Page 32 of Nanny For My Brother's Best Friend

“He’s outstanding. I have heard he’s rising in the league.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it.”

Colton orders and joins me as I set down my book, giving up on alone time. We chat about old school memories and our current lives and friends. It’s tedious since my mind is all over the place but also not awful. He’s a smart guy, hence his major, and we’ve always had pleasant conversations.

“Would you want to grab dinner with me sometime, Delilah?”

Everything crashes down as I comprehend his words, and I stare at him. Colton is smiling and looks hopeful. He’s such a sweet guy and easy on the eyes, so there’s no reason to say no.

Miles. He rejected you.

“Dinner? Sure. My schedule is a little crazy with the hockey season, but I can see what I can do.”

“Are you a live-in nanny?”

“Yes, because of the travel schedule.”

We exchange numbers before he leaves to meet his sister and I stare blankly at the floor when I’m alone again. There’s no reason I shouldn’t go out to dinner with someone like Colton. He wants to spend time with me, and the alternative is pining away for Miles, taking whatever scraps he’ll give me.

Screw that.

I continue reading for a while, but I am a mess inside and finally give up, deciding to wander through the shops. Alli is working, so I don’t call her, but I also don’t want to open up about any of this right now.

I return home later that afternoon to find Lola playing with toys while Miles reviews plays on the TV. Drew does this all the time and I smile before I remember where I’m at with Miles.

“Hey girlie.” I lean down to kiss Lola’s hair, and she grins at me before hopping up.

“Lilah! C’mere!”

“Where?”

I follow her to the kitchen to find a delicate vase filled with wildflowers on the counter. I’d recognize them anywhere after hiking all over the place here.

“Did you pick flowers for me? I love them.”

I pick up the little girl and hug her, knowing how much I already love Lola.

“Did you eat lunch?”

When she nods with a big smile, I set her on the counter.

“Want me to make hamburgers for dinner?”

I know Miles has practice tomorrow morning, and he’s leaving for a week after that. Thank God.

“Mom invited us for dinner before I leave town.”

His words wash over me like ice water. They’re cold in tone and he clearly wants to leave.

“We can make burgers tomorrow, Lola. You can help me. Okay?”

“Morrow!”

She claps her hands, and I nod, looking away as I set her on the floor. I can’t look at Miles yet because I am still drawn to him.

“Have a great dinner.”

I walk out of the room down the hall, closing my bedroom door behind me. Miles didn’t invite me to dinner, but why should he? I wouldn’t go even if he had.

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