Page 14 of The Wolf's Plus-Size Nanny

“I don’t know,” I say with a shrug, though it’s not a total lie. “I mean, she’s a handful, but… she’s not so bad, either.”

“Mm-hmm,” Reiner hums, a smirk spreading across his face. “Maybe it’s more than just a ‘handful,’ if you know what I mean.”

I groan, shaking my head. Leave it to Reiner to make things awkward. “No, man, it’s not like that. We’re just… I don’t know, I guess we’ve got some kind of truce going on. We’re not at each other’s throats every five seconds at least. More like every ten.”

Reiner just grins. “That’s progress, coming from you.”

“Yeah, yeah. All right, I’m going to go try to convince Supernanny not to run herself into the ground.”

“Good luck,” Reiner calls as I walk away, but there’s a knowing tone to his voice that tells me he thinks I’m in over my head.

I find Sonya in the living room, bouncing Fiona on her knee with a tired smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. She looks worn down, like she’s running on fumes, and I know I can’t keep ignoring this. If Reiner’s right—and he usually is—Sonya’s holding herself together with spit and duct tape, and it’s only a matter of time before she breaks.

“Hey,” I start, trying to keep my tone light as I sit down across from her. “Got a minute?”

Sonya glances up. “Sure. What’s up?”

I rub the back of my neck, searching for the right words. “I’ve noticed you’ve been… off lately. Quiet. You okay?”

She shrugs, but her shoulders are tense. “I’m fine, Jack. Just tired.”

“Tired doesn’t cover it,” I push, keeping my gaze steady on hers. “Reiner told me you’re really pushing it, Sonya.”

Sonya’s eyes flash with something—anger, maybe, or pride—but she quickly masks it, focusing on Fiona like she’s the most fascinating thing in the world. “Reiner needs to mind his own business.”

“Maybe, but he’s not wrong. You’re running yourself ragged, and it’s not sustainable. Why didn’t you say something?”

“Because it’s not your problem,” Sonya snaps, finally looking up to meet my eyes. “I didn’t ask you to worry about me, Jack. I’m handling it.”

“Are you?” I counter, not letting up. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re drowning. And I don’t get why you’re pushing yourself this hard when you don’t have to.”

Sonya sighs, a heavy, tired sound that seems to come from somewhere deep. “I just… I want to do this on my own. I don’t want to rely on anyone.”

“I get that,” I say, keeping my voice gentle but firm. “But it’s okay to need help sometimes. We all do.”

“It’s not that simple,” she murmurs, her grip tightening on Fiona. “I came here because I needed a fresh start, okay? Away from Stardust Hollow, away from my ex and all that mess.No one asked me to come. Jane and Reiner didn’t invite me; I just showed up and decided to stay. I don’t want to be a burden.”

“You’re not a burden to anybody. You’re helping me out more than you know, Sonya. But you’re no good to Fiona—or to yourself—if you’re stretched this thin.”

Sonya’s expression softens, but I can still see the walls she’s keeping up. “I didn’t want to live with Jane and Reiner. They’re newly mated, and I didn’t want to intrude. Same with the others. Everyone’s married, moving on with their lives. I just… I wanted to be independent. Prove I could make it on my own.”

“You’re proving it. But you don’t have to do it alone. You’ve got people here who care about you, who want to help. And that includes me.”

Sonya looks down at Fiona, who’s now happily gnawing on his tiny fist. “It’s just… hard. Admitting I need help.”

“Then don’t think of it as help,” I suggest, leaning forward. “Think of it as a partnership. You’re already doing so much for Fiona and me. Let me do something for you in return.”

She raises an eyebrow, and I can see the skepticism etched across her face. “And what, exactly, are you proposing?”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady the nerves rattling in my chest. “Move in with me. Quit your other jobs, focus on Fiona, and you won’t have to worry about rent at all. I’ll even increase your salary.”

Sonya blinks, clearly taken aback. “Move in? With you?”

I nod, pressing on before she can refuse. “You’d have your own room. We’ll share a bathroom, but I’ll stay out of your way. It’s not charity, Sonya. It’s practical. You’re already here most of the day, and it’ll make things easier for both of us.”

Sonya hesitates, and her gaze flickers to the hallway that leads to the spare room. I can see the conflict in her eyes—pride and practicality warring inside her head. “I don’t know, Jack. That’s a lot to ask.”

“It’s not. Look, you’re already juggling too much. This way, you can focus on what you’re best at—taking care of Fiona. You’d still be earning, still independent, but without the burnout.”

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