Page 72 of The Nanny Goal

But I'm not stupid. I can feel myself reacting to him, and so I need to take some precautions just in case I make a terrible mistake and let Alexei act on the promise in his eyes.

If we kiss like that again, it might go further than we expect, and I’m not going to be showing up on his doorstep nine months later with another baby surprise.

Your girl needs birth control pills, and she needs themstat.

CHAPTER23

ALEXEI

The kiss consumes all of my thoughts until we get to the hospital mid-morning—and I find out the window on quality alone time with my temporary nanny has just slammed shut.

“What do you mean, they’re discharging you?”

My mother shrugs, as if she didn’t just have a heart attack less than a week ago. “They say I can go home.”

“But you’re sick!”

“I can be sick at home.” She rattles a pill bottle. “They say I’ll recover better in my own bed.”

But her bed is two doors down from where I dry humped Emery against a bookcase this morning.

“Great,” I say weakly.

And it is great, of course.

I don’t want my mother to spend a minute longer in the hospital than she needs to, I just thought she needed to for a few more days.

I thought I had more time.

Alexei

My parents are coming home today

Emery

I just got back, I’ll move my stuff back to the basement

The basement.Two floors away is too far.What are you going to do when she’s on a whole other continent, asshole?

Fuck.

No, you can’t

Why not?

My parents need it

…

She literally spells out the ellipses. I laugh out loud, drawing my dad’s attention.

“What is it?”

I shake my head. “Nothing. Just Emery being funny.”

“Emmy funny,” Inessa repeats solemnly, nodding her head.

We’ll talk about it when I get home

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