The Single Dad

38

Jenner leaned his elbows on the table to get closer to me. “Really? That’s all she is—your nanny?”

“Yes, my nanny. Who the f**k do you think is watching my kid right now?” I checked my phone, making sure there was nothing from Sydney. I wasn’t sure why I had this nagging anticipation that she was going to text a question or a picture out of the blue, but every few minutes, I found myself reaching inside my pocket. “So, yes, guys, that’s all she is. Someone to take care of Eve, not me.”

“No reason she can’t be there for you as well.”

I sighed, shaking my head. “We’re not going there again.”

Dominick called over the waitress and ordered another round, ignoring my only request.

I wasn’t the least bit surprised.

“How are things going with her and Eve anyway?” Jenner asked. “Everyone happy?”

They couldn’t be any more obvious.

They were forgetting they’d asked me the same question almost every day since Sydney had started. I could see right through their constant inquiries. Even though they were protective over Everly, I knew this had nothing to do with that.

They wanted more.

And they weren’t going to get it.

“Things are no different than when you asked yesterday or the day before or even the day before that.” I rolled my goddamn eyes. “But in case you need to hear it again, Everly loves her. She couldn’t be in a better place.”

“And you, dickhead?” Dominick asked. “Are you happy?”

I pointed at my chest. “I’m the d**k here? Because I’m tired of answering the same question over and over?” I shook my head. “I don’t think so. The two of you have a motive, and I see right through it.”

“I’m genuinely curious how things are going between her and my niece and what it’s like, having her around all the time,” Jenner said. “There’s no motive here.”

“You’re a riot.” As I held the glass, I turned it around in a circle, the ice banging against the sides. “But since you asked so nicely”—I huffed out some air, the sarcasm dripping from my mouth—“I’ll say that things couldn’t be better. They’re perfect in fact.”

And they were.

Everly woke up every morning, asking for Sydney—when she was coming, what they were going to do that day. Sydney would arrive while Everly was eating breakfast, and she would go over their schedule. She provided structure. Goals. In the short time Sydney had been with us, I had seen a difference. Everly’s vocabulary was expanding, her knowledge growing.

Hannah was a babysitter.

Sydney was an educator.

“In what way?” Dominick asked.

They weren’t going to give up. That much was apparent.

“In every way,” I replied. “You guys haven’t seen Eve since I hired Sydney. Just wait. You’ll notice the change in her. You’ll see it. Hear it.”

“Don’t even tell me we’re getting close to her not being my little girl anymore,” Dominick said. “I won’t be able to handle it.”

“Not yet, but we’re not far away,” I told him. “She’s getting old, man. I f*****g hate it. I want to keep her this age forever, where she still needs me and isn’t fighting me on every goddamn thing, like her curfew, boys—f**k that.”

“What about you and Sydney?” Jenner asked.

I checked my phone again, deciding to leave it on the table so I didn’t have to keep reaching into my pocket. Once I placed it down, I took a drink and shrugged. “Fine.”

“No issues with her being around all the time?” Jenner continued.

That depended on what he considered as issues.

If he counted a constant f*****g hard-on. My head filled with fantasies of every place I wanted to f**k her in my house and not being able to take my eyes off her. Then, yes, I had issues.

“None at all,” I fibbed. “It’s like nothing happened between us. And when you think about it—I mean, really think about it—not much did. Two hookups. That’s nothing.”

But in my mind, the opposite was true.

Each of the hours we’d spent together had left an impression that echoed constantly. That relentless vibration of memories wouldn’t let me forget the taste of her skin, the feel of her body, the wetness that had coated me.

“When is she moving in?” Dominick asked.

I was going there again—deep into the remembering phase.

My d**k already hardening.

I shook my head, pulling myself out, and responded, “I haven’t asked her.” I glanced toward my phone. Still nothing. “I have a business trip coming up that I’ve mentioned to her, but we haven’t even discussed those logistics. I need to figure that out and then talk to her about moving in.”

“If she can’t cover the nights you’re gone, you know one of us will,” Dominick said.

“I know.”

The waitress delivered the second round, placing a scotch in front of me.

“Drink it,” Jenner ordered.

There wasn’t much left in my original glass, so I combined the two and handed the empty to the waitress. “I can’t go anywhere with you two assholes. You never listen to a f*****g thing I say.”

Dominick chuckled and gripped my shoulder. “That’s why we’re good lawyers, brother. We always win.”

I was just bringing the glass up to my lips when Jenner said, “You’ve got a nanny now. Stop stressing about getting back home. You haven’t come out with us in weeks.”

Before I took another drink, I needed to know if this was all right with Sydney. I didn’t want to just assume she would stay longer.

I lifted the phone into my hands and typed out a message.

Me: Do you mind staying a little later?

Sydney: Ford, have fun. Don’t worry about us. I’m heating up the dinner Craig left, and then we’re going to make cupcakes. Since we made bath bombs yesterday, Eve is pretty excited about testing one out tonight. Take your time. I’ll stay as late as you need me to.

Me: What’s a bath bomb?

Me: Or maybe I don’t want to know?

Me: And, s**t, am I screwing up all your plans tonight? I didn’t even ask if you had something going on.

Sydney: Gabby and I were supposed to have a girls’ night. She spent all day cooking for it. :(

Me: f**k …

Sydney: I’m kidding. I had no plans. Stop worrying. All is good.

Sydney: Also, come home hungry. There will be tons of extra cupcakes.

Me: I appreciate you doing this.