Page 21 of A Little Crush (The Little Things #6)

She glares up at me. “You need to forward me her background check.”

I nod. “I’ll have it for you as soon as possible.”

It’s another boldfaced lie. What she’ll have is my actual gameplan, once I come up with one.

The woman’s Jimmy Choo taps against the pavement, her nostrils flaring.

I know she wants to lose her shit. Wants to curse me.

Call me names. Do whatever it takes to spread her frustration until it brands my skin, leaving me blistered and angry.

She’s always been this way. Unafraid of hurting feelings or hitting below the belt if it’ll leave her the victor.

When we were married, she’d cool down and apologize, but now that we’re divorced?

Well, I’m pretty sure sorry has left her vocabulary. I lift my chin and wait for the blow.

Instead, she seethes, “Fine.” With nothing left to say, she climbs into the driver’s side of her SUV and slams the door, rousing a sleepy Poppy in the back before she peels out of the parking lot.

A sigh reverberates through my chest as the taillights disappear around the corner, and I turn back to the main building.

Now what do I do?

Rory’s pacing in the front of the massive windows.

I wonder if she knows I can see her. If she cares.

If she regrets her decision to butt into my life without an invitation.

If she’s serious about being my nanny until I find a long-term solution.

She wouldn’t put her life on hold for me, would she?

An image of Poppy on Rory’s lap rises to the surface all over again, and my steps falter as I head past the valet desk and into the main area.

A small part of me wonders if I’ll regret this, too. But there’s no turning back now. Not if I can help it. What I really want to know is the reason why she intervened in the first place. I guess it’s time I find out .

The main doors sliding open is nothing but a whisper but cuts through my racing thoughts like a fog horn as I step inside the quiet lobby area.

Rushing forward, Rory blurts out, “I am so sorry?—”

“Sorry?” I frown and guide her toward the edge of the large open space in search of privacy. Not that there’s really anyone here. It’s not even six in the morning, and everyone’s still asleep, just like how Rory should be. “Why are you sorry?”

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, I swear. It just happened.

I was coming around from the back after an early morning walk because I couldn’t sleep, and then I heard what your ex was saying, and it kind of pissed me off, because like, who talks like that?

And then, before I even knew what was happening, I opened my big fat mouth and my feet were moving like they had a mind of their own and…

” She shoves her hair away from her face.

“I’m so sorry. If I caused any trouble. If I rocked the boat.

If I…I don’t even know. I’m just sorry.”

With a low laugh, I grab her hands to stop her from fidgeting. “You have nothing to apologize for.”

She peeks up at me and rolls her eyes. “Liar.”

“I’m serious, Squeaks. If anything, I should be thanking you for stepping in.” I gulp, realizing how close we’re standing before forcing my grasp to loosen from around her wrists. Shifting back, I murmur, “The question is…what now?”

“Yeah,” she breathes out. “That is, uh, that is the question, isn’t it.”

“At least I have a few extra days to figure out a game plan.”

“Yeah, that’s something.” She looks down at her bare toes. “You don’t think…you don’t think it’s too late to back out?”

I scrub my hand over my face. “Not sure what my other options are. ”

Her nod is slow as she lifts her hand, nibbling on the edge of her thumb before tapping it against her lips.

One, two, three. Pause. One, two, three.

“What is it, Rore?” I ask.

She shakes her head but doesn’t answer.

“Tell me,” I push.

“How…” A sigh slips out of her, and she lowers her hand. “How long have you been looking for a nanny?”

“A couple months now.”

“And no luck.” Her gaze meets mine. “Right?”

“Not yet.” I wipe at the corner of my eye, defeat settling over me. “I know it makes me look like an ass who dropped the ball, but it isn’t easy.”

“I’m not criticizing you. I’m just saying…” She sighs again, like this conversation is the last one she wants to have. “If you’ve been looking for a while now and haven’t had any luck, who’s to say the next few days will be any different?”

“Not sure I have much of a choice in the matter, Rore.”

“I know,” she says. “I just feel bad.”

“Not your problem,” I remind her. “Even if you were nice enough to stick your neck out for me this morning.”

“Anytime.” She forces a smile. “You know that.”

