Chasing Him: A Small Town, Single Dad/Nanny Romance (Bishop Brothers Book 3)

Chapter 1-1

Chapter One

MILA

I love the feeling of a new year. The old saying “New Year, New Me” is officially my motto. I’ve started exercising again, filled out a ton of job applications, and even gave up chocolate—which might actually kill me—but after eating sugar like my life depended on it all through college, I know I need to lay off it for a while. My best friend and I have a running bet how long these resolutions will last—he says two months; I say at least six—but only time will tell.

The late evening rain pounds against my window, and though it’s only six, it’s practically dark outside. It’s one indication that winter is still here, but I’m treating it as an extended vacation. After doubling up on my classes the last few semesters and working my a*s off so I could graduate a semester early, I decided I’d relax for a few months. I’ve chosen to enjoy myself and not stress while I wait for several different elementary schools to review my résumé. Though I’m registered to substitute teach, I haven’t been called in a few weeks, which is somewhat disappointing.

“Mila,” my mother calls from downstairs. After I find a permanent teaching job, the first thing I’m saving up for is an apartment. My parents supported me taking a short break after taking a full load of classes along with my student teaching position last semester, but I don’t like asking them for money. I’d rather earn it.

“Yes, Mom?” I ask from the top of the stairs.

“Your grandma called. Don’t forget to call her back sometime this century.”

I roll my eyes, and before going to change clothes, I peek inside the twin’s room, but they don’t even notice me. Katie and Avery are typical twelve-year-old girls and in the stage of makeup, celebrity crushes, and obsessed with their iPhones. Pretty soon, they’ll be teenagers, which completely blows my mind since I’ve basically helped raise them.

I check in Becca’s room, but she’s not home from soccer practice yet. She’s sixteen and recently got her license, so it’s almost impossible to catch her. I try to be a great big sister, and since I’m the third oldest out of seven, I try to show them that I really care and love them because eventually I’ll move out and things will change. I cried when Sarah and Andrew moved out, especially since we’re so close in age. Piper is three years younger than I am and a freshman in college, so she only makes it home on occasion or when she wants money.

Tonight, I’m meeting up with my best friend, Cade, at a sports bar across town to watch football recaps from last season. It’s typically how we spend our Thursday nights. He loves football, I love football, and together, we’re a match made in heaven—if only he thought so. I’ve been securely placed into the friend zone since we met our freshman year in college, and I doubt that’ll ever change, though a part of me holds out hope that one day he’ll wake up and see who’s been in front of him all along.

Letting out a sigh, I slip on a pair of jeans and boots and wrap a scarf around my neck before walking downstairs. Through the patio doors, I can see Mom on the phone. She waves me outside where she has the small gas firepit lit, and I head over so I can tell her I’m going out for the rest of the night.

As soon as I step outside, the Georgia cold smacks me in the face. Mom’s cup of coffee is steaming. Though I’ve lived here all my life, I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the briskness in the air. Thank goodness for central heat. I swipe the hair from my forehead and adjust my ponytail.

Mom points to the phone and mouths, “It’s your grandma.”

I shake my head and show her the time on my phone, gesturing I have to go.

“Sure, she’s right here,” Mom says with a devilish grin. I somehow knew I wasn’t getting out of this one.

I shake my head at her and take the phone. “Hey, Gigi.”

“Mila. You promised me you’d come to visit, and I want to know when you’re coming. The church is hosting a big cakewalk and pie sale for Valentine’s Day, and I know how much you used to love that when you were little.”

I smile. It’s hard to be annoyed when I’m chatting with her, though she doesn’t know when to end a conversation. Not that I take her for granted; I love my Gigi more than anything in the world, but I really do have a football date.

“I’ll have to check and see how much tickets are,” I tell her, knowing I promised I’d spend time with her once I’d graduated and had more free time. I hear papers shuffling, and I’m sure she’s looking through the notepad she writes everything in.

“Before you say anything else, I know it’s short notice, but Papaw said he’d pay for your plane ticket if you came. We miss you, sweetie. And your cousins miss you, too. Plus, since you graduated and are takin’ some time off, maybe you could spend a few weeks or even a month visitin’, comin’ to church, helpin’ around the ranch, collecting eggs from the coop—just like old times.”

I smile. I used to spend a month or two of my summers there each year, but when I started taking summer classes, the tradition broke. Mom looks at me with a grin as she rocks in a chair my older brother made in woodshop in high school. The heat from the firepit licks my face, and I’m tempted to tell Cade to meet me here instead.

“Yeah, Gigi. I’ll come. It’ll be fun.” I reminisce as she explains the cool weather, how Papaw’s doing, and how I used to love visiting when I was younger. We’d go horseback riding and collect farm eggs and feed the pigs. It’s the only time I felt like a true Southerner.

“I know you usually come with your brother and sisters, but you don’t need them to visit your Gigi. It’ll just be me, Papaw, and you for a few weeks,” she explains, though my mind is made up already. “And of course, Katarina,” she adds, mentioning my cousin who I’m pretty close to. I could use some adventure and take some time to relax after a hectic four years of school and really think about my future.

