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?”
