What the hell is wrong with me? Everything was great until I saw her talking with Story. Piper doesn’t try to impress me, and she’s interested in what my daughter’s saying. That’s…fuck, it feels better than anything. And yet I looked at her as if she just blocked my penalty kick. Damn. I need my routine back as soon as possible. It’ll help me sort out my thoughts. It always does.
Growing up, I loved playing football. Practicing my dribbling skills any chance I got, passing long and short, driving my friends nuts with my constant desire to be the best of the best, refusing to settle for anything less. It was my whole life, my personality, and I couldn’t imagine my future without it. Right up until I caught my dad talking to one of his friends, a big LA Lakers fan. I was nine years old when the dude decided to mock my love for football. You should’ve made Hunter join the basketball team. What’s the point of soccer if it’s not big here? He’ll never be famous.
Famous, my ass. I couldn’t care less about fame, and I was disappointed and angry that my dad said nothing. As if silently agreeing with his friend.
It affected me so much that I barely played for a whole month, slacking at practice and letting my coach roast me for my behavior. I lost my motivation. If my own father didn’t think I could achieve something, why should I bother at all? Why work so hard if no one notices it? But I was wrong. There were people who watched me. People who noticed. People who knew I had the potential to make a name for myself. And one of them was my mom.
I still remember the day she came to pick me up from another disastrous practice. In the backseat of her car, I was trying to avoid her questions and her penetrating gaze. But the woman needed answers, and she wasn’t buying my bullshit anymore. She wanted to know the reason for my downfall, and I told her everything.
Four months after that talk, my mom and I were on our way to Spain. She gave up her career to help make my dreams a reality. A new country and a new language were a whiplash to the brain, but she was there for me through thick and thin. She’s my biggest supporter, and she’s also the only person who’s always told me the truth about my skills, failures, and strengths. I’ll be forever grateful to her for everything she did for me. Heck, the Ballon d’Or that proudly sits on a shelf in my parents’ living room is hers too. Her sacrifices, her support and help, her love and faith in me made me who I am today.
“Daddy, you’re not going to believe what Piper and I are going to do tomorrow.” Story runs into the room, interrupting my thoughts and bringing me back to the present.
“Story, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, okay?” Piper follows her into the room with a timid smile on her face. Our eyes meet, and I tilt my head, encouraging her to continue. “I thought of something that might be fun for us to do tomorrow, and I told Story about it. But I warned her we’ll only do it if it’s okay with you.”
“And she’s already assumed I’ll be okay with it,” I say as my daughter climbs onto my lap. She winds her hands around my neck, looking me in the eyes without blinking. Oh hell no! There’s no way I’m agreeing to something without knowing the details. “Story, what did we agree on when we moved here?”
“That we’ll always talk about things we want to do.”
“And do you know about my plans for tomorrow? About my plans for your day?”
She instantly starts to sulk, knitting her brows together and looking up at me from under her eyelashes. Definitely her mother’s daughter. “You said you’d be gone for most of the day, and when you’re back we’re going to dinner with Granny and Grandpa.”
“Glad you remember.” I kiss the tip of her nose, and her lips stretch into a smile, even if she’s still trying to pout. Slowly, I lock eyes with Piper. She’s still standing near the couch with her hands hidden in her pockets. “Sit, Piper.”
Something flickers behind her irises, and I frown. I have no idea what she thinks of me or this arrangement. She likes my daughter, and she’s genuinely happy to spend time with Story. But with me? She’s careful and hesitant. She’s not trying to befriend me; she keeps her distance and stays professional. So far, I’m the only one who’s acted like a perv. I need to fix it. The last thing I need is her thinking I’m lusting after her.
“Please.”
She twirls a strand of her hair around her finger and finally does as I say, lowering herself onto the couch beside me.
“Are there any errands we need to run? Anything we need to do while you’re away?” she asks.
“Not tomorrow,” I tell her. “I want you to spend the week getting to know Story and getting used to the house. Use this time to find out about my daughter’s likes and dislikes, about her food preferences. She doesn’t have any allergies, but she’s a picky eater.”
“Piper knows I love strawberries and cocoa with marshmallows,” Story exclaims, and I smile.
“Unfortunately, baby, that’s not enough to keep you hydrated and well-fed, but it’s enough to win you over.”
Piper shrugs, smiling at me. “I’m not entirely sure I’ve won her over yet, but it earned me some points.”
“Definitely some points,” I tease her, wrapping my arms around my daughter. Story presses herself closer to me and leans her head on my chest. “School starts next week, so hopefully we can settle into our routines before that.”
“Everything’s going to be fine as long as we work as a team.” Piper shifts her gaze to Story, and the corners of her eyes soften. “Will you be on my team?”
