Page 74 of Not Until I Found You

Raine’s face softens. “If you’re too⁠—”

Across the island, Ryland’s eyes practically bug out of his head as he shoots his wife a look—one that says canceling their weekend plans is absolutely not an option.

I hold up both hands before Raine can finish the sentence.

“I promise I’m okay. Plus, I’ll give Annabelle so much sugar while she’s here that we’ll both end up crashing for a nap later.”

Ryland’s jaw ticks the tiniest bit, and a deep chuckle escapes me. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” I add before giving Annabelle a wink.

“Annabelle.” Ryland bends down so he’s on her level. “Promise me that you won’t eat too much sugar while you’re at Uncle Z’s house. If you end up with an upset stomach, it’ll ruin the rest of your weekend. And I want you to have so much fun.”

“I promise,” she says solemnly, crossing her heart.

Raine steps in beside him and places a hand onto Annabelle’s shoulder. “She will. Zane always takes good care of her.”

“I do. You two get out of here already, and go enjoy your weekend together.”

Ryland hesitates for a moment before reaching his arms out to wrap his daughter into a hug. He whispers something into her ear before smirking at me. As Raine bends down to wrap Annabelle into a hug, Ryland extends a hand out toward me, and I give it a shake.

“Thanks for keeping her for us.”

“Of course.” I bring him in for a hug and whisper, “I promise everything will be okay. Now leave already.”

“Alright, alright.” He holds his hands up in surrender, but I see the twinkle in his eyes. "Have fun, you two."

We wave as their vehicle backs out of the driveway, and the moment they’re out of sight, I turn and attack Annabelle with tickles.

“Now that they’re gone,” I say between tickles, “the party can officially begin.”

“Party time!” she shrieks, her laugh piercing straight into my ear.

“Careful. My ears are fragile.”

She squints at me in a way that’s far too mischievous for someone her size. “And I know exactly what we should do.”

That should’ve been my warning.

Annabelle drops to the floor, yanks open her backpack, and pulls out a large nail polish kit that has every color imaginable, layers of glitter, rhinestones, and stickers shaped like stars and tiny hearts. Ryland’s smirk makes more sense now.

“Daddy said you’ve been needing a manicure,” she says sweetly.

“Oh, did he now?”

Before I can even form a protest, she’s already steering me toward the living room.

“Come on, just trust me,” she says over her shoulder.

“That’s exactly what worries me,” I mutter, stumbling a little as she nudges me onto the couch. As I take a seat, Annabelle rushes into my bedroom, and a second later, she tosses something soft at my chest.

“Put that on.”

I glance down at the black robe bundled in my hands and look up right as she hands me a bright-pink headband.

I shake my head. “Oh, absolutely not.”

“Oh, absolutely yes,” she counters, stepping closer before I can dodge her. She stretches the band between her hands and slides it up over my hair, pushing it back from my face with far too much satisfaction. “There. Adorable.”

“I bet I look ridiculous.”