Chapter 6 #3
Damn straight. Me = also not an idiot.
He grinned when both women replied with a row of laughing emojis.
Bean
Do they need transportation back from the clinic?
Esme
Negative. I’ll hang out and drive them home.
Xan, I’m staying at the cabin next to yours tonight, so I can give you a lift home from Alvarez’s.
Xander lived in one of the company’s cabins.
After Frazier started the company nearly a decade ago, he’d bought eight acres and built five houses on it.
He’d built the largest for himself, then four smaller cabin-like houses for various employees.
Bean had lived in the one next to Frazier for years, but they had just recently moved in together.
Xander lived in the cabin farthest away from them, and the houses in between were used as needed by various employees who were based off-island.
Sounds good. Also, can you have Alvarez text me his house alarm code? And I’d appreciate it if you don’t mention the ice-cream-before-dinner thing.
Esme
Like they don’t know you spoil that little girl every chance you get.
He scoffed. Granted, his friend wasn’t wrong, but he also wasn’t the only one who spoiled the kid.
Uh, who bought Daisy a giant dollhouse for all her stuffed animals?
Esme
It was for her birthday. She’s turning five. It’s a big deal.
Bean
Riiiiight. Her birthday’s next week and you gave her the dollhouse like two months ago. You’re telling us that you’re going to show up to Daisy’s birthday party next week empty-handed? With no new presents for her?
Nice call, Bean.
Esme
Whatever.
Oh, look. Alvarez’s here. I’ll have him send you his alarm code. And I’ll be sure to ask him what Daisy’s favorite ice cream flavor is too. Just so you have the proper intel.
Bean
Hahaha!
Brat.
He shook his head when a new text from Alvarez came in.
Dude. You have a 16-digit security code for your house? Seriously?
Alvarez
Call me paranoid. And it’s not like you don’t have an equally long code.
Mine’s only 8. 16 is overkill.
Scar and the babies good?
Alvarez
Yes. And thanks for picking up and hanging with Daisy. Please make sure she gets some actual food for dinner as well.
Of course. Chicken nuggets, fries, and NO veggies. Not when she’s hanging with me.
Alvarez
It’s no wonder you’re her favorite.
And I plan on remaining her favorite.
You doing okay?
The three dots danced at the bottom of his screen. They stopped and then danced again.
Alvarez
No. But I will be. I’m just thankful that Scar and the babies are okay.
Anything you need, brother. You let me know.
Alvarez
Thanks, man. Appreciate you.
Xander couldn’t imagine what his friend was going through. Alvarez and Scarlet had already been through so much in their fairly short relationship. He wasn’t quite sure how she’d tempered his grumpy-ass friend, but she had.
He knew Alvarez’s world revolved around Scarlet and Daisy. As it should. His friend was a damn good man, but his family made him even better. Xander just prayed this scare with Scarlet and the twins was just a blip, that they’d be fine, and that it would be smooth sailing from here.
“Xandy?” Daisy asked, looking back at him. “Can we get ice cream now?”
He pocketed his phone and gently slowed her swing. “Sure thing, peanut.”
Once the swing stopped, Daisy hopped off, and he handed her Mr. Slothy. She shoved her stuffy into her coat pocket and held up her right hand.
Smiling, he took her tiny hand in his and twirled her. Daisy’s giggles filled the air as they exited the playground and turned toward the ice cream shop.
“Oh no! I dropped Mr. Slothy!” Daisy exclaimed, tugging her hand out of his and turning back to the playground.
“Here you go, honey,” a woman said. The soft, melodic voice had goosebumps rising on Xander’s arms.
“Thank you,” Daisy murmured but didn’t reach out to take her stuffed animal back from the woman holding it out.
A grin lifted his lips. “Well, hello there, Freya.”
Freya’s ice-blue eyes shot to his, and surprise colored her features. “Oh, Xander. Hi.”
Her gaze ping-ponged between him and Daisy before she crouched down to Daisy’s level. “I think your sloth friend got a little wet.” She brushed off the stuffed animal and held it out to Daisy again. “But I think she’s going to be okay.”
Daisy took a hesitant step forward and reached for her stuffed animal. “Mr. Slothy’s a boy.”
“Oh,” Freya said, grimacing. “I’m so sorry about that, Mr. Slothy.”
Daisy hugged the stuffy to her chest. “He says it’s okay.” The corners of Daisy’s lips kicked up in a small smile as she glanced up at Xander. “But Mr. Slothy’s still kinda sad, so he prolly needs his own scoop of ice cream.”
Xander chuckled. “Oh, does he now?”
She nodded sagely. “We don’t want Mr. Slothy to be sad.” She glanced at Freya. “Right?”
Freya grinned at the sweet little girl and then met his gaze. “Your daughter does have a good point. No sad stuffies.”
