this house who wouldn’t give everything to keep her safe. And even when we all move out and end up wherever we do, that policy will still stand. I’ll fly as many miles as I have to for my little cowgirl. And everybody at this table knows it.

“So, boys, how was practice?” Sienna asks once we’ve all dished out our meals.

Zander launches into a detailed rundown, and I chime in with a few comments, in between pulling faces at Zoey and making her giggle.

Tyrell starts talking strategy with me for the upcoming game, and Grady…

He doesn’t say a damn thing.

I scrape my plate, sharing a look with Zander before stuffing the last of the garlic bread into my mouth. He gives me a subtle headshake, and we both eye our morose friend.

He doesn’t seem to notice, which is so out of character for the guy. He’s sharp as a tack most of the time, but ever since the winter dance, he’s been off.

My guess is that something has gone down with Teah. Have they broken up?

I kind of want to ask, but when Tyrell tried last week,he got a quiet, icy pushback. “None of your fucking business.”

Tyrell and I were both so shocked by his grumpy-ass response that neither of us said anything as he stalked out of the kitchen.