Page 43 of Military Daddies' Nanny

"I won't lie and say the thought has never crossed my mind," I admit. "Especially in the beginning, when everything was new, and we were still figuring out the dynamics. But Nancy, the thing is...I don't feel like I'm sharing you. Not really."

She tilts her head, curious. "What do you mean?"

I drum my fingers against the steering wheel, searching for the right words. "It's like...okay, you know how they say the heart is infinitely expandable? That loving one person doesn't diminish your capacity to love another?"

"Sure..."

"Well, I think that applies here. The way I feel for you and what we share is uniquely ours. Just like what you have with Drew is special to the two of you, and with Carlos. We each bring something different to the table, fulfill different needs.

“So yeah, sometimes I might wish I had more time alone with you. But I would never want to take away the bonds you have with them. Because I see how happy they make you. How whole you are when we're all together."

I risk a glance over and find Nancy watching me, eyes glistening. "You amaze me, you know that?" she says softly. "Your capacityfor love, for acceptance...I've never known anyone like you, Nathan."

Warmth blooms in my chest at her words. "I could say the same about you. I mean, you're the linchpin holding this whole crazy quadruple together. Without you..."

I trail off, not quite able to finish the thought. Because the truth is, I can't imagine our lives without Nancy in them anymore. She filled a void we didn't even know was there and brought us closer not only to her but also to each other. The four of us, we're stronger together. Better.

Nancy seems to read my mind, squeezing my hand. "Hey. I'm not going anywhere. You guys are stuck with me, remember?"

I grin, lifting our joined hands to press a kiss to her knuckles. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

We lapse into comfortable silence for a while, the radio playing softly in the background. I find my thoughts drifting to the future, not with anxiety as they so often used to, but with a tentative hope. For the first time in a long time, I'm excited for the future.

"You know," Nancy muses eventually, "at some point, we should probably sit down and hash out some...I don't know, ground rules? Boundaries? Just so everyone's on the same page."

I nod, thinking of the research I've already started doing into ethical non-monogamy.Leave it to me to turn even love into an academic pursuit.

"Definitely. Communication is key in any relationship, but especially one as complex as ours. Maybe we can get everyone together this weekend and have a talk?"

"Sounds perfect," she agrees. Then a sly smile curves her lips. "Although I vote we have the serious discussion after engaging in some decidedly less serious activities. It's been far too long since I had all three of you in one bed."

A jolt of desire shoots through me at her words, and I have to focus very hard on the road to keep from swerving. "Jesus, Nancy. You can't just say things like that when I'm driving."

She laughs, utterly unrepentant. "Why? Am I making it hard for you?"

I groan at the terrible pun, but I'm grinning too. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Mhmm, and yet you want me anyway."

"God help me, I do."

“So, what do you want to do?”

Her eyes narrow in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Jason is not due back for another two hours. We could go back home or do whatever you want.”

I hope she doesn’t say she wants to go home. As much as I’d love to take her bed and be nestled in her warmth, a part of me also wants to enjoy being outside with her, doing whatever silly or fun things we can find to do.

It’s been a while since I allowed myself to do anything that wasn’t focused on the children.

“Hmm…how about we drive around and see what we can find to do?” she smiles, looking out the window contentedly.

We end up taking a stroll in a park downtown, and I can’t even take a few steps without stealing a glance at Nancy.

The sun is already on its way down when we leave the park. Jason’s school bus should just be a short distance from the school, which is just a few blocks away from the park.

The traffic is heavier than usual, and I try to hide my worry about us getting to the school late and making Jason wait for us. Shouldn’t be a big deal, except Drew is usually very finicky about things like punctuality.

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