Page 78 of Always Be Mine
Andy had always made it a point to make Meri feel special, and she looked forward to his visits. Even last year, she would have been devastated to learn that Andy couldn’t make it. Now, though, it seemed she’d moved into the stage of life where her friends were more important. He wasn’t ready.
Craig couldn’t help but smile, although it made him a little sad to see how fast his little girl was growing up.
There was a giant unicorn piñata hung from the ceiling of the great room. A little boy Craig vaguely recognized from Meri’s class swung a stick around while the unicorn spun wildly on the string, just out of his grasp.
“This is going to end badly.” Chase appeared at his side while he watched from a safe distance. “I will never understand who thought it was a good idea to give children bowlfuls of candy before blindfolding them and handing them a stick.”
Craig laughed at his older brother, but he couldn’t disagree. “Meri insisted on a piñata.” He shook his head. “A purple and pink unicorn, to be specific. I have no idea how Lucy managed it, but she found one.”
Lucy stood in the center of the throng of children. She was calm and composed as she put a hand out to prevent the whacking stick from smacking a child in the head. Craig watched her single-handedly managed the children while keeping a smile on her face throughout.
“She’s pretty incredible.”
Craig nodded.She was fantastic.
“She’s going to deserve some kind of bonus after today.” Chase chuckled. “Isn’t Saturday her day off?”
Craig blinked hard before turning to face his brother. More and more frequently, Craig forgot that Lucy was still thenannyand not his girlfriend.Not yet.Leave it to one of his siblings to bring him back to reality.
“It is her day off.” He nodded. “But she offered to help out. She loves Meri.”
And maybe him, too?
The L word was one that popped up in his head more and more lately, which was crazy, because he’d only known Lucy for a few months and they’d only beentogetherofficially—whatever that meant—for even less time. Hell, they hadn’t even slept together. But he couldn’t fight his feelings. He was falling for her harder and harder every single day.
“I’m glad it’s working out, Craig. I was worried.”
Craig turned away from the chaos in front of him and focused on Chase. “You were worried?”
“Of course I was.” His brother laughed. “We all were. Or I should say, are. This dad shit isn’t easy.”
Craig didn’t know about that. Sure, he’d been pissed at first and if he really thought about it, he was still annoyed that his father had thought he needed help with Meri. After all those years of doing it all on his own, he’d more than proved to everyone that he was an excellent father and he didn’t need—okay, maybe he was still pissed. But he wouldn’t have thought ithard.
“It’s not hard, Chase.” He shrugged. “I was told to hire a nanny, so I did.”
“And that’s that?”
He nodded. “That’s that. We’re a few months in already. Meri’s doing great, Lucy’s…well, Lucy’s awesome. It’s fine.”
Chase shook his head and whistled under his breath. “Yeah, I’m glad you think that now.”
“What? Itisfine. Dad’s getting what he wanted and I’m…” Craig swallowed hard. Apparently, he was still upset about it all. “I’mfine.Compared to Charli, I think I’m getting off easy.”
“What about me?”
It was Craig’s turn to laugh. “All you had to do was stay in town for six months. I would hardly call that a hardship.” He elbowed his brother in the ribs. “Besides, you got to spend those six months with Annie.” He raised an eyebrow. “You can’t tell me that was awful.”
“It was definitely not awful.” Chase winked. “What about you?”
“Annie’s great, but I haven’t spent much?—”
“You know I’m not talking about Annie.” Chase looked at him pointedly. “What’s going on with you and Lucy?”
For a split second, Craig contemplated telling his brother the truth. That he was falling a little bit more in love with his nanny every day that passed. He swallowed hard and did a quick scan of the room. Besides the gaggle of children, all his siblings were in attendance for their favorite niece’s party. Craig took a moment, looking at each of them. Would they understand if he was involved with Lucy? Or would they freak out? It was hard to tell how each of them would react. He returned his focus to Chase, who watched him intently. If anyone would understand, it would be his eldest.
Before Craig had the chance to confide in him, he noticed Asher walking in their direction with a handful of beer bottles.
“Every good children’s party needs some adult beverages, am I right?” He handed them each a bottle.
