Chapter 7
seven
CAL
“Stop looking at your watch.”
I glare at my sister. “It’s not a crime to know what time it is.”
“It should be a crime considering you just stopped in the middle of a song, again, to check your watch,” Belle says with her hands on her hips.
“I need to make sure Harlow hasn’t texted me! What if something happened to Cora, and I don’t know about it because I’m over here singing about how much you love Kai? Which is a little weird, if I’m being honest.”
“I didn’t write this one specifically about Kai. It’s more of a broad love song that people can relate to,” Belle defends, but I catch her glancing over at Kai and smiling.
“Gross,” I mutter.
“Let’s break for lunch and get back to it in an hour,” Jon’s voice comes through over the speaker in the sound booth. He’s been great as our manager, way better than the last one. He never yells at us for arguing with each other, although I bet he wants to.
I don’t argue. Instead, I rush out of the booth and grab my phone to text Harlow.
How’s Cora? Does she miss me? Do you guys need anything?
Harlow
Who is this?
Hilarious.
Harlow
I know. Thank you.
Harlow…
Harlow
Cora is great. We just had lunch and now we’re going to relax and watch Ms. Rachel until naptime.
I bite the inside of my lip. Do I know I’m being ridiculous? Yes. Harlow has been with Cora and me every day for the past two weeks. Cora adores her, and Harlow is a natural with her. It’s just hard to be away from my daughter. She’s the most important thing in my life.
Did you give her any solids? Food before one is just for fun. I read that. So you don’t have to. She could choke or something. Maybe you should just stick to formula when I’m not there.
She had her six-month appointment yesterday, and the doctor said we can slowly introduce purees.
Harlow
Cal, she’s fine. I swear. She had her bottle and some pureed peaches. She really liked the peaches and there was zero choking.
A picture comes through next with Harlow smiling and Cora looking at her like she hung the moon. Fuck . My heart squeezes. My little girl really does love her nanny. And Harlow has done nothing but prove how qualified she is to take care of Cora. I need to stop hovering. Well, I’ll try to stop hovering.
Give her a kiss for me and tell her Daddy loves her.
Harlow
Yes, Daddy.
Fucking hell. This woman is trying to kill me. If I realized how much sass she could fit into that small body, I would have reconsidered hiring her. Probably.
Harlow…
Harlow
Would you prefer, sir? Yes, sir.
Sir? Daddy? Captain?
Oh! How about Sir Captain Daddy?
“Are you growling?”
I look up from my phone to find a smug-looking Willa standing next to a confused-looking Mav.
“Why did you talk me into hiring this woman? She’s trying to drive me up a wall!”
Maverick snorts, catching on to what Willa was so smug about.
“That’s why I love her so much. She’s perfect for Cora, and she drives you crazy,” Willa says with a huge grin on her face.
“You’re kind of an evil genius, you know that?” Mav asks her.
Willa just keeps smiling as she takes Mav by the arm and leads him away.
I’m not a captain. I’m the lead singer. If you’re going for nicknames, at least get my job right.
Harlow
Sorry Vocal Daddy.
Are you trying to get fired?
Harlow
Cora would never fire me.
Cora doesn’t make the rules.
Harlow
I disagree. She babbled at me earlier, and I’m pretty sure she was saying she wanted to play with her blocks. So we played with her blocks. Cora girl is the boss.
I laugh out loud. Harlow isn’t wrong. The moment Cora started making noises that could be interpreted as anything at all, she became the boss.
Harlow
Shouldn’t you be leading the singing instead of being a helicopter parent?
She sends a picture of Cora asleep in her crib. Probably to get me to relax and leave her alone. But she’s annoyed me too much for me to let her off so easily.
Shouldn’t you be more respectful of your employer?
Harlow
I’m sorry, Vocal Daddy. I’ll do better.
Harlow…
Harlow
I’m going to go clean up a little. See you later, VD!
I groan and rub my hand down my face. I asked for that. I really did. I need to trust her, and she’s not going to let me forget it.
I walk in my front door and hear the best and worst sounds in the world. The first thing that hits my ears is the belly laugh coming from my daughter, but that’s immediately followed up by the most off-key rendition of “Wheels on the Bus” that I’ve ever heard.
Making my way into the kitchen, I see Harlow on her knees, holding Cora under her armpits as they dance along to Harlow’s singing. Cora is smiling and laughing so hard it puts a smile on my face. I’ve been grumpy all day, and this was the best thing to come home to. It was my first full day away from Cora since I brought her home, and I definitely could have handled it better.