I do. I do know it. Rory’s the most selfless person I’ve ever met. Honestly, I shouldn’t have been surprised in the first place.

“Well, thank you,” I tell her. “I’m gonna head upstairs and see if I can get some more sleep.”

She nods but doesn’t say anything else.

I turn toward the elevator when she stops me.

“What if…what if I don’t back out?”

Convinced I misheard her, I face Rory again. “What?”

“I mean, I graduated with a psychology degree and a minor in child development. It’s not like I don’t know how to take care of a baby.” She twists her fingers in front of her. “At least, for the short term.”

I blink, trying to piece together what she’s talking about.

“What are you saying, Rore?”

“What if, for the short-term and until you find someone stable, I help out? Clearly, you need more time to find someone solid, especially if you’ve already been looking for a while.

” She glances up at me, answering my unspoken question.

“I know you. You aren’t someone to leave something like this to the last minute. How many people have you interviewed?”

“At least a dozen,” I mutter. “Maybe more.”

“Which is the right thing,” she says. “Finding someone you trust to watch over your baby isn’t the same as picking out a candy bar at the store.

” She pauses. “If I help, you’ll have time to interview twice as many prospects until you find the perfect fit.

Maybe I can even sort through some of the applications, since I’m sure you’ll be busy once training starts.

” A crease forms between her brows. “Except I didn’t think about Hades.

” She grimaces. “Do you think he can come?”

“Another German Shepherd on the Lions’ roster?” I offer, not missing a beat. “Pretty sure the fans would go wild.”

I’m right, too. The first year the Lions became a professional team, Henry bought Rory’s mom a puppy to be the mascot for the organization.

She even had her own social media page Mia ran for her.

Nala. The most chill German Shepherd I’ve ever met.

I was old enough to remember her, though she died before Rory was born.

“Seriously,” I add. “The long-time fans will love it.”

“Well, then. I guess it’s settled,” Rory murmurs. “I’m in until you find a replacement.”

Part of me wants to jump for joy like a kid on Christmas. The other part? Well, I guess I can’t help but acknowledge the guilt spreading through my marrow. “You sure you’re up for this, Rore?”

She rolls her eyes. “Jax?—”

“Trust me. I don’t want to be the voice of reason right now,” I admit dryly.

“But agreeing to watch a kid while also traveling across the US and Canada is a lot. It’s gonna be long nights.

Long days. Long flights. Long stints in the hotel with nothing to do while Poppy naps.

” Another punch of guilt spreads through my chest as I consider giving her an out even if I don’t want to.

Does it make me selfish? Yeah. Yeah, I guess it does.

“Shit,” I mutter as another snag filters through my mind.

“What?”

“What about Dodger?”

Her brows pull. “What about him?”

“You really think your boyfriend is okay with us traveling together?” I challenge.

Understanding hits her pretty eyes, and her body relaxes. “Oh. Yeah, it’s not a problem. Honestly, he’s the least of my—” She clears her throat. “Sorry. Uh, yeah. No. That’s. It’s fine. Dodger is…fine.”

“You sure?”

“Yup.” She paints on a fake smile, though I don’t miss the way she refuses to look me in the eye. “One quick phone call and…he trusts me, so. We’re good.”

“Okay.” I tilt my head, studying her. “You sure you’re up for this?”

“I already said yes.”

“Well, I’m gonna need your answer one more time.” I fight the urge to tilt her chin up and force her attention. I tuck my hands into my pockets instead. “You sure you’re up for this, Rore?”

Nibbling on the edge of her lip, she peeks up at me. “What are friends for? ”

“Friends?”

“I meant what I said last night.” She tucks her hair behind her ear. “I want us to be friends again, Jaxon. And clearly, you’re a friend who could use a helping hand.”

The organ in my chest skips like a broken record, constricting as I stare down at her.

She’s always been selfless. And even though we agreed to try the friendship route again last night, I never would’ve expected this.

She’s giving me a lifeline. A much needed lifeline. And I couldn’t be more grateful for it.

“One month,” I decide. “Give me one month, and I promise I’ll find a replacement.”

Something hits her baby blue eyes, though it’s gone in an instant.

“Yeah, Jax.” She smiles. “Whatever you need.”