Chapter 2
Liam
"So, tell us about yourself."
I ask the woman sitting across from me the same opening question I've asked the last three candidates while I actively try not to stare at the piercing in her lip.
She's probably in her mid-twenties, and is wearing entirely too much black stuff on her eyes.
But according to her resume, she worked with her last family for almost five years.
With a track record like that, I'm attempting to see past the metal in her face and the amount of skin she's currently showing, but my patience with this entire process is already very thin.
"Well, I worked with the Cunninghams for five years until their youngest went to kindergarten. Before that, I was in school for—"
"How about something that we don't see on your resume," I suggest. My tone drips with annoyance that isn't entirely meant for her.
This is day two of interviews, and despite being at it for hours, I'm no closer to finding a new nanny for Ruthie than I was at the beginning of the week.
I sit up straighter on the couch, attempting to perk myself up. "So we can get to know you better."
Erica fidgets in her seat, crossing and then uncrossing her legs again. "Uh, what do you want to know?"
My brother Levi, who I dragged into this mess for moral support—or to keep my sanity—leans forward and places his elbows onto his knees. "Whatever," he says casually. "What do you do for fun? What kind of music do you listen to? What goals do you have?"
"I like videography," she says quickly. "I do that as a side gig. But I don't really listen to music—punk, I guess, if I had to pick. And goals…" She nips at the silver ball in her bottom lip, and I try to disguise my wince as a smile. "Honestly, I'm just hoping my social media thing takes off."
"Oh, are you some sort of influencer?" I ask, my irritation resurfacing as the image of my very impressionable eleven-year-old pops to the forefront of my mind.
"Um…" Her cheeks blush as she looks down at her feet, then slowly drags them closer to the couch. "Yeah, sure." Erica wiggles her red-polished toenails, then grins. "Something like that."
I glance over at Levi, who is staring at her open-toed shoes like they're a puzzle he's trying to put together. He looks at me, then back down at her sandals and arches a brow either tauntingly or out of curiosity.
I roll my eyes back to Erica and sigh heavily. "Anything else?" I ask, mustering any leftover hope.
"I like to paint."
My ears perk up. "Do you?" I lean forward slightly, waiting for her response. Ruthie loves anything art related—drawing, crafting, jewelry mak—
"Totally. Body painting is like really big right now in electronic media."
I shake my head, furrowing my brow. "I'm sorry, did you say body painting?"
Erica nods, her round eyes blinking slowly. Mine grow wide as I tell Levi everything I need to say without any words at all.
Interpreting me perfectly, my brother clears his throat and takes over. "How about you tell us what you think an average day might look like for Ruthie."
Erica snaps the gum I didn't realize she was chewing and tilts her head sideways. "Who's Ruthie?"
"That's it." I pop up from the couch and wander over to the kitchen island. Levi says something about that being all for today, right before his We'll be in touch echoes off the cabinets.
Like hell we will.
Two sets of footsteps tap against the hardwood floor as my brother guides her out—Levi's socks and Erica's questionable, yet assumingly profitable sandals.
I stare down at the apparently useless resumes that riddle the marble, waiting for the door to shut. When it does, I heave a sigh of relief and drop my elbows to the counter, resting my forehead in my palms. "Is she gone?" I ask, my voice muffled by my hands.
"She's gone."
I drag my head up just in time to catch Levi smirk as he walks past me toward the coffeemaker. He opens the cabinet above him and pulls two mugs out before pouring the hot liquid into both.
"So where is my niece today?" my brother asks, moving toward the fridge. He pulls the almond milk out and dumps a heavy splash into one before setting it in front of me.
"Wait, who?" I ask sarcastically. Levi laughs, and I round the island with my mug before plopping onto a stool. "She's with Nellie."
He pauses, then hesitantly slides the pot back under the machine and turns toward me slowly. "Hold on… The old nanny?" he asks, confused. "I thought she was doing art therapy now or something. Isn't that the whole reason we're in this situation?"