Daisy giggled. “Xandy’s not my daddy. Xandy’s my Xandy!”
Freya glanced at him, a hint of confusion in her eyes, and he shrugged. “Honorary uncle.” He placed his hand on the top of Daisy’s head. “Daisy, sweet girl, this is my friend Freya. Freya, this is my best girl, Daisy.”
Freya smiled at Daisy. “It’s nice to meet you, Daisy.”
The little girl smiled shyly at her. “Do you like ice cream?”
Freya nodded. “Even though it’s cold out, ice cream is my favorite.”
“We’re heading to get some now.” He tapped the top of Daisy’s head, and she looked up at him. “Should we invite my friend to join us?”
Daisy’s doe eyes widened. “She saved Mr. Slothy from drowning in the puddle. She should get ice cream for a reward.”
He met Freya’s gaze. “What do you say? Care to join us?”
“Sure,” she said, flashing him a shy smile. A smile that did something to his insides. But he didn’t want to think too hard on that.
They set off toward the ice cream shop, and Freya asked Daisy what flavors she and Mr. Slothy were getting. The walk was filled with Daisy’s little voice debating whether it would be cookies and cream or chocolate.
They entered the shop, and the scent of freshly made waffle cones filled his nose. He wasn’t much of a sweets guy, but for these two ladies, he’d make an exception.
“Xandy,” Daisy called out, lifting her arms.
He scooped her up and set her on his hip, and they perused the ice cream flavors. He gestured for Freya to order first. She went with a scoop of strawberry cheesecake in a waffle bowl.
“What flavor do you want, peanut?” he asked.
Daisy’s lips pursed in thought. “I don’t know. I like chocolate and Oreo.”
“Let’s go with both.” When her eyes went as wide as saucers, he bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. “Do you trust me, kid?”
She nodded, a grin blooming on her cherub face.
He turned to the woman behind the counter. “A scoop of cookies and cream and a scoop of chocolate in a cup for the little lady.”
“Regular scoop or kids’ scoop?”
“Regular,” he said, and then he quickly and silently mouthed kid to the woman.
She chuckled and grabbed the smaller scoop. “And for you?”
“I’ll take a scoop of rocky road in a cup and a waffle cone on the side.”
He caught Freya’s curious look, and he shot her a wink. “Daisy and I have a thing. You’ll see.”
As the woman scooped the ice cream, he moved toward the register. Noticing Freya reaching into her purse, he set Daisy on her feet. “Peanut, why don’t you take Freya and pick out a table for us, okay?”
“Okay!”
“Are you sure?” Freya asked, pulling out her wallet.
“I got this. Besides, it’s your reward for saving Mr. Slothy.”
“Come on, Faya!”
While the two decided on a table, he paid for their ice cream and grabbed the tray with their treats. After distributing the bowls, he picked up the extra waffle cone, wrapped it in a napkin, and placed it in front of Daisy. “Go for it, kiddo.”
With a giant grin, she crushed the cone, keeping it inside the napkin.
“Interesting,” Freya murmured, taking a bite of her ice cream.
He forced his attention to focus on the crushed waffle cone and not the spoon entering Freya’s mouth.
“This isn’t our first ice-cream rodeo together,” he said, sprinkling a third of the crushed cone over Daisy’s ice cream and the rest of the crumbles on his.
“As much as this little lady loves her ice cream and waffle cones, she’s not the fastest eater. ”
“It’s ’cause I’m just a little kid,” Daisy declared, digging into her treat.
The corners of his lips twitched. “Exactly. So we do this instead. Plus, it avoids both ice-cream-melting sadness and brain freeze.”
“Thank you, Xandy,” Daisy said, beaming up at him with chocolate smudged on her face.
He bopped her on the tip of her nose. “You’re welcome, sweet girl.”
“So, Daisy,” Freya said, in between bites. “I really like your dress. Are unicorns your favorite?”
Daisy nodded. Using her spoon, she pointed to a large rainbow unicorn on her purple dress. “This one is my favorite.” Pressing her lips together, her face scrunched. Then she huffed out a sigh that had his own face scrunching.
“Whoa there, peanut. What’s with the big sigh?” It was like she was carrying the weight of the world on her nearly five-year-old shoulders.
She dragged her spoon through her ice cream. “Abby’s brother was at drop-off, and he said my unicorn dress was ugly like my face. He’s mean.”
Everything inside him stilled. What. The Fuck? “Hold up, Daisy. He said what?”
After she repeated herself, her bottom lip popped out, and her big blue doe eyes turned glassy.
Anger roiled in his gut. Hell, no.
He was going to have words with this little fucker. Or at least with the little fucker’s parents. Something. Reining in his anger, he made sure his voice was calm. “What’s this kid’s name?”
“Brock,” she said with a big sniff.
Of course the fucker’s name was Brock. “What’s his last name?”