by Toni Aleo
Especially since Phillip was waiting.
“Charlie is quiet today.”
Phillip inhales deeply as he takes a long pull of a soda. “Yeah, it’s been like that a lot. He has his outbursts, but there are days when he doesn’t talk at all. But then he’ll be cool. It’s stressing Vera out, which stresses Riana out, and well, you know how that all stresses me out.”
I smile. Phillip is a damn good man. “I’m gonna try to talk to him when we get home.”
“Good.” He then looks over at me. “It seems to get worse when it’s almost time to go to his dad’s for the weekend. I told Vera I didn’t like this setup.”
“Yeah. When does she get downtime with them?”
“Exactly. It’s dumb.”
“Does Charlie not like it there?”
“I think he loves his dad, but he’s still angry. The boys tell me that he goes over there and just plays video games, doesn’t really talk to anyone. Not even the boys.”
“Man, that sucks.”
“It does. He’ll be okay, though. I’m okay.”
I scoff. “After four years of binge drinking and eating.”
Phillip pats his flat stomach. He was really overweight when we graduated, but when he met Riana, he went on a diet, and now he thinks he is hot shit. Never does thank me for all the work I put in his ass. “But now, I’m sexy.”
I roll my eyes as I lean back, threading my fingers behind my head as I look out to the fields. The twins are on one field while Charlie is on another. It’s worked out great. I can sit in the middle and watch both practices. I am finding that though Elliot is quiet, that boy could take out a grown man, and Louis is quick and has a sick wrist shot. Charlie is the whole package, though. He reminds me of myself, knocking dudes out and scoring with ease.
It is fun to watch.
But it reminds me of the Ellenton kids.
Man, I miss them.
Clearing my throat, I ask, “How long do you think she’ll keep me on?”
Phillip sits up. “Vera? I’m not sure, but I suspect until Charlie is old enough to drive and is doing it well enough to care for the twins.”
So maybe three years.
Three years of not only falling in love with another family but yearning for Vera.
Yeah, that won’t be hard at all.
“I’ll need to keep my feelings shut down.”
Phillip’s brows furrow together. “Huh?”
“I don’t want to get attached to them and then be left behind.”
He slowly nods, though his eyes are on the field. “I hear you. I still think you should get into teaching. Maybe part-time, as an aide or something to get your foot in the door. You could do that now so that when this is over, you teach full-time.”
“I thought about doing that, but my sister asked me to help with her baby during the day so she can work. I told her I would.”
He shakes his head. “Jenny would understand if you need to get a second job.”
“I know, but I want to help with the baby.”
“And you’re hoping that this gig might go full-time.”
I shrug. “Maybe. I mean, it wouldn’t be awful if it did. I like the boys.”
“They’re good kids, but I really don’t think, despite how Riana feels, that Vera will pull them. Simon is a piece of work. He wants them at the same school he went to.”
“I understand that, but I want to keep my options open.”
“Do you, man?” he asks, his eyes wild with annoyance. “Just don’t be surprised when I say, ‘I told you so.’”
“Oh, you will. First chance you get.”
“You know it,” he says, sending me a grin, and I laugh. “But really, I can’t thank you enough for helping us out with Vera and the boys.”
“It’s not helping you guys out. I’m getting paid.”
“Yeah, but I know how particular you are about families you work for, and they don’t meet your standard.”
He’s right. I usually work with families that have young kids so I can grow with them. Long-term commitment, rather than bouncing from job to job. But this family is different. I knew Charlie and the twins well enough before, and I enjoy them. It doesn’t hurt that Vera is really nice to look at. My dating game has taken a back seat to my families the last few years, but something about Vera just makes me want to be close to her. I get the feeling she’s strong—stronger than her broken marriage portrays her. And she wants to succeed in parenting as much as she has in her job. I know I can help her with that. It’s one of the things I want for them. For me too. She loves her boys. She loves being a mom, and she wants them to be happy. I want to help make them all happy, which is why I took this job. That means I need to ignore the raging hard-on that comes whenever Vera walks into a room.
It’s been a really long time since a woman has had me wrung this tightly, and I blame it on the fact that Vera has this air about her that suffocates me but also reminds me that she isn’t looking for anything. I don’t see a position on Vera’s team as a lover. Or anything, for that matter. She is busy with her kids and her job. She has no time for anything else, and I can’t blame her.
I’m just her manny.
“True, but the first day is going well.”
He scoffs. “Well, let’s see if that changes when Simon gets here.”
A light bulb goes off with the reminder of Vera’s ex. “That’s why you’re here. You know I can handle a jerk-ass ex.”
Phillip laughs as he nods. “I don’t doubt that, but I wanted to be here for a buffer. Vera didn’t tell him about you yet.”
My brow quirks. “Why?”
“Apparently, and don’t tell her I told you this, he wants the boys for the spring break she’s scheduled to have them and some other shit. Riana told me their call this morning ended with him calling her a bitch and before she could tell him she hired a manny.”
Rage fills me within seconds. “Bastard.”
Phillip nods. “That he is, so she wouldn’t call him back.”
