Chapter 3
ALLY
Two days left on the outside until I have to go and start my prison sentence…otherwise known as starting my new job.
Nanny.
The job of my nightmares.
Okay, maybe I’m being dramatic about the whole thing, but it’s the fear talking.
I’d like to believe I’ll survive this, but I just know this is a job that I’m not going to be any good at and will just make me look like a bigger fuck up than I already am.
But no one cares what I say. No one gets how hard this is for me because it’s just not in the cards for me to be maternal.
Hell, it’s not even in the cards for me not to be terrified of kids—of pretty much any age—especially when I’m going to be the one in charge.
Which is why, even though I don’t think it’ll do a damn thing, I’m click-clacking up the stairs of my aunt and uncle’s house to beg for mercy.
To beg him to let me find a different job.
But only time will tell if this was worth it or if I should’ve just stayed home with a mimosa in hand and melted into my couch for the day.
Opening the door, I head straight in, yelling out for my aunt and uncle as I take my shoes off in the entryway.
“We’re in the living room, sweetie,” I hear my aunt yell back, and I can make out the game show network playing in the background.
Brings me back to my childhood, remembering all the times we would stay over here when our parents were traveling for work.
We would spend the nights with a big bowl of ice cream and watching Family Feud or whatever other show was airing that night.
Quinn and I used to try to get the answers faster than our uncle, and it became our little game. Well, that and seeing how much chocolate syrup we could add to our ice cream without our aunt finding out.
She always won, but that’s only because I always let her go before me.
I was a good big sister back then, letting Quinn sneak the sugar first and then using what time we had left to get some for myself.
I’m almost positive our uncle distracted our aunt for as long as he could because he knew what we were doing, but we never actually talked about it.
Walking past their kitchen, I head into the living room where they’re sitting on the couch, both with a Coke—original, of course—just watching their show. My uncle notices me first and grabs the remote, turning the TV volume down as his eyes light up with excitement.
It should relax me—instead, I’m just more nervous about upsetting him again.
“Well, to what do we owe this surprise?” he says with a smile. Although I know he’s happy to see me, the smile doesn’t hit like it did before he knew I was a liar, a consequence I need to accept.
“Can I not just come over to see two of my favorite people for no reason?” I return as I take a seat on the couch opposite them.
“Of course you can, but that’s not what this is, and I can tell by the way you’re tapping your foot like you’re a damn drummer.
What’s going on sweetie?” It’s in this moment that I realize my uncle knows me far too well to get away with anything, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to give it the old college try.
“What if I say I was getting my nails done and thought I’d swing by after?”
“Then your nails wouldn’t be chipped,” my aunt retorts, and I flare back, making her giggle.
“Try again, Ally. Why are you here?”
“I…uh…” I start as I fidget with anything I can until finally forcing my eyes up to meet theirs.
“Look, I’m so stressed. I want to cry every time I think about showing up at Cooper’s house to watch Lucas knowing that even his kid is going to laugh at how badly I do.
I’m not cut out for this. I’m not maternal.
I never will be, and it’s not fair to the kid or Cooper to have me fuck it all up.
” I force the explanation out, my voice becoming more high strung with every word.
“First off, language,” my aunt says with a smidge of side eye, and I know she’s not impressed—but neither am I, so fuck it. “Second, it’s not going to be that bad, Ally. Don’t stress yourself out over one month.”
I roll my eyes right as my uncle agrees.
“You should listen to your aunt, sweetie. It’s one month. Who knows, it might be good for you. It might open your eyes to new things, and you—and Lucas—might even be able to teach each other something.”
“So you’re saying you won’t change your mind?” I ask, using all my will power not to pout and whine to get my way.
That’s the old Ally. The new Ally isn’t going to be manipulative.
At least I’m trying.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
Ugh.
“Okay,” is all I can muster before I lean back on the couch and lose myself in the show. I watch a few episodes with them before finally starting to say my goodbyes.
The doorbell rings and breaks the tension as I’m standing up, and we all look between each other, confused. Most of the people who come here don’t use the doorbell, knowing my aunt and uncle have an open-door policy and pretty much are always ready for visitors.
But I’m here…and I know Quinn and Levi are busy…so who the hell is at the door?
“Who’s here Ronnie?” my aunt asks as I peer around the corner to look, but they’re over to the side so I can’t see who it is.
“No idea,” he replies as he starts to stand up.
“Sit back down. I’m heading out, so I can check for you.”
“Okay, Ally,” he says as he grabs the remote. “Drive safe and remember, have fun. Cooper is a nice guy, and Lucas is just the best.”
