Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
CALEB
Pulling my shirt over my head, I run a tired hand through my damp hair to push it away from my forehead. The last remaining guys are finishing up in the dressing room. Most have left already and when I catch sight of Rowan leaving the room, the coast is clear.
And then I see Carson waiting for me by the door.
“Did you see Andi’s text in the group chat?”
I tilt my head to the side, reaching into the side pocket of my duffle bag to retrieve my phone and unlock the screen. Normally, I have it completely charged with the volume turned on, just in case there’s something emergent with Tella that I need to be available for.
My eyebrows pull together in a furrow. It somehow ended up on “Do Not Disturb” mode. My heart immediately speeds up and my stomach rolls as anxiety grips my insides. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everyone’s good,” he assures me, rather than scolding me for jumping directly to the worst case scenario. He’s always been able to read me like an open book. “Mia offered to watch Tella so Andi could get Matteo home and in bed at a decent time.”
My heart stops in my chest, my eyes flashing to my brother’s. “What?”
Carson shrugs, feigning a look of innocence. “Mia’s great. If I trust my kid with her, you can trust her with yours too.”
There is a prick of annoyance inside my chest that Andi just left like that. I don’t have a problem with Mia Landry. Hell, everyone loves her. But she hasn’t been properly vetted. I’m not sure I completely trust her with my daughter.
My phone vibrates. I turn it over and find a text from an unfamiliar number on the screen.
Unknown
Hey, this is Mia. Tella and I are waiting for you outside of my father’s office.
“Was that her?”
I nod at my brother, not bothering to look at him as I type my response and send it.
Caleb
Thanks. I’ll be there in a few.
“They’re waiting outside of Coach’s office.”
“I’ll walk with you,” Carson offers, shifting the strap of his bag on his shoulder as we walk out into the hallway together.
“That’s okay,” I tell him, running my tongue across my teeth. “I’ll catch up with you tomorrow. Tell Andi thanks for keeping an eye on Tella.”
Carson nods, his lips falling into a flat line. “You need to figure out a better situation for Tella’s sake,” he says, his voice low. “She’s always more than welcome at our house, but she needs some stability. Someone to stay at your house with her.”
“I know,” I sigh, guilt settling deep as his words strike me in the chest. He’s telling me everything I already know—everything we’ve already talked about.
“Just talk to Mia, Cale. Even if it’s just a temporary thing, it will buy you some time to find someone permanent."
I suck in a deep breath, my lungs expanding, chest rising, before I blow it out. “Okay.”
My brother and I head separate ways, him toward the exit of the building and me down the hall toward Coach Landry’s office.
I pass a few of the staff members, nodding as I keep moving and slip into the smaller hallway to the left.
As I round the corner, I see them sitting on a bench out front of Coach’s office.
Mia sits against the wall, her head tilted back and eyes closed. My gaze travels down along her side, where Tella is tucked in against her, her head resting on the side of her chest as Mia holds her upright with her arm extended around her.
My expression softens and my shoulders relax, the constricting feeling dissipating inside my chest knowing my little girl is safe and sound. My footsteps are light and I’m not sure either of them hear me as I walk to the bench, stopping a few feet away.
“Hey,” I say, my voice soft in an effort to not scare either of them. Tella doesn’t move, soft snores escaping her lips. Mia’s eyelids peel open, her head tilting away from the wall as she whips it to the side to look at me.
Her honey brown eyes meet mine instantly. “Hey.” She lets out a breath, her lips lifting into a soft smile. “You scared me.”
“Sorry,” I say, my own voice quiet. “I didn’t mean to.”
“No, no, it’s okay,” she assures me. She moves into more of an upright position rather than slouching, and dips her head down to Tella as she squeezes her arm. “Hey, Tell, your daddy’s here.”
Tella stirs awake, lifting her head from Mia’s side as she rubs her eyes. She turns on the bench out of Mia’s arm as she glances over at me. “Hi, daddy.”
“Hey, T. Are you ready to get home?”
Tella climbs off the bench and stumbles over to me, her body colliding with mine as I crouch down to scoop her up. “Mhm,” she murmurs, wrapping her little arms around my neck and resting her head on my shoulder.
Guilt washes over me. It’s well past her bedtime, yet here she is, falling asleep in the hallway of the arena, waiting for me to take her home.