“Understandable.”
“Yeah,” he agrees.
Just as I look up, Charlie is running toward me, pulling off his helmet. I hand him his water bottle.
“Thanks,” he says between taking in deep breaths.
“You look great out there,” I say, gesturing out at the field. “Keep low, though, when the defense is coming for you.”
He nods, downing most of the bottle. “I keep getting cut off when I cut left.”
“Then cut right,” I say, moving my hands that direction. “Keep them on their toes. You can’t always cut left.”
“It’s my strong side.”
“I get that, but if you can go both ways, you’ll be an all-around player. Cut right, shoot left, and go bottom right corner if you can.”
He slowly nods and then smiles, as if it just dawned on him. “I’ll try that.”
I smack his thigh. “Attaboy. Go kick some ass.”
Charlie grins before handing the bottle back to me, and then he runs off while pulling his helmet back on.
I put the water bottle down, and Phillip eyes me.
“That’s the most I’ve heard him talk in a while.”
“Just gotta know how to reach kids. You’ll learn it with yours coming.”
He scoffs, shaking his head. “Don’t remind me, I’m still shaking in my boots.”
“You’ll be great.”
“Maybe I can just hire you to teach me your ways.”
“Ha. You can’t afford me,” I tease.
As his laughter dies off, my attention turns to the twins. They are running up the field, and I laugh when I see they’re on the same line together. “Oh, they messed up putting those two together.”
Phillip laughs. “Oh, yeah. I wonder why they’re just now doing that?”
“I’m not sure, but I like it!”
Phillip nods as he scoots to the edge of his seat, and I do the same, resting my elbows on my knees as the boys rush up the field. Ell
iot is in front, smacking people left and right, while Louis follows behind him, holding the ball in his net as he moves around the bodies that Elliot lays out. Louis cuts to the right of Elliot as if he is going to pass, but I know the kid wouldn’t. Not with his shot.
And when the ball hits the back of the goal, I stand up, pumping my fist hard. “Thataway, Woods!”
Phillip stands beside me, cheering just as loudly. When the boys look back at us, I throw my hands up, waving them obnoxiously, which makes them both grin as they run back up the field.
I smack Phillip playfully. “Great play.”
“Lethal together.”
I go to agree, but before I can, someone says, “I’ve been saying to put them together for years.”
I don’t recognize the voice. When I look to Phillip, he’s nodding. “Yeah, you have. How are you, Simon?” He holds his hand out as I try to lift my jaw off the ground.
This is Simon?
What in the fuck?
I know I’m tall, but this dude is short. Like maybe five foot seven, and he is pudgy. He has a belly, and he looks old. His eyes are light but beady-looking, and he’s got one hell of a receding hairline. I know that I probably don’t like this guy for what he has done to Vera, but come on, he left her?
Vera is easily a ten. This dude is maybe a four.
Moving my gaze from his, I take in who I assume is the ex-nanny. She’s pretty, I guess, but she isn’t Vera. She looks like the kind of girl who is stuck in high school, looking for the next guy to take care of her. Vera is a woman; she doesn’t need anyone to take care of her. Being wanted by Vera would be like winning the lottery.
A hundred times over.
Phillip jerks his head to me. “Lincoln, this is the boys’ father, Simon.”
I hold out my hand. “Hey, nice to meet you.”
“You too,” he says, shaking my hand quickly before looking back out at the field. “Okay, we’re gonna go over on the other side, say hi, and then head out. We have reservations in the city.”
Phillip says, “Sounds good.”
Without another word, he takes his lady’s hand, and they walk away together. I notice people watching, I assume saying the same things I’m thinking. He left Vera for that chick? What a dumbass.
“Is he insane?” I ask.
“Huh?” Phillip mutters. He’s on his phone, probably texting Riana.
I sit down. “He left Vera for that?”
Phillip shakes his head. “Yeah, I don’t get it. Except from what I heard, he didn’t like how big Vera got. She used to be super skinny when they were younger, but after she had the twins, she had a hard time losing the weight.”
“There is no weight to lose,” I say.
He looks up from his phone, and his brow rises. “No?”
“No, she’s perfect the way she is. He’s a fucking idiot.”
Phillip sings, “Someone has a crush.”
I scoff and look away. “A crush, please. I know a gorgeous woman when I see one, and Vera is all that. Her ass is mind-blowing, and that waist, Jesus. She’s gorgeous, and that girl is nothing compared to her.” When I’m met with silence, I look over to see Phillip watching me with narrowed eyes. “What?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “You know she’s off-limits.”
I’m a little taken aback by that. I mean, I know that, but I don’t want to believe it. And I sure as hell don’t want my buddy telling me that. “Well, duh,” I say. “She’s my boss.”
“Exactly. She needs you to help, and there can be no distractions. None. She needs to work and care for the boys. She doesn’t need you playing with her feelings.”
I laugh out loud at that. “Play with her feelings? Do you even know me?”
“I know that you haven’t settled down the whole time I’ve known you. You’re a fuck ’em and leave ’em type.”
I balk at that. “What the hell, Phillip! I am not! I just haven’t found anyone to settle down with!”