I nod, blowing into the caffeine, suddenly wishing my hockey coach of a brother would have offered smelling salts instead.
"She is. But when I told her about this last week, she said the two clients she usually has after Ruthie canceled their sessions this afternoon—twin brothers.
So, she offered to take her out for ice cream to catch up.
And so that I could hopefully find her replacement. "
"You mean her replacement's replacement's replacement," he clarifies.
I freeze in my pursuit of a sip and glare at him over the tan liquid I'd much rather toss in his direction than swallow. "Right," I say simply.
"And what was wrong with the last one again?"
I pull my hands away from my face and shoot my eyebrows up. "Oh, you mean the one who was supposed to be polite and punctual?" I ask in my most proper voice.
Levi nods.
"She was neither."
He takes a slow sip, holding back laughter.
"What?"
"Nothing," he dismisses. He leans onto the island casually.
"Just say it."
He shakes his head, the corners of his lips turned up. "It's always something."
I tilt my chin down. "She showed up late on her first three days, then on day four, she asked if the blonde was part of the job description."
"Blonde?" he asks, rightfully confused.
In perfect timing, Sammy comes waddling over, his nails tapping against the kitchen floor like keys on a keyboard.
"No," Levi says, connecting the dots.
"Yep."
"That's not rude. That's fucking weird."
I raise my brows, taking another sip. "It's fucking annoying is what it is."
Levi all but chokes on his drink. "Woah," he says when he finally catches his breath. "Look at you."
I set my mug down and pick the resumes back up. "What now?"
He shakes his head and cracks his neck side-to-side. "It's just kind of nice being the sunshine brother for once."
I scoff. "You are not the sunshine brother."
"Well, no…" Levi runs his finger along the porcelain rim. "But it's at least partly sunny over here. You've got those dark-ass clouds hanging over you lately."
I groan, dropping the papers and taking a much-needed gulp. "You wouldn't understand. Your experience with preteens is… well, Cooper."
Levi smiles at the sound of his stepson's name. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"He's a boy. And you have Alex. I'm over here raw-dogging Girl Dad Land all alone, fighting every day for survival."
He laughs before his face goes serious. "You're not alone."
"No, I know. But you get what I'm saying."
"I do," he admits.
"And with this being my last year playing, I just know it's gonna be a lot." I pause, getting momentarily lost in the thought of life as I know it coming to an end. "I need someone I can trust to be here with Ruthie so I can fully commit this season."
Levi nods and turns to top off his mug. "That I definitely get."
My mind threatens to wander back to that gloomy, fuzzy image of what my future might look like, but I shake it off before I get in too deep. "But it'll be fine," I say, shaking it off. "It'll all work out."
The corners of Levi's lips turn up. "There he is."
I roll my eyes, then force myself to glance back over the candidates in front of me. "These are useless, aren't they?"
He blows a heavy breath through his lips. "It's definitely easier when you already know the person, or at least someone you know does."
"Yeah," I sigh. "That would be nice. Nellie tried to help, but everyone she knows from that world is already employed, I guess."
Levi clears his throat. "Speaking of her again, is it true she's dating Burnsey?"
"I think so," I answer, distracted by my attempt at making literally anything I'm reading stand out in a good way.
When Levi doesn't comment back, I look up to find him waiting for my eyes to meet his. "Are you sure we trust this woman?"
We both laugh at the thought of my former nanny dating Levi's goofiest defenseman as Sammy begins clawing at his food bowl. "Apparently, he's a lot deeper than he seems."
"That's sort of what I'm afraid of," Levi jokes. He rolls his shoulders back and smiles. "No, he's a good guy. I'm also happy to know he has to be semi-normal to land a girl like Nellie."
"What's with your team though, man? Something in the water over at the rink?"
"Pfft, I guess so. First Brooke and now Nellie."
"And don't forget you."
My little brother's face lights up at the thought of meeting his wife at the same place her best friend Brooke met the Flames' star forward.
