“I can’t believe that Darla is his great-aunt.” Shayna grabs a bonut and clinks it with the next one I grab.
“Do you think she knew?” Alyssa gets up and adds some ice to her latte.
“Knew what?”
“That you’re Evie’s nanny and Tyler’s neighbor.”
I shake my head and then pause, wondering if it’s possible. I do remember telling Darla about my annoying next-door neighbor…but I never mentioned his name. “No, I don’t think she knew. Although, I’m sure she would have put the puzzle pieces together by now if Tyler told her who I am.”
“It’s so romantic how he started using headphones for his morning workouts.” Shayna tilts her head to the side with a dreamy sigh. “Don’t you think, ladies?”
My friends nod like bobbleheads.
“I’m going to be winning that bet in no time.” Alyssa grins.
Shayna eats another bonut. “Not if I beat you to it.”
I scoff. “There’s no wayanyof you are winning that bet because I’m not going to fall in love with Tyler Reed.”
“We’ll see about that.” Mallory gets up and microwaves her latte. It kills me a little, knowing it will likely make the coffee taste more bitter from the rapid heating.
“Why are y’all so set on the idea that we’ll fall in love?” I ask.
“Point number one: You’re beautiful, and he’s handsome.” Alyssa shrugs like this is all common knowledge.
Mallory pulls her mug from the microwave and walks back to the table. “Point number two: There are literal sparks between you and Tyler. All it will take is the tiniest amount of fuel to turn those sparks into a roaring inferno.”
I shake my head at how ridiculous it all sounds.
“It’s true.” Shayna pats my arm. “And point number three: He’s different than you originally thought. He brings his aunt flowers and takes in his niece for three months at the drop of a hat. Not to mention the headphones thing. Since he’s not the jerk you thought he was, there’s nothing to hold you back from falling now.”
Hearing my friends speak my thoughts from last night into existence is slightly terrifying.
“Fine, I’ll say it.” I groan, and all my friends press in, leaning forward on their elbows. “Tyler’s hot. Like hotter-than-the-average-human-should-behot. But it doesn’t mean I’m going to fall for him.”
“We’ve still got time.” Shayna fist bumps Alyssa.
Mallory nods. “But boy, does Tyler have his work cut out for him.”
Alyssa raises her mug in the air. “To Kelsey falling in love, buying a nice espresso maker, and making us lattes for a month.”
“Hear, hear.” Mallory and Shayna raise their mugs to meet hers.
I grab the rest of the bonuts and berry compote from the middle of the table. “Just for that, I’m not sharing the rest of these.”
“So, are you going to make out with him when he gets home from work on Monday?” Mallory crosses her legs, looking like she’s thoroughly enjoying all this. “Get it out of your system?”
“That’s a definite no. Honestly, I don’t know how I’ll get through the next two months nannying for him. I feel like it’s going to be awkward after our non-date.”
“Why don’t you just quit?”
I bite my bottom lip. There are two reasons I couldn’t quit. One: I would never want to do that to Evie. She’s already dealing with her mom being out of the country and living in a new house. She needs some stability right now. Two: I need the generous paychecks.
Shayna takes a sip of her latte. “What are you not telling us?”
I bite my lip. “There might be something I’ve been saving up for a while now.”
“You mean the real reason you had four jobs?” Alyssa raises a perfectly manicured brow. “Well, two now. But one of which pays you extremely generously.”
