Page 100 of The Nanny Tenure (Single Dads Club)

“I won’t withstand another embarrassment like this,” he said, and I curled my fingers into fists in my lap. This video wasn’t an embarrassment. It wasn’t any different from what anyone else would post, and I couldn’t control what people said or did. Although, he did hold my future in his hands, and I had to make him understand I took my job seriously.

“I’m committed to upholding this university’s values and my own personal standards, and I feel like I’ve proven my leadership and academic capabilities over the last few years that I’ve been here.”

He didn’t argue otherwise, merely rotated his computer screen to its original position and leaned back in his chair. He crossed his hands over his stomach. “Don’t let your internet notoriety override your impressive track record. Am I clear?”

“Crystal.”

He dismissed me with a curt, “That’ll be all, Dr. O’Neil.”

I stood with a mumbled thanks and closed the door after me, leaning against it to make sure my heart rate came back down. I wasn’t used to getting called down to the principal’s office. I didn’t get in trouble, and while I knew it wasn’t Kennedy’s fault, I couldn’t help but be annoyed that she’d accidentally caused trouble for me.

During the drive home, I replayed the conversation with Assman. That condescending tone drilling into me about propriety and values, basically accusing me of courting internet fame. As if I enjoyed the attention.

I exhaled harshly, guiding my car into the driveway, and unclenched my jaw as I stepped out of my car, hoping to relax once I stepped inside my house. At the sound of Finn’s chatter, my shoulders dropped, my frustration easing. I hung up my bag and coat, and I kicked off my shoes in time for Finn to throw himself at my legs. “Daddy!”

I picked him up. “Daddy? Did you just say Daddy with a D?”

“Daddy!” he repeated, wringing his arms tight around my neck, and my nose burned. I’d been Addy for so long, I wasn’t sure I’d ever hear the full word.

“Hey, guy.” I kissed the side of his head. “Daddy’s got you.”

He didn’t let me hug him long and butted his head against my shoulder.

“Ah. God. Can you please be a human and not ram me like a rhino?” I set him down on the floor and held out my hand to keep him from bumping me again by palming his forehead.

“Come on, Finnie!” Kennedy called. “Dinner’s ready!”

Finn and I both made our way to the kitchen, where Kennedy turned to us with a pot in her hand. She smiled at Finn and then me. “Go ahead. Sit down.”

Finn climbed on the chair as she scooped out rice and chicken onto three plates, but instead of sitting, I grabbed a pint glass from the cabinet and opened a Guinness. Kennedy eyed me. “You okay?”

I motioned to Finn. “He called me Daddy with a D.”

“He’s really doing great with speech, isn’t he?”

“Yeah,” I said, trying on a smile that didn’t feel quite right. I was proud of Finn yet weary from today. After the three of us sat at the table, I picked at my food, more interested in drinking my beer.

“What happened?” Kennedy asked, her big brown eyes filled with worry.

I had difficulty meeting her gaze. “I got called into the provost’s office today.”

Her face paled. “Because of the video? Because of me?” She set her fork down, curling her hand around my wrist. “Liam, I’m so sorry. I don’t even know what to say other than I feel awful about everything. I can?—”

“It’s not your fault.” I interrupted her self-flagellation with a shake of my head. “But, yeah, Assman tore into me about it. Said it was unprofessional and embarrassing.”

Her eyes went glassy. “I never should have posted it without asking you. I’m so, so sorry.”

“It’s really not that big of a deal,” I told her, which was both true and false. “It was an innocent video, and if anyone else had posted it, nothing would have happened.”

She blinked, and a single tear streamed down her cheek. “Are you in a lot of trouble?”

I caught the tear with my thumb. “No, but I have to make sure I don’t piss him off again. So, maybe cool it on posting anything with me in it. No matter how hard that might be.”

She didn’t smile at my joke, only sniffed. “No more posting anything. I promise.”

I tipped her chin up. “No more crying, okay? You didn’t mean any harm. Wendall’s an ass. Literally.”

Her laugh was waterlogged, but at least she wasn’t crying anymore. “I’m just scared. I don’t want to screw anything up for your job.”

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