Page 42 of Lost and Lassoed

“Sure,” I said.

“Really?”

“Really.”

At that, Riley flew down the hallway. Once she was out of sight, Teddy let out a laugh, and I looked over at her. “Funny girl,” she said.

“She’s something, that’s for sure.” I heard rummaging in the hall closet, and a small “Aha,” before Riley returned with the last game I was expecting: Twister.

“We have to go to the living room immediately.”

“Immediately?” Teddy asked. I think she was enjoying this.

“Immediately,” Riley said, and then looked at me. “Hop to,” she said, face expectant, and I laughed—a big loud laugh. This kid was like a sponge, soaking up everything she heard, even when I often have no idea where she’d heard it.

“All right,” I said on a chuckle. “I’m hopping to. Teddy?”

“Also hopping to,” she said as she pushed her chair back from the table. Riley ran to the living room like a possessed track star and had already laid out the mat by the time Teddy and I got there.

“Do you guys know how to play? My dad probably does, because Sara said this game is old.”

Ouch. Teddy snorted and said, “I might be too young for this one, then.” Fucking liar. “So you’ll have to explain it to me.”

Riley was bouncing on the balls of her feet. “It’s easy,” she said to Teddy, who was listening so dutifully to my daughter that it made me rub my chest. “Two of us will play and one of us will be the spinner. You have to do what the spinner says, and if you fall, you lose.” Riley finished with a firm nod.

“Got it,” Teddy said with a mock salute. “I’ll be the spinner first.”

Riley and I got situated by the mat, and Teddy sat cross-legged with the cardboard spinner in her hands.

“You sure you’re ready, August?” she said. “Do you need a few minutes to stretch? Limber up a little?”

“Spin the fucking arrow, Teddy.” I rolled my eyes.

“You’re not supposed to say ‘fucking,’ Dad,” Riley said, and I had to bite back another smile. I shot Riley the sternest look I could muster, and I watched the lightbulb go on in her head. “Oh,” she said. “I’m not supposed to say that either.”

“Looks like we’re both in trouble this time, Sunshine,” I said with a shrug. I was feeling weirdly…light tonight.

“Sorry, Dad,” Riley said looking down at her toes. They were covered in mismatched socks. I couldn’t win them all—especially when it came to laundry.

“I’m sorry too,” I said. “You ready to play?” Riley’s smile came back and she nodded. I looked over at Teddy. “All right, Andersen, do your worst.”

“Right foot red,” she said. Easy enough. I put my right foot on a red circle. “Left hand blue.” I bent over and put my left hand on a blue circle. Riley did the same. After staying like that for more than a few seconds, I wondered if maybe I should’ve stretched after all—Christ.

Teddy called out a few more colors and limbs. Everything was good until I somehow ended up practically doing the splits and lost my balance when I had to put my stupid right hand on green.

I went down, and Riley let out a whoop and a laugh. I landed right next to Teddy’s legs. When I looked up at her, she was smiling.

“Winner gets to spin!” Riley said. Teddy handed her the spinner and stood up. She reached her hand out to me, and I took it without thinking and she helped me up off the floor.

It took me a few seconds to register that if Riley was calling out the moves, then Teddy and I would be playing.

Suddenly I was very aware of how little Teddy was wearing—black running shorts and a tank top.

She caught me looking at her—dragging my gaze up and down her body. “Ready, Daddy?” she said, with a look that was both fierce and playful—like a lion.

I swallowed. Hard. My mouth was too dry to call her out on the Daddy thing. Heat was already rushing through me, and it took every bit of focus I had to cool things down.

“Right foot blue,” Riley called out, and Teddy and I moved at the same time. We were at opposite ends of the mat, which was a small mercy.

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