Page 27 of Unexpected

Sophia nodded, taking a long drink from the water bottle I’d handed her. She’d been running around, exploring, and playing with other kids all day. She’d had a blast, and it made me realize how much she needed time with kids her own age. Something I intended to work on.

“Can you keep a secret?” she asked on the way home from dinner.

I glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Can I keep a secret?” I scoffed. “It’s part of the sacred oath of nannies. Anything you tell me gets locked in the vault.”

She was quiet a moment, considering it. “So, you won’t tell, right?”

“No, princess.” I smiled. “I won’t tell. What is it?”

“Do you think my mom’s happy?” Her question surprised me. It was easy to forget how insightful children could be.

I frowned. “Why do you ask?”

“She just always seems… I don’t know,” she huffed. “Maybe lonely.”

I’d noticed it too, but I didn’t want Sophia to worry. So, I turned the question back around on her. “Do you think she’s lonely? She has you. She has friends like Lauren, right?”

“Yeah, but…I think she needs a boyfriend. Ben’s mom got a boyfriend, and she’s so much happier now.”

I chuckled. “If only it were that simple.”

“Why not?” she asked. “Couldn’t you be her boyfriend?”

“Sophia,” I said, trying not to let any emotion show. “Do you know what a boyfriend is?”

“Yes.” Even without looking back at her, I knew she was rolling her eyes. “It’s when a guy is really nice to a girl. And he takes her on dates. And, and he does nice things for her—like buy her flowers or call her on the phone.”

I nodded. “That’s actually not a bad description.”

She preened. “See. And you already do nice things for my mom.”

“I do?”

“Yeah. You make her coffee every morning—just the way she likes. You cook her breakfast and sometimes dinner. You hang out with me. And you make her smile more than she has in a long time.”

I grinned, but then my face fell. Maybe Alexis had been happier lately, but then I’d ruined it with the kiss. As much as the kiss meant to me, I’d take it all back if it meant we could go back to the way things were again.

“Anyway…” She yawned. “Just think about it. ’Kay?”

I didn’t know what to say, so I kept my attention focused on the road.

Not long after, her eyes drifted shut, and she was deep asleep by the time we returned home. I pulled into the driveway and unbuckled Sophia before carefully picking her up. She mumbled something in her sleep, but otherwise, she was out.

I carried her up the stairs and set her on her bed. After removing her shoes and tucking her in, I switched off the light and crept out of the room.

I sank onto the couch, flipping through the channels until I found HGTV. It was an episode ofFixer UpperI’d already seen but didn’t mind watching again. I wondered when Alexis would be home, wondered if I should try to talk to her and clear the air.

As I was debating all that, my phone rang. My mom’s picture lit up the screen. I was tempted to let it go to voice mail, but I hadn’t talked to her in a few days. And I knew if I didn’t answer, she’d worry.

“Hey, Mom,” I said, lowering the volume on the TV.

“Hey, sweetie. How are you?”

“I’m good. Tired.” I yawned, rubbing a hand over my face.

Being a live-in nanny was so much more demanding than the part-time placements I’d had in the past. Entertaining an energetic six-year-old all day, instead of after school or for a few hours, was no small feat. But really, it was emotional exhaustion. I was exhausted from the tension that seemed to stretch endlessly between Alexis and me.

“Are you eating okay? Sleeping okay? Any pain?” Her questions came rapid-fire, and I should’ve known better than to say I was tired.