He eyes me. “In what, almost twenty years?” he exaggerates.
I shrug. “Maybe so! I don’t know. I dated Amelia for a long time.”
“And she left you because she wanted to wait to have kids.”
“Exactly, but I was committed as hell to her and loved her deeply. She broke up with me, played with my feelings, not the other way around.”
He shrugs. “Whatever. Vera isn’t the one.”
“Never said she was,” I say. “I can’t believe you think that.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you, but seriously, I don’t even remember your last girlfriend, besides Amelia, and let’s be honest, you don’t go long without sex.”
“Just ’cause I’m not like you and Riana doesn’t mean I’m having sex with everyone.”
His brows come together once more. “So, you haven’t been banging your neighbor?”
I laugh. “Melissa? She moved like two years ago.”
He looks away, thinking that over. “Oh, she did?”
“Yeah,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m not what you think I am.”
He doesn’t answer, and I’m okay with that. I’m pissed he thought that of me. I’m a lot of things, but I don’t go out wanting to hurt anyone like he implied. Plus, I’d never hurt Vera. I’d make sweet and dirty love to her beautiful body, and I’d care for her as much as she’d allow me to. I know darn well she doesn’t have time for anything more than that, and I’m okay with that. I don’t even know her. How could I want more?
“Just promise me. Leave her alone,” Phillip says suddenly.
I look over at him, surprised by his request. “Really?”
“Yeah, dude. She worries me. Things have been rough, and Riana stresses so much. I don’t want you getting involved and shit going down funky, and then I lose my best friend. Just do your job. Do what you said; keep your feelings in check.”
I swallow hard and slowly nod. He’s right, and let’s be honest, nothing would ever happen. I know that, but it sucks to think that if it did, I wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.
“Yeah, man. No problem.”
And with that, I sealed my fate.
And boy, does it feel all kinds of wrong.
Chapter Six
Vera
The ride in from the city is always very relaxing for me.
But not today.
I left early with a box full of work I plan on finishing over the weekend. With Kaia coming alone to get the boys, I want to be there. I also haven’t told Simon about Lincoln yet, so I need to be there just in case. I don’t want Kaia getting information out of Lincoln. Ugh, I don’t want to face her, and I sure as hell don’t want to talk to her. While I’m trying my best to accept that my husband is gone, I don’t think I’ll ever accept that he was taken by someone I considered my best friend. And Kaia was that. My number two after Riana.
Not that I’d ever tell Riana that.
When my phone rings, I dig for it. I shouldn’t be surprised it’s Riana.
“Hey,” I say.
“Hey, what time will you be home?”
I check the map on the train and compare the station we’ve just passed to the current stop. “In about twenty minutes.”
“Huh? I thought today was your late night?”
“It is, but Kaia is coming to get the boys since Simon is out of town for the night, so I want to be there. I still haven’t told him about Lincoln.”
“Vera,” she chastises, and I roll my eyes.
“I know. I just haven’t gotten around to it.”
And I also don’t want to talk to him. While I know he’ll have a lot to say about a man caring for my children, I have to admit, my earlier reservations about it are gone. Lincoln is amazing. Yes, it’s only been three days, but the house is cleaner than it’s ever been, there is food in the fridge, and my kids are happy. Well, the twins are happy, and Charlie has only grunted at me twice. We didn’t even get into it last night, which is usually how every Thursday has gone since his mood plummets by the
end of the week. He dreads going to his dad’s, so the drama the last day or two of the week is predictable now. But this week was a little better, and I have to think it had something to do with our manny.
“You need to tell him. It’s only making it worse, waiting.”
“I know.” I groan, closing my eyes as I lean my head on the window. The rumble of the train makes the contents of my box shift a bit. “I’ll tell him Sunday.”
“Good.”
“Or maybe Saturday at the boys’ games.”
“Even better. I think we’re gonna go.”
“Oh nice,” I say with a smile, but it falls when I consider telling her about my date with Dennis.
Before I can, she asks, “Are you working all weekend?”
I clear my throat. “Yeah, which reminds me, I think I’m gonna talk to Richard about working weekends instead of late during the week so I can be home to spend more time with the boys before they go to Simon’s.”
“Yeah, that’s a good plan.”
“I think so,” I say slowly, and then I clear my throat. “I have a date Saturday.”
She squeaks. “Really! With who?”
“The guy from accounting. Dennis.”
“Oooo! Is he hot?”
I shrug. “He’s okay.”
“But he isn’t Lincoln.”
“Riana! Please.”
As if I need the reminder of Lincoln’s hotness. I don’t, especially when all my wet dreams circle around him and the way his back flexes when he is replacing light bulbs in my kitchen. Even through his shirt, I could see every single muscle. I wanted to beg him to screw in light bulbs everywhere and then screw me.
Pathetic, I know.
“I’m still pulling for Lincoln.”
I scoff. “Pulling? For what? You’re insane!”
“I don’t know… The more I think about it, the more I like it. He would complement you.”
I’m dumbfounded. “Huh? Did you hit your head today?”