I stay in the doorway, watching. They haven’t noticed me yet. My dad is at the stove cooking dinner and Harlow’s back is to me. Cora has just recently started wanting to stand. She obviously can’t do it herself yet, but she loves it when she can hold your hand and bounce. The sight of my happy daughter just proves how much I didn’t need to worry.
Cora catches sight of me and screams “da!” It’s not dada yet, but it’s close enough for me.
“Hi baby girl,” I say as I make my way over and scoop her into my arms. She snuggles into my neck, and I kiss the top of her head. “How was your day? I hope Harlow didn’t hurt your ears with her singing.”
Harlow scoffs and mutters, “Says the guy who sings the pitchiest version of Fortunate Son.”
I freeze and look at her. Her eyes are wide, realizing I heard her. Then I smile. I haven’t sung that song in years. Six years. And there’s only one person that’s ever insulted me over it.
“Firecracker,” I say with a laugh. I watch as her cheeks turn the prettiest shade of pink. But she crosses her arms and stares me down, like she’s readying herself for a fight.
“Vocal Daddy,” she says with so much sass it makes me want to spank her.
Nope. Don’t get turned on by thinking about spanking the nanny, Cal.
“Care to explain that one? Or should I not ask?” my dad says, looking at me with amusement in his eyes.
“Harlow was just trying to get herself fired earlier,” I explain.
Harlow laughs and so does my dad. Even Cora giggles along with them.
“Traitor,” I mutter to my daughter, who just smiles and grabs my cheeks with her pudgy little hands.
“Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes,” my dad says, turning back to the stove.
“Today really did go well?” I ask Harlow. The look on her face that said she was ready to fight me once I realized I knew who she was softens.
“I promise, Cal. We had a great day.” She squeezes my arm and rubs Cora’s back before moving to help my dad with dinner.
I watch the two of them work in tandem, like they’ve been doing it for years. Neither of them seems to remember I’m even here, so I take Cora with me to play until dinner is done.
Hours later, when the dishes are clean and Cora is asleep, I can still feel the warmth of Harlow’s palm on my skin.
“What are you watching?” I ask, making Harlow jump. I laugh. She’s really easy to startle, and I’ve been doing it at every opportunity. If only to hear the cute noise she makes.
I take the seat directly next to her and steal some of her popcorn.
“Hey! Get your own!” she complains, hugging the giant bowl to her chest and trying to move it out of my reach. I just laugh and steal some more. “Cal!”
“I love when you yell my name, Firecracker,” I tease. Her face turns that shade of pink that I’m becoming so fond of. “Why didn’t you tell me that we’ve met before?”
“Honestly?” she asks.
“Always.”
“I didn’t think it mattered or that you would remember. It wasn’t exactly memorable. Especially considering the events of the rest of the night.”
I grab another handful of popcorn and think it over. “Yeah, you’re right. But you imprinted yourself in my brain in a way few others have been able to.”
She snorts. “It’s because I insulted you, isn’t it?”
I laugh loudly. “You might be onto something with that.”
“Did you come in here to steal my popcorn?” she huffs as I steal more of it.
“No. I came in here to watch tv with you,” I admit. “But I have to tell you, this show looks strange.”
Harlow laughs, and it’s the best kind of song. “It’s a reality show,” she says, and I groan. “I know I know. It’s so addicting, though.”
“Explain it to me,” I say around a mouthful of popcorn.
She glares at me and sighs. “It’s called Senseless Love.”
“Harsh.”
Harlow laughs again, and I smile, watching the joy on her face. “They pair people up that are missing a sense.”
“Like common sense?” I ask, knowing I’ll get a glare and laughing when I’m rewarded with one.
“Like touch, taste, smell, sight, or hearing.”
“Okay,” I say, seeing the appeal. “So explain these two.”
“The woman, her name is Hailey. She’s been nose blind since she was a child. The man, his name is Jordan. He has all his senses, but he has a medical condition that gives him horrible halitosis.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “So she can’t smell his breath? That’s actually genius.”
“Exactly! Last season there was a deaf woman that was paired with a man who thought he could sing opera. Spoiler, he could not.”
I’m laughing again. I laugh more with this woman than I do with anyone else. She brings out something in me that’s been dormant for years.
“How many seasons are there?” I ask.
“Four,” she answers, eyes squinting like she’s trying to figure out a puzzle.
“What?”
“You’re going to want to watch this with me now, aren’t you?” she grumbles.
“Yes. And you better not watch it without me.” She rolls her eyes, but smiles.
“Fine, but you’re making the popcorn next week.”
“Deal.”