Page 18 of If This Was a Movie

“It’s settled then,” Claire says, a self-assured smile on her lips. “God, if I had known you were her, I totally would have pushed for you to go on a date with my brother harder. I told you you would get along!” She did, months ago, and I turned her down, telling her I had a bad experience recently that put me off dating for a bit. Claire gives me a small smile. “You’ll just stay in the cottage while this all gets sorted out and occasionally babysit.”

I open my mouth to argue but don’t even get a squeak out this time. It seems these women are hell on wheels when they get an idea in their heads.

“You can’t trust me with your niece,” I say, but she gives me a be-so-real look because even I know that’s not true. We spend a lot of time together, nearly every day. “I could be dangerous, and you’d never know! I appreciate the offer, really, but I can’t acceptthat. Plus, I doubt your brother would be okay with your friend moving in with him.”

“Literally anyone on those nanny sites could also be dangerous, and we’d never know. I listen to true crime podcasts. Anyone could snap at any moment, becoming a total psycho. At least we know who you are,” Sloane says, her sister nodding as if it’s the utmost bit of logic.

“Iactually don’t know you,” I say to Nate’s other sisters.

“Oh, I’m Sloane. See? Now you know me. Perfect. So a place to live, got that. That’s your dance studio?”

I nod, a bit frazzled. Everything right now is utter chaos, and it seems everything I’m saying is going right over these women’s heads. This is so my kind of luck.

Let’s see, first, I have nowhere to live and nowhere to work. Then, the man I thought was a piece of shit so I ghosted him, is actually my friend’s brother, and his sisters are attempting to convince me to essentially move in with him.

Oh, and his daughter seems to think I’m her Ashlyn doll come to life to fulfill some kind of Christmas wish.

Claire, clearly either oblivious to my panic or not caring at all, turns to her sister. “Do you think Mom has any contacts at the community center? Jules could run her classes there in the meantime, it’s usually pretty empty in December.”

“Definitely,” Sloane says, pulling out her phone and tapping on it. “I’ll fill her in now, and she’ll get working on it.”

“Perfect!” Sutton says with a happy little clap of her hands. “It’s set! Nothing to worry about anymore!”

“I’m sorry, I really appreciate all of this, but it’s so very unnecessary. I?—”

“Do you know if your clothes were damaged? We can try and see if we have anything that would fit you. You and Sutton look about the same size.”

“I have way too many clothes! You can totally go shopping in my closet,” Sutton says.

“If you need furniture, I’m sure our dad has—” Claire starts, but the anxiety bubbles over.

“Stop!” I shout as loud as I feel comfortable without drawing additional attention. Everyone around me goes silent, and I close my eyes, taking in a deep breath. “I’m sorry,” I say, taking in a deep breath when all four women stare at me with wide eyes, including little Sophie. “That was rude. I appreciate the kindness, really. But I’m panicking enough, and I just need to make it through the night. I appreciate the offers, but I don’t need you to go out of your way. I’ll figure it all out myself.”

All three of the sisters look at each other, not offended by my outburst or my declining their help, instead smiling at each other before Sloane puts an arm around my shoulder and sighs.

“So I hate to tell you this, but this is just the Donovan way,” Sloane says. “You get used to it. We see someone in need, we chip in. Especially when we claim you as one of our own.”

My eyes drift across the way to where Nate is talking to the fire chief, pointing my way and nodding. When he catches my eye, his lips tip up in a soft smile, and despite everything, butterflies in my belly flutter like they’ve never been gone.

I’ve completely lost it.

I sigh before turning to Sloane. “The only kind of help I need right now is a fucking lobotomy,” I mumble under my breath.

SEVEN

NATE

“Are you terrorizing Jules?” I ask, walking over to where my sisters are nearly doubled over with laughter, Sophie smiling like she wants to get the joke but is only five, and Jules looking like she might try and run.

Claire stands and shakes her head, brushing a tear from her eyes as she catches her breath. “Only a little,” she says. “We’re Donovan-waying her, and it’s sending her spiraling.”

“Ah, yeah, that’ll do it,” I say, then look over my shoulder at where Mark, the fire chief, is making his way over to us. I turn back to Jules. “So I talked to Mark, and as you know, you can’t stay here. So?—”

“She’s going to stay in the cottage!” Claire interrupts.

“And you’re going to fix her place,” Sloane says.

“She’s also going to help babysit Sophie when you need her,” Sutton adds.

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