Chapter 16 Octavia #2
I blinked up at him as he kept his hand stuck out.
Damn him and those sad eyes. Damn him for ruining my one shot at getting laid.
He had no idea how much time I’d spent chatting with Terry, getting to know a few important facts about him so that our first hookup wouldn’t be completely awkward.
I mean, yes, Terry would’ve been a one-night stand situation, but I could’ve used him to satisfy myself for the night and then never bothered with him again.
Drawing in a breath, I pushed Javier’s hand out of the way and stood up on my own.
“I’m only going because I don’t want to wait for a ride,” I grumbled. “Now excuse me. I have to pay the bill.” I tried making my way around him, but he caught my arm with a delicate hand.
“I will take care of it,” he said. “Will you go with Aleesa to the car?” He handed me the car key to his Mercedes. “I parked in the back.”
I had the urge to tell him that it was my day off—that I didn’t have to be a nanny at this particular time, per the contract.
But one thing I didn’t want was a bunch of media screaming about a certain basketball player’s nanny causing a scene.
And the last thing I wanted was to be fired over a shitty date.
So, I held Aleesa’s hand, collected my purse, and exited the building.
“The nerve of your dad,” I muttered when we reached the car. I clicked Aleesa’s seat belt into place. She kicked her feet as I adjusted and tightened the straps, completely oblivious to what was going on between the adults. I envied her naivety.
Afterward, I sat in the passenger seat with my arms crossed tightly over my chest. When I spotted Javier coming toward the car, I pointed my knees to the passenger door and glared out of the window.
He climbed in, taking up way too much space for my liking. He smelled clean, like he’d recently showered and applied a light spritz of cedarwood-scented cologne afterward.
After placing the to-go bag on the floor of the back seat, he started the engine and rolled out of the parking lot. He turned on a Kidz Bop soundtrack for Aleesa. She belted out “Calm Down” by Rema and Selena Gomez, and her cute singing voice was making it insanely hard to stay mad.
I cut a glance at Javier. He didn’t say a word. And he looked angry, as if he had the right to be.
“Baby, com dan, com dan,” Aleesa sang.
He had no right to be mad. He ruined my night. Now, I was going to have to use Rosie again.
I fished my phone out of my purse and fired up a text to send to Davina.
Me: you will not believe what Javier just did
She responded almost instantly. Which most likely meant she wasn’t working.
Vina: What did he do?
Me: He just ruined a date I had!
Vina: A date? How are you even able to have one of those right now?
Me: That’s not the point
Vina: Okay . . . how did he ruin it?
Me: It’s one of my nights off and I was at a restaurant with a guy I met. Javier ended up at the same restaurant for a to-go order and saw us. Came to the table and interrupted the whole thing.
Vina: Stop lying. Javier wouldn’t do that.
Me: I kid you not. He ruined the whole thing. On purpose. I’m pretty sure my date thought we were in some kind of complicated relationship. He didn’t seem mad at Javier though, just me. Started obsessing over Valdez and everything. Fucker.
Vina: This is hilarious.
You wouldn’t think so, with how blandly she texted. She never used emojis or symbols or anything. I sent her the middle finger emoji.
Vina: Sorry but that is so interesting. I can’t even picture Javier doing something like that.
Me: Are you laughing about this? I can’t tell. You’re so dry when you text.
Vina: Yes, I’m laughing. And shut it.
Then she followed up her previous text with: Can I tell Deke?
Me: Please do. Maybe he’ll talk some damn sense into his friend.
Vina: On it.
After texting her, I went to Naomi’s name in my messages and sent her a text too:
Me: I hate men.
My other best friend was a slower texter. She worked the night shift as a labor-and-delivery nurse, so I didn’t expect a reply from her for a few hours. But at least she had the notification.
When we pulled up to Javier’s place, I climbed out first. I didn’t have the heart to storm away. Because storming away would’ve meant not saying good night to Aleesa.
I helped her out of her car seat and carried her to the house while Javier collected the to-go bag. Once inside, I kicked out of my heels before making my way to the living room.
“Tava. Can you eat wif me?” she asked as Javier placed their food on the counter.
“Oh, honey, I don’t think so. I already ate, so I’m a little full already.”
“Please,” she begged, clasping her hands and giving me puppy dog eyes. Guilt gnawed at me. This girl was too much. She knew exactly how to play her cards to win me over.
“How about I just sit with you?” I offered.
“Yay!” She ran to the table and climbed into her booster seat, ready for her meal. I sat in my designated chair, which was right next to hers, while Javier placed a plate on the table in front of her. I felt him looking at me. I didn’t bother looking back.
This had to be a violation of my rights, right?
A breach of contract of some sort?
But then again, there was no clause stating that my boss couldn’t interrupt my dates. There was, however, a clause stating that he could not terminate me due to anything pertaining to my personal life.
Aleesa dug into her food, and Javier did the same. He’d gotten the glazed chicken too. The few bites I’d had were delicious . . . but I wasn’t about to agree on anything with him right now.
Aleesa made all kinds of noises while she ate, bobbing her head and kicking her feet. She tried offering me a broccoli floret, but I politely declined.
“Suit you’self,” she quipped.
I fought a smile. She was making it really hard to stay serious. And it didn’t help that she’d taken a page out of my book. Whenever she’d decline something healthy that I would offer, I’d say “suit yourself.”
Once she’d finished eating, I helped her out of her chair. “Are we good now?”
“Can you read to me, Tava?”
Oh my goodness.
I side-eyed Javier, who was placing their plates in the sink. He could have intercepted her at any time and told her I had to go, redeemed some of my respect, but he hadn’t. The prick. He still hadn’t said a single word. And he still looked angry. The fuck was wrong with him?
“Just one story, then I really have to go, okay?”
“Okay.” She grinned and tugged on my hand, leading me out of the kitchen. I followed her up the stairs and into her room. I never read her a story without putting her pajamas on first, so I changed her clothes, then helped her brush her teeth.
After detangling her hair, I put her cute little bonnet on. I’d bought the bonnet when I first started working with her. Why not? Her curls were too beautiful not to protect. And she loved it, said it made her feel like a princess.
I sat in the recliner in the corner, and she plucked a book from her shelf—one about a baby panda searching for his family.
Somehow, reading a story turned into her showing me the play food she’d made earlier—and a naked doll with crayon all over it that she said needed a bath—until eventually, she rubbed her eyes and told me she was ready for bed.
I laid her down and turned on the white noise machine.
Someone turned the big lights off, so the night-light took their place. I looked over my shoulder after tucking her in. Javier stood between the jambs of the door with a shoulder pressed to one.
At least he didn’t look angry anymore.
“Good night, Leesa. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I planted a kiss on her forehead, then tugged my dress down by the hem before heading to the door.
“Excuse me,” I grumbled through gritted teeth. Javier shifted sideways before making his way into the room to give Aleesa a kiss.
I drifted through the hallway, ready to take the stairs down and get the hell out of there, but Javier called my name.
I stopped in my tracks and twisted around as he left the door open just a crack. When he fully faced me, I got tired of bottling my anger.
“You embarrassed me tonight,” I snapped. “I just . . . I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. Like, what were you even thinking? You had no business interrupting my date like that!”
He took a step closer but said nothing.
“Aren’t you going to at least apologize?” I demanded, stepping closer too.
“No,” he answered.
Anger bubbled in my veins. I wanted to yell. Scream. He was so lucky Aleesa was around.
“Why the hell not?” I demanded.
His eyes traveled from my head to my toes.
Then, in two long strides, he closed the gap between us, cupped the back of my head, and kissed me.