“You’ve convinced me. I’ll be there. But I really gotta go. I love you.” I hurry and hand the phone to Mom before I get stuck chatting all night and reminiscing about old times. I whisper and tell Mom where I’m going and give her a side hug before I leave. We’ve always had a close relationship mainly because I’m more like my mother than any of my sisters. Though she sometimes pries a little too much, she respects my privacy when I need it.

I walk to my car and send a quick text to Cade, letting him know I’m on my way. I get a thumbs up emoji in response. I laugh, crank the car, and head across town with the heat and music blaring. After finding a parking spot, I walk inside and see he’s at the bar—with a girl I don’t recognize—which takes me by surprise. Sucking it up and forcing a smile on my face, I head toward them and interrupt their intimate moment.

“Mila!” He stands and gives me a big side hug. “You have to meet my friend, Kristi.”

He glances at her, and just by that one look, I know they’re more than just friends. Jealousy creeps up and reveals its ugly face, but I try to force it away. Why wouldn’t he tell me he was bringing someone? At least then I wouldn’t have been blindsided by her. The thoughts and questions continue to swirl, but I try to forget it as we greet one another.

“Hey! It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too,” she states as she eyes me—sizing me up. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I hope it’s all good.” Somehow, I manage to be sincere as I sit at the bar on the other side of Cade and order a chicken salad. At times like this, I don’t want to follow my resolution and eat healthily. I want to drink beer and eat a double cheeseburger, but honestly, listening to them flirt kind of ruins my appetite.

Throughout the night, we chat about the replays and quarterbacks, but I can’t help feeling like a third wheel. Their conversation drifts to a more private one, and I take their closeness as my cue to leave before the situation becomes more awkward than it already is.

“I’m going to head out,” I tell him, just as they order another round of drinks.

“No, don’t go. The night is still young.”

Kristi laughs, and I force out a chuckle. “For you two lovebirds maybe, but I have an early day tomorrow.” It’s a lie, I know, but watching them flirt drives a spear into my heart. Just a reminder that I’m only a friend, and that’s all I’ll ever be to him.

“I’ll walk you out,” Cade offers, and I can’t deny him. It’ll be the first time tonight we’ve had any private time, but all I want to do is go home, put on my comfy pants, and eat my weight in ice cream.

Once we’re outside and crossing the parking lot, he asks me what I think about her.

“She’s nice,” I add, unlocking my car and watching the lights flash, hoping they’ll distract me.

“I really like her. She kind of reminds me of you,” Cade tells me, breaking my heart even more. Why would he say something like that? Can’t he see I’ve been here for him this whole time?

I keep a smile—the only security blanket I have at this point. “Then you should go for it.”

“You think so?” He searches my face, and I give him the approval he’s looking for.

I let out a laugh. “It’s not up to me. I don’t have to date her.”

He stops and grabs my hand. “No, but you’re my best friend. I want to know what you really think.”

For a moment, I consider everything I want to say to him and almost lay it all out on the table. I want to ask why I’m not good enough, why he’s never thought of me that way, and what Kristi has that I don’t since she apparently reminds him of me anyway. It’d be easy for me to throw my feelings and heart on the pavement, but instead, I let out a shaky breath.

“I think if you like her, you should see where it leads. That’s the honest truth.”

That million-dollar smile of his returns, and I hate that my heart lurches forward at the sight of it. “Thanks, Mila. Text me when you get home, okay?”

“I will,” I promise as we exchange a quick hug. When we pull apart, I feel the electricity soaring between us, but by the platonic way he looks back at me, I know it’s one-sided. As he walks away, I slip inside the car and crank it, leaning against the headrest. How horrible of a friend would I be to sabotage his new relationship? It’s too risky to say anything now, not when it’s new and fresh and after he admitted how he feels about her. The realization that I’ll be sitting on the sidelines again, waiting for him to wake up, hits me hard.

By the time I make it home, my parents are already in bed, which I’m thankful for. My mom knows I’ve had feelings for Cade for years, and she’ll know something’s up if she seems my face right now. I climb up the stairs, change into a baggy T-shirt, and crawl under the blankets for warmth.

As I toss and turn, I can’t stop thinking about Cade, and the weight on my chest becomes heavy. Being supportive of his bad decisions is what I do. It’s what I’ve always done and what I’ll continue to do because I know him well enough to know he’ll do what he wants anyway. Just before I click on the television, my older sister Sarah, calls me.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” she asks as sweet as pie. I already know what she wants just by her tone, and I smile—happy for the distraction. Sarah’s four years older than I am, so we’ve always been really close. Mom’s told me stories about how excited she was to have a little sister and always enjoyed helping take care of me. We quickly bonded even when we were in different stages of our lives. She’s always been someone I can count on and vice versa.

“Um, well, I’m actually swamped. I plan to sleep until noon, stuff my face with junk food, and watch Netflix all while staying in my sweats all day.”

I’m pathetic.

“Do you think you could break plans with yourself and watch Graham? I have a doctor’s appointment that I totally forgot about, and an old friend wants to meet for brunch afterward. Please, please, please! I’ll pay you whatever you want, and I’ll even grab a bottle of your favorite red wine.”