“Let me tell the story,” Paige says. “And she flashed three hot firefighters. They were basically arguing over who got to ask her out.”
Paige is misremembering because they most certainly did not fight over me.
By the time she gets to the part where my tits are streaking across the glass, Baylee can’t breathe because she’s laughing so hard. “You poor thing. Are you traumatized?”
“Yes. I’m never climbing through an awning window again.”
Paige elbows her friend. “And now she works for the hot dad next door whose daughter she saved.”
“Trust me when I say that Nick Silva isn’t interested.” Because ever since we had lunch together, he’s back to being stoic and grumpy. And he hired another nanny so I could ‘have more free time to date and socialize.’
Which is fine. Totally, totally fine.
He said he wants to have more people Hazel is comfortable with in case one of us gets sick. I completely understand that. I just wish it didn’t feel like I wasn’t enough.
“Shut up.” Baylee’s mouth drops open. “You’re the nanny for that hot-as-fuck Bronco quarterback? I saw a football commercial last week where he was running in slow motion and his thick hair was kinda sweaty. I think I drooled a little.”
“He’s not that good-looking,” I quip, but then she smirks at me, and I laugh. “Okay, fine. He’s hot.”
“Are you making a play for him? Because if I were in your shoes, I’d totally be like, ‘Oh, my, Nick, you’re so big and strong. Look at your enormous muscles. Can I touch them?’”
We all crack up because she’s being ridiculous. “He has a girlfriend,” I remind everyone.
Paige tilts her head. “Really?”
“Doesn’t he? I thought he was dating that girl Larissa, the beautiful redhead who was all, ‘Daddy Silva, you scrumptious man, you.’”
That’s why I took the job. Because he’s taken, and I refuse to fall for a guy who’s in a relationship. It’s a solid cornerstone in my emotional wall, which I need. Because I’m starting to realize I have a type, and Nick Silva is one hundred percent the kind of guy I go for. I need safeguards in place so I don’t do something stupid like fall in love with him.
My roommate snorts. “I forgot about Larissa.” She takes a sip of the margarita we made earlier. “Are you sure they’re still together? Because I never see him with anyone except the babysitters.”
Baylee chuckles. “It’s always the nanny. Anytime a celebrity cheats, it’s the nanny. That’s why if I ever marry a professional athlete, we’re getting an old hag to watch the kids.”
“Solid plan.” I hold up my drink in agreement.
“Abby, are you the only babysitter?” Baylee asks as she foils another strand of my hair. “How do you balance that with classes?”
“Denise watches Hazel in the mornings, takes her to preschool, picks her up. I cover a few afternoons a week and every other Saturday, and since I only have class in the mornings, it works well. Cadence will be covering the other afternoons and Saturdays.”
“Who’s Cadence? Is she new?” Paige asks.
“He just hired her. She’s super pretty and cooks gourmet.” I met her briefly when she came over to interview with Nick as I was leaving. “I’m totally not jealous that all I can make is sandwiches.”
Cooking just isn’t in my wheelhouse. I can bake okay—with a box recipe, which probably doesn’t count—but I always manage to mess up anytime I try to do more.
But the thing that really tweaks my jealousy is that Cadence was the runner-up on the last season of The Nanny Whisperer, which means she must be amazing.
That reminds me... “Paige, do you know a cheerleader named Tiffany? She’s really pretty, but…” How do I say she’s the meanest girl I’ve ever met?
“She’s a straight-up bitch? Yes, unfortunately, I do know her. She’s co-captain of the squad. Her family donated an insane amount of money to the school, so even though she’s always stirring up shit, we have to put up with it.”
“She came in to the diner a few weeks ago and sat with the football guys. She was so rude and snarky.” If I’m being honest with myself, I’m still bothered that she had her paws all over Nick.
Maybe it’s good that he’s back to being distant and grumpy.
By the time Baylee finishes my cut and color, she blow-dries it until every strand is straight and sleek.
“I never blow-dry my hair,” I confess. “You’re spending so much time on me, and I’m just going to put it in a bun later.” I can see it now. A big bun, a giant mug of coffee, my Scrabble tiles that I sometimes like to touch and rearrange, and a good romance novel. My idea of heaven. Maybe I’ll splurge on some new annotation tabs or highlighters. There’s nothing I love more than tabbing my favorite parts in a book.