“You will be on my team,” Story corrects her, and we both burst out laughing. It’s impossible to stay serious when she says things like that. “Dad, you and I are going to make the best team in the world.”
“Just one thing, baby. I’m afraid your uncle will be upset if you don’t include him,” I say, making Story giggle.
“Uncle Hayden doesn’t need to know. It’s a secret team.” Piper winks at me, and I shake my head. That’s what I get for agreeing to hire my brother’s best friend. She’s playful and full of mischief—of course she gets along with Story.
“Definitely,” I confirm, and my daughter yawns. “It’s time to go to bed, sweetie.”
“But Dad—”
“No buts. It’s past your bedtime.”
“Sorry about that,” Piper mutters under her breath, and I glance at her. “I should’ve gotten here sooner.”
“Didn’t I say it was okay?” I ask her, and she smiles at me weakly. “I’ll put Story to bed, and I would be grateful if we could talk for a bit after that.”
“Sure, I’ll wait for you here.” She nods curtly and focuses her gaze on my daughter. “Good night, Story. See you tomorrow.”
“Good night, Piper,” my daughter murmurs.
Story is in her bed, tucked under her Princess Elsa blanket. The lights are off, and I’m sitting on the floor with my phone. I have a few emails from my agent and the team representative, and I know tomorrow is going to be one hell of a day. Disappointment seeps into my veins, spoiling my mood and making me frown. They want to make a big deal out of me signing my contract, and I can’t say I’m happy about it. I knew that was going to happen, but I’d just hoped to enjoy my freedom more.
“Dad?”
I blink, peering at my daughter.
“Mom was asking me about my new nanny.”
“What did you tell her?”
“I said you hired Piper because I liked her. I told her you let me choose.” She lowers her voice and stiffens. “Mom wasn’t happy about it. She said you shouldn’t have trusted the judgment of a seven-year-old.”
“I also trusted my brother’s judgment, not just yours.” I put my elbows on her bed to get a better look at her face. “Don’t worry about it, honey. You’re going to spend a lot of time with Piper, so you should decide if you want her to be your nanny or not. That’s only fair.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” She smiles, her eyelids fluttering. “I love you so, so much.”
“I love you too.” I plant a kiss on her forehead as she closes her eyes and falls asleep almost instantly.
I wait for another ten minutes and then go to the living room. Piper’s sitting on the couch, typing something on her phone with a focused look on her face. I slowly come closer, and when she notices me she puts her phone on the couch.
“Do you always wait for Story to fall asleep?”
“Always,” I confirm, sitting beside her. “No matter what. If I’m in town, I put her to sleep.”
“Was it hard for her to fall asleep when you weren’t around?” she asks. “My sister is five years younger than me, and I was the one who got her to bed since she was two. Anytime my mom tried, Riley just refused to sleep.”
I can’t help but smile, even if it feels forced. She sounds totally fine with it, while in reality she took her mom’s place when she was a child herself. It’s not right.
“Story didn’t have trouble falling asleep with her mom, or with her babysitters. She just preferred me.”
“No surprise she loves you so much.”
“Yeah, but she loves both of her parents. Not just me.”
“Oh, I figured that out when I first met her. She’s proud to be her mama’s girl.” Piper drops her gaze to her lap, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. “Story told me today you don’t get along with your ex-wife.”
My smile fades, and I grit my teeth. I hate when people pry. I hate nosy motherfuckers with my entire soul, and her words piss me off. Even if she probably doesn’t mean anything by it. She’s just letting me know what my daughter thinks about my relationship with her mom. Still, I don’t appreciate it.
“What happens between me and my ex-wife is none of your business, Piper.”
“I know,” she blurts, looking up and catching my gaze. “Story was sad, and that’s why I wanted to bring it up.”
“It’s not something you have to worry about. I didn’t hire you to be my therapist. You’re just a nanny.” And now I sound like an asshole.
“I’m just a nanny,” she echoes, setting her jaw hard. “It’s late, so if you don’t have anything else to discuss regarding my job, I’d prefer to go to my room.”
“I hope I made myself clear, and—”
“I’m just a nanny, Mr. Hale. I’m aware.” She grabs her phone from the couch and stands up. “Is there anything else?”
Is she going to be this difficult any time we don’t see eye to eye?
“Did you get the notes about Story’s schedule and her preferences? I sent them to the email address you gave me.”
“I did. I printed them out to make sure I remember everything.” Piper takes a step back, hiding her hands behind her. “Can I go now?”
“Sure.”
She storms into the hallway, holding her head high and her shoulders squared. She’s pissed, and I sigh, closing my eyes.
I thought it might be awkward after she caught me staring at her breasts. It might be uncomfortable. But I never thought it would be so unpleasant. This little out-of-nowhere argument messed up everything, turned the atmosphere between Piper and me into a real Unpleasantville. Exactly what I fucking needed.
