Chapter 10
Ten
Aria
It was finally Friday, and a lower-key one at that. I loved my job—the kids were wonderful and the dads were obviously wonderful—but all the running around took a toll. I knew I had to take Mila to ballet practice later, but for now, I was taking a relaxing bath and enjoying the solitude.
My friend Khloe had texted me several times wanting to catch up, but between the kids and the guys, I hadn't had much of a chance.
It seemed like the perfect opportunity to call her and see how life had been treating her.
I pulled out my wireless headphones and dialed her number.
The phone trilled a few times before clicking live.
"Well, hey there. I was beginning to think you'd ghosted me," Khloe said, warmth and teasing in equal measure.
"Never," I responded. "Life has just taken a... strange turn."
"Strange how?" There was genuine curiosity in her voice, the kind that came from years of friendship.
"Remember that nanny job I texted you about?" I asked.
"Yeah."
"Well, when I got to the interview, the dad dropped the bomb that it wasn't just watching one guy's kids—it was six guys' kids. Seven children total." I paused, knowing full well that wasn't even the craziest part of the story.
"No way! Please tell me you didn't accept. That seems like a totally cheap and unfair way to trick someone into looking after multiple kids. Besides, there are laws against underpaying someone for something like that." Khloe's protective instinct kicked in immediately, just like I'd known it would.
"Yeah, underpayment is far from an issue," I said, unable to keep the smile out of my voice. "I'm making more money monthly at this one job than I have at all of my previous jobs combined."
"Shut up." Khloe's voice went up an octave.
"Do they need another nanny? Housekeeper? Someone to just stand there and look pretty?"
"What happened to wedding planning?" I asked. Khloe and I had been friends for a few years and had both come to Texas to pursue our careers. She specialised in high-end party planning—specifically, fancy, celebrity-worthy weddings.
"I'm still doing it, but this current job..." Her voice trailed off. "We'll get to that. But finish telling me about yours. You don't hate it?"
All the guys' and kids' faces flashed across my mind, and my heart swelled three sizes bigger.
"No, quite the opposite actually. I absolutely love the kids, and I think..." I hesitated, then decided to just say it. "I think I may be falling for the dads too.”
"Whoa! Pump the brakes, missy! You can't get involved with the fathers of the kids you're nannying. What if the mothers find out?" Khloe's concern was immediate and genuine.
"No mothers in the picture," I said. "I'm the nanny for the official Single Dad Club. Headed by one Noah, oh-my-god-he's-so-unbearably-gorgeous, Blake."
"Wow." Khloe let out a low whistle. "Kind of a dream gig over there, huh?”
"Yeah," I replied, warmth spreading through my chest.
"They're really sweet and caring, and they treat me very well."
"Get it, girl," Khloe said, and I could hear the smile in her voice.
"I must admit, I've found myself in a similar predicament."
"Really? How many guys?" I asked, intrigued.
"Seven," Khloe replied.
"Holy crap, I thought my six was a lot," I said.
"Where'd you meet them?”
"Remember when I said this current job was giving me trouble?
They're why," Khloe explained. "The groom's seven groomsmen.
They're unreasonably good-looking, and I can tell they want me.
Every time I get around them, my concentration goes to shit.
I just keep imagining myself in the centre of that huddle. "
I giggled. "I bet you do. Send me pictures."
"I'll do it if you will," she replied.
"Deal." My other line started to ring, and I could see it was Liam. "Oh, this is one of my dads. I promise I'll come out to Houston and visit once things calm down."
"You'd better. Hopefully, we'll have even juicier notes to exchange by then," she quipped.
"I have juicy notes," I said. "You need to catch up." My phone beeped again. "Okay, I really gotta go."
"Okay," Khloe said.
"Love you. Bye."
"You too. Bye." I hung up and answered the other line just before it would have sent Liam to voicemail.
"Hello."
"Hello there," Liam replied in a dark, sultry voice.
"How are you spending your morning off before you have to get the kids?”
I splashed the water around me a little louder on purpose.
"Just taking a bubble bath."
"I like what I'm hearing. Can I join you?" Liam asked.
I snickered. "I'd love it, but then I'd definitely be late to get the kids."
Liam sighed. "Too true. Speaking of which, I'm hoping you can take Mila to ballet after school today."
I wasn't scheduled to pick Mila up—Liam was supposed to have the day off. "Oh no, did you get called in?"
"Naturally. I work with idiots, so I suppose it's to be expected," he replied, frustration evident in his voice.