Now, Levi is with Alex, Brooke is with Drew, and Drew's teammate and best friend Brett is Nellie's new boyfriend.
I shake my head at the thought that the rink is like a breeding ground—and the fact that my Golden Retriever is gnawing at his metal bowl.
"Remind me to keep Ruthie away from that place. "
"Hold on—"
"Not now," I clarify. "I'm talking about like six years from—"
"No, not that," he interrupts. "That I agree with. I'm saying hold on because I remember Brooke was able to help me out last year as the interim social media manager because she had a friend who covered her shifts at The Gilded Pub."
"Okay?" I question, unsure of how the girl who helped Brooke, now my team's Fan's Engagement specialist, would have to do with my situation.
Man, we're a complicated bunch.
"I'm pretty sure the girl was able to cover for Brooke because the family she worked for didn't need her anymore. I wonder if she's looking."
"Really?" I ask way too enthusiastically, pulling out my phone. I don't even know if this girl's available, but the mere idea of meeting someone that a friend can vouch for is enough to give me hope. "Should I text her?"
Levi shrugs. "Why not? I think her friend's name was Jess?"
I laugh. "I don't care what her name is if she's normal and can help my kid." I pull out my phone, scrolling as quickly as I can to Brooke's name.
Hey, sorry if this is weird, but Levi says you have a friend who nannies? Any chance she's looking for work?
"Alright, sent," I say, setting my phone on the island. Sammy jumps up with his bowl in his mouth and rests his big paws on my lap.
Levi reaches across the counter to pet him and nods toward the device. "You know, if this works out, you totally owe me."
I push Sammy down, and he hangs his head, bowl still wedged between his teeth. "And if it doesn't?"
My screen lights up before he can answer. I grab it and read Brooke's response aloud.
Brooke
Still struggling to find someone? Drew says to blame Brett—something about repercussions of the Burns' Effect?
"The Burns' Effect?" Levi echoes. "Nope... Don't even want to know."
Another text comes in before I can agree. I read it silently.
Brooke
But yeah, Tess! She just got fired, actually. I'm sure she'd be thrilled to interview!
"Awesome," I groan.
"What?"
"Apparently she just got fired—great sign."
Sammy's bowl drops to the floor with a clang that echoes off the walls and makes my badass little brother jump out of his skin. He collects himself and purses his lips. "Well, she can't be worse than SoleyFans-Erica."
"Oh my God," I shudder. "Please don't remind me." I reread Brooke's message, then type my reply.
Cool. Can you see if she can come Thursday at 1:00?
"Are you still okay with me bringing Ruthie over earlier Thursday so I can finish these before I leave for this series?"
"Of course," Levi answers. "Alex is looking forward to their girls' weekend. I'm bringing Coop with me. Are you sure you're okay tackling them alone? You know I'd be here if we weren't away."
I nod. "Our game's at 7:00 so I'm just gonna do them during the day, then head out for the trip. It'll only be these last two and Brooke's friend if she can make it."
"Okay," he says, clapping me on the shoulder. "I'd say go easy on 'em, but also, only the best for my niece. Am I right?"
"Exactly."
Levi smiles, then grabs his keys from the counter. "Alright, I'm out of here. Good luck, big brother."
"Thanks, man. I'll keep you posted."
With that, Levi heads for the door, and as it clicks shut, my phone buzzes in my hand.
Brooke
She said she'll be there!
I sigh loudly, somehow relieved by even the possibility of success.
Thanks, Brooke.
She responds immediately.
Brooke
No problem, Big Monte!
My face scrunches up at the nickname as the next text comes through.
Brooke
Nope, that felt wrong. Sorry about that. You got it, Liam! See ya at practice!
I laugh and double-tap the text to mark it with a thumbs up before sliding my phone back onto the counter.
"Alright, Sammy," I say, walking over to the container of dog food.
He's supposed to be Ruthie's responsibility, yet somehow, I'm always the one he throws his bowl at. "Let's hope she's the one."