Page 78 of Love Is Ale You Need

Trey

I dash toward the swing set as I frantically scan the playground. Where did she go? She was just here a fucking second ago. My heart hammers in my chest as a bead of sweat trickles down my spine. Oh fuck. I lost her. I lost Abby.

“Abby!” I race around the playground, searching under the slide. “Abby!” Then my gaze jumps to the rock-climbing wall. I sprint from one side of the playground to the other but I don’t see her anywhere. Rylee is going to kill me. Fuck. I want to kill me. I’ve lost her daughter. My heart pounds in my ears, drowning out all the other sounds around me. I’m going to be a fucking terrible father.

The distinct sound of a sniffle echoes behind me, and I whirl around. A pair of familiar white sneakers with hearts on them catch my attention from inside a wooden train play set. I sprint toward the caboose and duck inside. Abby’s sitting on one side with her face buried in her hands as little sniffles wrack her body.

“Oh shit. There you are!” I shove my large frame through the small opening and sit next to her. I wrap my arms around her shoulders and haul her to me, hugging her tight. “I was so worried. I didn’t know what happened to you. That was one conversation I didn’t want to have with your mom.” I blow out a heavy breath. “Fuck.” Adrenaline still courses through my entire body. “What happened back there? You were swinging and then you just left. I thought something happened.”

She sniffles and wipes her cheeks with the sleeve of her hoodie. Her voice is soft and shaky as she says, “You left me.”

“I had to take a very important phone call. I was coming right back.”

“That’s what my dad always says, and he never comes right back.” She drops her head.

Fuck. I didn’t know that’s what her dad always does. “Look. Abby. I’m sorry. I won’t do that again. Okay?” Her big hazel eyes peer up at me, and she nods. With my back hunched, I rise to my feet, needing to get out of this tiny ass train before claustrophobia takes over, but Abby doesn’t move. Instead, she kicks the toe of her shoe against the wood floor. “What’s wrong?”

“Why doesn’t my dad want to see me? He’s always canceling, or on the phone when we’re together. Now you’re doing it, too. No one wants to play with me.” Her bottom lip juts out as her head droops.

Double fuck. Life never prepares you for those types of questions. I plop down on the wooden bench again. “Honestly, I don’t know. But what I do know is your mom loves you so much and she loves spending time with you. And I enjoy hanging out with you too.”

Her teary-eyed face peers up at me. “You do?

“Hel-heck yeah. We have so much fun together. I’m sorry about earlier. Still want to be my chipmunk?”

She nods and wraps her arms around my waist. I exhale, hugging her tight to me. “We should call the baby acorn.”

“Acorn?”

“Yeah. You’re squirrel, I’m chipmunk, so the baby is acorn.”

“I like it. But does your mom need a name?”

She taps her chin. “Bunny!”

“So, we have bunny, squirrel, chipmunk, and acorn.”

“Yeah!”

“I think that’s perfect. How about I buy us some ice cream and pizza? Then we can go home and play whatever game you want.”

Her eyes light up. “Princess tea party?”

“Uh. Of course. Anything you want.”

“Yay!” Abby jumps to her feet. Before she’s out the side exit, I stop her with a hand on her shoulder.

“One condition. Don’t tell your mom I swore.”

She runs her fingers over her lips like she’s zipping them closed.

“I knew I liked you.” Abby steps outside, and I wiggle my way through the small opening. Once I’m out in the open air, I stretch my arms and neck. Then I follow Abby to my SUV.

After we got home from stuffing our faces with ice cream and pizza, we got through one serving of princess tea party before Abby practically passed out on the floor still wearing her tutu. I tucked her into her bed and turned on her nightlight before softly closing the door behind me. When I’m back in the living room, I throw myself onto the couch. The pink and purple beaded necklaces flop against my chest. Exhausted, I let out a sigh and drop my head heavily against the couch. My scalp tingles as the plastic tiara pulls on my hair. Closing my eyes, I rub my hands firmly down my face. Today could have turned out way differently. I’m glad it didn’t, but now I need to tell Rylee. Time ticks by as I stare at the ceiling as dusk turns to night. My eyelids grow heavy until they fully close.

* * *

The click of the door startles me awake and I jackknife off the couch. The pink plastic tiara falls to the floor and bounces a couple of times before coming to a rest next to the couch. I jump to my feet and see Rylee standing next to the door toeing off her shoes.

---