"I can take her. It's not a problem," I said.
"Thank you so much. I told Mila I was coming and now I have to disappoint her, and I hate that," Liam said, the pain of letting his daughter down clear in every word.
"It's okay," I told him.
"I'll make sure she feels extra, extra loved. And you too, if you need it."
"Oh, I need it," Liam responded with a deep laugh.
"Alright, well tell her I'm sorry and I love her.”
"I will. See you tonight." I swished the water again.
Liam let out a low growl.
"You're killing me. I'll see you tonight."
I finished my bath, got dressed, and headed out to get the kids. I felt bad for Liam that he couldn't be there for Mila, but I knew she loved having me drop her off at ballet, so I was certain she'd be okay.
I signed the kids out of their schools, loaded them into the van, and started off for the twins' baseball practice.
I'd been nannying the kids for close to a month now, so I had a pretty good handle on juggling all of their activities. It was most time-effective to bring the boys to baseball, drop Finn at karate, and then bring Mila to ballet.
Typically by the time I got those four dropped off, it was nearly time to cycle back and get Oliver and Theo, so I would bring the remaining kids for ice cream, then go pick up the twins and bring them some as well.
Then I'd bring them all home. After they were settled, I'd go back for Finn and Mila, bring them each to get a treat of their own, drop Finn at home, and then drop Mila.
I climbed out in front of Mila's ballet studio with Danielle, Caleb, and Leo.
Mila was a little sad that Liam couldn't be with her, but I snuggled her up and gave her a kiss on the cheek as I sent her off to join her friends, telling her sweetly that I'd be back for her when practice was over.
She gave me an adorable smile and a huge hug, and then as she was skipping off to join the others, she called out, "Bye, Mum!"
My heart stopped. Then it swelled so large I thought it might burst right out of my chest.
She had a huge smile on her face, completely unaware of what she'd just said, and I was blanketed in a feeling I had never felt before. It was overwhelming and terrifying and absolutely perfect all at once.
That sweet girl cared about me enough to—even accidentally—call me Mum. The word echoed in my mind, settling into a place I hadn't known was empty until that very moment.
I blinked back tears as I watched her disappear into the studio, my hand pressed against my chest as if I could hold this feeling inside forever.
I carried out the rest of the schedule in a daze, unable to stop smiling. When I finally arrived back at Mila's ballet practice to pick her up before heading to get Finn, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was picking up my own daughter.
She ran up to me with a huge smile on her face and threw her whole body into a hug.
I squeezed her tight, breathing in the scent of her strawberry shampoo, and then loaded her into the van and went to get Finn.
I dropped Finn at home and then took Mila to finally be reunited with her very exhausted papa.
"Daddy!" she yelped as we walked through the door.
She ran up to him and he crouched down instantly to meet her in a big hug. "Hi, princess!"
"I got froyo from Aria!" she said.
"Did you? She spoils you a little too much, maybe?" he said, looking up at me. I shrugged. He wasn't wrong.
"Well, go put on some comfy clothes and we'll have some dinner."
"Okay!" Mila scuttled away and Liam stood up and walked over to me.
"Thank you," Liam said. He wrapped a hand around my waist and pulled me closer to him.
"Of course," I replied, meeting his embrace. My heart was still racing from earlier. "Oh, guess what?"
"What?" Liam said.
"Mila called me Mum today." The words came out softer than I'd intended, weighted with emotion I hadn't fully processed yet.
I felt Liam's arms tense around me immediately. "What?"
"When I dropped her off at ballet. She said 'Bye, Mum' and just... skipped away like it was nothing." I looked up at him, trying to read his expression. "Is that... I don't know, I guess maybe it's just the dad in me that makes me a little nervous. That's a big thing."
His voice shook slightly, and I realised he was more affected than he was letting on.
"It is big," I replied carefully. I reached up and cradled his face in my hands, bringing him down to meet my eyes.
"But it's okay. It's not like I'm going anywhere, and sometimes I feel like I am her mum.
" I searched his face, vulnerability making my voice waver.
"If I'm always there for her, if I love her like she's mine. .. is that a problem?"
Liam's face relaxed, and a smile curved across it—slow and genuine and full of something that made my chest ache.
He tucked his hand under my chin and lifted my head, setting his lips on mine.
The kiss was deep and passionate, full of something I hadn't felt from Liam before.
Something that felt like permission. Like acceptance. Like family.