Page 36 of Timelessly Ours
He glances at his trunk. “It can’t be more than a few weeks’ worth—”
“I know.”
“Nicole, this isn’t a temporary gig. This isn’t a ‘until you get back on your feet’, it's—”
“Royce. I snapped at you twice before noon today. You’re going to lose your patience with me. Rory is going to realize I’m not as cool as I appear to be from a distance. I—I could get drunk and come on to you.”
He shakes his head. “That’s ridiculous, Nicole.” He sweeps his eyes over me. “You and I both know you don’t need to be drunk to come on to me.”
I raise a brow and he smirks with a wink. “Come on. I’ll help you with all your bag.”
I chuckle and hop out of his truck.
I heat up meatballs for Rory and me for dinner. Royce had premade them earlier for us and I mashed some potatoes to go with it. Apparently, Rory likes hers cheesy with extra bacon bits, so I pile it on at dinner time.
It’s the first evening I’m alone with her and I do my best to hide my nerves. Jesus, a group of bikers in leather and tats could walk into a bar and I wouldn’t flinch. This tiny little beast walks into a room and I’m practically shaking with anxiety.
“Wow. You really polished those off.”
“The potatoes were extra cheesy,” she says appreciatively.
“You’re welcome.” I stand. “Okay. Come help me clean up and then we’ll check your school folder.”
Ignoring me, Rory jumps off the chair and heads to the den, pulling toys out of the bin.
“Rory,” I call with a little warning in my tone. “Come help me clean up.”
“Aren’t you supposed to do that?”
I laugh. “I’m supposed to be taking care of you and teaching you responsibility is part of that. So, put those away and help me. Just…bring the dishes to the counter for me. That’s all.”
She taps her chin. “No.”
I sigh. “Okay. Carry on.”
After cleaning the kitchen, I meet Rory in the den with her backpack. She didn’t want to look at her homework when we got back this afternoon and I figured she’d already spent the entire day at school, so the kid deserved playtime.`
Then I lost track of time and didn’t start dinner until nearly seven.
I lean against the arched wall of the open room. “Well good news is you don’t have any homework, but your teacher left a note saying you didn’t finish this in class because you were playing.”
She glances at the paper I wiggle in front of her, then looks back at her toys and I’m pretty sure that was an eye roll.
Okaaayyy…
“Why don’t we take a stab at it together? I mean it’s been a while since I’ve been in kindergarten, but I think it might come back to me.” I chuckle.
“Then you start, and I’ll look at it later.”
Taking a breath, I come sit next to her and begin cleaning up her toys.
“I’m still playing,” she shouts.
“It’s almost bedtime and you still need a bath. We’ll have to do your homework instead of reading later.”
She crosses her arms. “You still have to read to me.”
I cross mine. “You still have to do your homework.”
