Page 31 of Timelessly Ours
Taking my mind off my situation for a few minutes, I open up my laptop and go over the schedule for the next few weeks. I make a few minor changes, send my assistant an email, and print a copy to hang on the bulletin downstairs.
It’s a relief knowing Nicole will be here.
A constant for Rory.
The agency has been good about getting people who would be discreet over the part-time job of babysitting for a former player and now the head coach for the Buffalo Blades. But despite the convenience, I've turned down live-in requests on many occasions, and for many reasons. Like the fact that I don't need anyone getting the wrong idea of what living with me could lead to.
I don't have to worry about that with Nicole. We’re both well aware of how off-limits this is.
It’s almost midnight when I slip downstairs to hang up the schedule in the kitchen. Something I know I’ll forget to do if I wait until morning.
The light is on and Nicole is sitting at the kitchen island, swiveling back and forth on the bar stool. She has a steaming cup in front of her with a used t-bag set aside on a napkin. She’s in that guest bathrobe and her hair is damp over her shoulders. The worry lines over her brows relax when she sees me.
“Hi,” she says, scanning me in my gym shorts and black t-shirt.
“Hi.” I clear my throat. “Sorry, I wasn’t expecting anyone down here.”
She shrugs. “It’s your house. You shouldn’t apologize. Did you need to be alone?” She starts to stand.
“No.” It comes out quicker than I intend. “Please stay. I just wanted to hang up the game and practice schedule for you.” I hold it up briefly before pinning it to the center of the board on the back wall.
“Oh, sweet. Now I know when I can throw parties and how long you’ll be gone.” She winks.
I grin. “I’ll send a warning text when I’m thirty minutes out.”
Her smile fades when she looks at her phone again. The one she immediately placed down when I walked in.
“Something wrong?”
“Nick told Jace I was here and…”
I nod once. “He told Angel.” I haven’t given much thought to how my older daughter would feel about the arrangement. Nick showing up and barking at her like he owned her fucking did me in and my instincts took over.
“And?”
She sighs heavily and reads. “What’s this about you being Rory’s new nanny? I mean if I didn’t think you’d laugh in my face I’d have recommended it a year ago, but still… I have questions.”
I release a breath. “Okay, well that’s good…”
Nicole holds up a finger and continues to read.
“Hello? Okay fine, forget the questions. I just want to see you. I know you’re mad, but you can’t hide from us forever. Besides, I know where you live…and I have a key.” Nicole rolls her eyes and smirks.
I pour myself hot water and sit across from her on the island, reaching for the used tea bag beside her and dipping it into my mug. “You’re still angry.”
She shakes her head. “I have no right to be.”
“Stop saying that. You have every right to be. Just because something… happened doesn’t mean we had the right to assume it would.”
“She used to sit there and make up stories about her and Jace fighting as an excuse to not go home just yet. She made up stories while I sat there and gave her real advice. Do you know at one point, I was so sad for them? I thought they had something so amazing after everything they’d been through together. And then there were nights I thought; wow, if they can’t make it, there’s zero hope for me.”
I wince. “You’re right. That wasn’t fair to you.”
She shrugs like it’s no big deal. “I mean, I didn’t buy a lot of it. A bullshitter can pick up bullshit, but I just thought I was getting the edited version of the story—not that it was entirely made up.”
I nod with understanding and she sighs. “I’m sorry, she’s your daughter. I forget that sometimes.”
My stomach vaults. I love how open she is with me about her anger. I want to be that outlet for her. “You want me to tell her you need space?”