I glance over at Mia as she rises to her feet, closing the distance between us.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” I tell her, waiting for her to fall in step with me.
“That’s okay,” she says, giving me a small smile. “I’ll be fine.”
I stare at her for a moment as we both begin to walk down the hallway. “It’s late, we’ll walk you out.”
She turns to look at me, her lips parting like she’s about to argue, but instead she shuts them, turning her attention back in front of her as we continue to walk side by side.
“Thanks for staying with her tonight,” I tell Mia as we reach the exit. I step in front of her to push the door open and hold it as she steps out into the darkness. The lights above the parking lot hum, dampened by the blanket of fog descending toward the ground.
“It wasn’t a problem at all,” she says, her tone light as she smiles. “She’s a great kid.”
“What happened with Andi and Matteo?”
“Andi said Matteo had an early appointment tomorrow and she was worried about him getting to bed too late, so I offered to watch Tella.” She pauses, her throat bobbing on a swallow.
“This is me,” she says as we reach a small silver sedan.
She pulls out her key fob, unlocking the door as she stops by the driver's side. “Thanks for walking me out.”
“Anytime,” I nod. Our gazes are locked and I adjust a sleeping Tella in my arms. Mia reaches up and brushes her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. There’s a small freckle to the left of her eye, right along her temple. “I um—I actually have a favor to ask you.”
Mia cocks her head to the side. “Sure. What’s up?”
“Well,” I pause, shifting my weight on my feet.
My nostrils flare, sweat beads on my forehead, my stomach twists in knots as Mia stares back at me.
Her eyes shimmer beneath the lights, the darkness almost making them look gold.
There’s no judgment on her face, only patience.
“I’m not sure if you know, but my nanny retired after last season and I’ve been meaning to find someone to watch Tella when I have games and practices and whatnot. ”
“Andi had mentioned you were in need of some help and I was going to offer, but you beat me to it.” Mia straightens her head, a smile pulling on her lips. “I’d be more than happy to help.”
My breath catches. “Really?”
“Absolutely,” she says, nodding while pulling open the driver's side door. She bends down, her jeans tightening around her backside as she puts her bag over onto the other side of the center console. I tear my gaze away from where it drifted, heat rising up my neck as I clear my throat. “I’ve actually been having a difficult time job hunting, so this would be perfect.”
I wet my bottom lip as she turns back to face me. “It can just be a temporary thing, if that works better for you. You know, until you find a different job.”
“We can just play that by ear,” she offers, biting back a grin.
“That works too.” My own lips curving to smile at her. “We have practice tomorrow morning, but perhaps we can get coffee afterwards and iron out the details?”
“That sounds perfect. Who’s watching Tella during practice?”
I inhale deeply, releasing the air slowly. I may not have figured out a nanny situation, but I do have Nova and Riley both on standby to help during practices if Andi can’t. “I planned on dropping her with Nova.”
“Why don’t I just come before practice? I can watch Tella and we can just talk afterwards?”
I stare at her for a moment. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive, Caleb,” she smiles, her bright white teeth peeking out from behind her full lips. “If I didn’t want to, I wouldn’t offer.”
“Okay. I’ll text you my address.”
Mia nods, her gaze lingering on mine. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
I swallow, watching her carefully as she turns around and climbs into her car. “Goodnight. Drive safe.”
Mia’s eyes meet mine once more. “You too,” she says, pulling the door shut behind her.
Adjusting Tella in my arms, I walk across the lot to where I’m parked. She snores lightly, stirring in her sleep as I open the back door and slide her into her booster seat. As I stand upright, I glance back across the lot, catching sight of Mia’s taillights as she heads toward the exit.
I don’t know how this situation is going to pan out, but at this point, I don’t have any other options.
It’s weird to imagine someone other than Gloria being in my home, taking care of my daughter while I’m not there.
I’m going to be putting my daughter’s life in the hands of a woman I barely know—a woman everyone swears I can trust to take care of Estella.
Shaking my head, I push away the thoughts and slide into the driver’s seat. Mia’s actively looking for another job, so I can’t expect her to drop everything to become my full-time nanny, unless that’s something she wants to do.
Regardless of what happens in the future, I desperately need this to work out right now.
I need Mia to be someone I can count on. Someone I can depend on.
Someone I can trust.