Page 59 of Pucking Daddy

11

ZARA

Boundaries Obliterated

It’s game day, and it’s media day—but before we deal with any of that, we have something else to do.

And I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous about a conversation in my life.

Jaxon stands next to me in the living room, arms crossed, looking like he’s about to walk into a press conference instead of talk to a six-year-old.

“Your pacing is making me nervous,” I murmur.

He exhales, but there’s no real bite to it. “You’re not exactly calm either.”

Rude.

I smooth my sweaty hands over my jeans. “I’m perfectly calm.”

Before we can argue further, we hear the telltale thud of small feet running down the hallway.

Lily has been busy with Mrs. Henriksen, working on some secret dragon craft project in her room.

“Hey!” Lily calls, skidding into the room. “Can we watch something? Or—” she spots us both just standing there, “—why are you… standing?”

Jaxon and I exchange a look.

Here we go.

“Hey, bug,” he says, his voice shifting instantly, softer. “Come sit with us for a second, okay?”

She squints at him. “Am I in trouble?”

“No,” we both say at the same time.

She narrows her eyes. “I’m not sure I believe you.”

I almost laugh.

“No trouble,” I reassure her. “We just want to talk to you about something.”

“Okay…” she says slowly, dragging out the word as she climbs onto the couch. “Is this about vegetables?”

“No,” Jaxon says.

“Good,” she mutters.

I sit beside her, Jaxon taking the other side, and suddenly this feels way too serious.

Lily looks between us. “You’re being weird.”

“Thank you for that feedback,” I say.

Jaxon clears his throat. “We just wanted to tell you about something that’s going to change a little bit.”

Her eyes widen immediately. “What kind of change?”

Jaxon glances at me, and I glance back.