Page 84 of The Nanny Goal

He shrugs before leaning back against the counter. “So tell me about this woman you’re seeing…”

As he predicted, Forrest is happy to talk about himself.

I find my phone—wedged in the couch. It’s a group chat message from Kiley, to the WAGs (and me), but excluding Shannon.

Kiley

Hi friends! I know that tomorrow’s game against Calgary is going to be emotional for Shannon. She wants to go to the game, though, so I think we should surround her with as much love and community as we can. You’re all invited to our place first, and then we’re going to walk over to the arena as a group.

Ani

I’m making her a bedazzled Armstrong jersey to wear! Jerseys optional, of course, but it would be cute.

Becca

Charlie and I will be there! #HighlandersStrong #TeamShannon

I wasn’t going to go to the game. I was going to use Inessa as an excuse to stay home and avoid my parents, my brother, and the goalie I keep kissing.

But I can’t ignore my friend in her time of need.

Heart pounding, I watch myself type back a response I would never have sent only a week ago.

Emery

Count me in (I’ll have Inessa with me)

“Everything okay?” Alexei asks, coming up behind me.

I glance up at him. “Yeah.”

“Okay.” He glances over me. “I’m going to see if Mama is feeling up to coming upstairs for dinner. And maybe rescue her from Inessa.”

“And my parents,” I say dryly.

He winks and heads to the basement.

I take a deep breath and join my brother in the kitchen again.

He salutes me with his can of water. “You’re a real gem for helping Arty out through all this.”

“He’s paying me,” I say as I open the fridge, even though that’s not completely true.

He will, once I send him a contract.

“Sure, but this can’t be what you want to do with your life,” Forrest says.

I shove a veggie tray I made earlier at his chest. “Put this on the island.”

He does that without complaint, so I give him a little truth.

“Sure, veggie trays, grilled chicken, and apple crisp isn’t really where I see my career going, but I didn’t love the personal chef stuff back home, either. The program that I’m going to do in Switzerland has a great reputation with fine dining chefs in Europe, so I can leverage that into some stage placements.”

“In Europe.”

I shrug. “Yes! Why not?”

“Because…” He frowns.

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