“I’ll try,” I say as I head to the front door.
Big mistake because the moment I open it, I’m met face-to-face with Cooper and Jax.
“You’re not Coach,” Jax blurts out as Cooper stands there next to him smirking, looking even hotter than usual, and my heart starts pounding like I’m in high school and my crush just showed up at my house.
He’s always been a cocky fucker, but he’s so hot that I’ve just ignored it—plus I’ve just always assumed Cooper has hated me because I dated his best friend and guy code and all that.
But right now, none of those reasons are important enough as he stands at my uncle’s entryway in a pair of jeans that fit him just right and a white tee, looking like a damn snack.
Is he delivery?
An outfit has never looked so good on someone in the history of ever, so good it should be illegal…although that part might have something to do with his backwards hat, but can you really judge a girl for thinking that’s hot?
Yeah…when he’s your ex fiancé’s best friend…who’s off limits.
Off limits like I’m sure he isn’t supposed to really talk to me…
or that’s how it’s felt since Levi and I broke up years ago.
It’s not like I can exactly blame him, any of the guys for that matter.
I mean, I’m sure Levi told all his friends the truth about our breakup, that it was me who fucked up, so I can’t imagine I was on their short list to be friends with.
Which is exactly why I shouldn’t be standing here in my uncle’s doorway practically drooling over the man, but fuck, I can’t seem to stop.
How the hell is this man still single? What the frig is wrong with you? Get it together.
“Earth to Ally?” Jax says, waving his hands in front of my face as I stare at Cooper like I’m in a trance. “You good?”
Seriously, what is wrong with you?
Shaking my head, I look between the guys.
Jax is smirking as he looks between me and Cooper, but it’s Cooper who looks like he’s been reading my mind, his lips curling upwards as his warm, hazel eyes twinkle with promised trouble.
Did he just read my mind? Get a front-row view to the naughty, inappropriate thoughts in my head?
I’m sure he’s judging me, probably smirking as he thinks of ways to embarrass me.
I wonder what names he’s coming up with in his mind, although they can’t be worse than the things I’ve heard before. “Yeah, Ally, wanna share with the class?”
I flip him off, his grin immediately making me want to punch him—and kiss him, but I’m trying to ignore that urge that is deciding to now show its face.
I must need to get laid. Maybe a date night with a book and my toy is in my near future—where I will be thinking about damn near anything except the man standing in front of me, because I hate how cocky he is.
Almost as much as I hate the way his smile just melts me.
The mess between my legs serves as evidence, but evidence I’ll take straight to my grave.
“Just wondering what you’re doing at my uncle’s house when I was trying to have some peace and quiet,” I snap, crinkling my nose as I look up at him, using my words as both my armor and my weapon like usual—protecting myself from hearing Cooper echo my beliefs about how much of a disappointment I am for having such slutty thoughts.
“Someone’s a little feisty,” Cooper says, still grinning as Jax continues volleying his gaze back and forth between the two of us.
“Ugh, are you coming in?” I ask, looking at Jax.
“Yes, ma’am. There’re cookies in here for me,” he says, and then he’s gone, slipping past and heading directly to the kitchen.
I don’t blame him. My aunt is an amazing baker, after all, but now he’s left me here with Cooper, something I’m quickly finding out makes me itchy, his stare shooting electricity over my skin, and it’s entirely too much.
“Well, Ally Cat, before you leave, I should—”
“Ally Cat?”
“Yeah? You have claws like a cat, so I think it suits you,” he says with a shrug. “Anyways, can I see your phone?” he asks, holding his hand out, waiting.
“For?”
“So I can give you my number. That way I can send you my address. Also, I sort of require us to have each other’s phone numbers if you’re going to be watching my son. Seems irresponsible for me not to, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I mean, yeah, that makes sense,” I say quietly, my breathing shallow as I reach in my pocket and grab my phone. “So this is for work?”
He looks at me for a minute, his eyebrows raising in question, and I wish I could take the words back.
“What else would it be for, Ally?” Cooper says, his hand still waiting like he knows he’s won.
Cocky fucker.
Looking down at his hand still waiting, I shake my head, ignoring his question as I give in, unlocking my phone and passing it to him. With a smile, he grabs it, his fingertips brushing against me, and I fight the urge to pull my hand back, refusing to let him know the effect he has on me.
It’s news to me too. I just have to make it 30 days.
“Here you go,” he says as he passes me back my phone. “Use that for good, not evil. No middle of the night booty calls for me.”
He winks at me as he walks through the front door, leaving me dumbfounded.
This is going to be a rough month.