Page 66 of The Nanny Goal

We tell him about the park, and grocery shopping, and then he says goodnight, because he’ll still be with the team when Inessa goes to bed.

Right before he signs off, he looks at me and says, “How are you doing?”

“Fine,” I say brightly.

From his expression, I think he knows that it’s an exaggeration. Crap.

“I really am fine.” I smooth my fingers over Inessa’s dark curls as she presses the side of her head against my chest again. Her hair is like silk, and the next smile I give him isn’t as forced. “It’s been a long day but a really good one. I promise today was better.” And then I get over my own doubt and give myself a compliment. “I’m taking good care of her.”

His grin says that was what he wanted to hear. “I can tell you are.”

From behind him, someone yells his name.Arty!

He winces. “They’re getting rowdy.”

“Go. Have a good dinner. We’re going to…” I crane my neck back so I can look at Inessa. “What should we do tonight? Do you have mini sticks?”

Alexei laughs. “In the workout room. She doesn’t like hockey yet, though.”

I squeeze his daughter tight. “Oh, I’m going to change that. She’ll be your training partner soon enough.”

Alexei’s workout space is not the kind of high intensity gym I was expecting. He does have a bike and a rowing machine, but there’s no heavy duty treadmill, no weight rack. Just some free weights, a set of tethered TRX straps, and a big floor area with foam mats for stretching and body work.

Inessa makes a beeline for a big exercise ball. It keeps her busy while I find the mini sticks and a rubber ball.

Then we go back down to the second floor, and I close all the doors, creating a long “rink” for us to play in.

It’s not until after we’ve finished playing and I go to send her dad a sweaty selfie of the two of us that I see he’s sent a warning.

Alexei

Don’t wreck up the pace.

Emery

Sorry, your walls already have marks on them.

But my daughter is smiling!

She sure is

And her hair looks brushed

Even braided, in fact

You think you can teach me how to do that?

Of course

But be warned, she doesn’t like to sit for very long

I know

I’ll have to practice my braiding on you

Fuuuuck.

I stare at the message until Inessa knocks my phone out of my hand.

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