Page 52 of Second Chance with the Single Dad Goalie
Mia’s mouth drops open. “A robot butler?!”
Nico’s eyes light up. “Like the beep boop kind?”
Whitney nods solemnly. “The very same.”
Both kids erupt into giggles, their excitement filling the room, and I find myself just…, watching. It’s been a while since I’ve seen them like this - with someone who isn’t me. They already trust her. They already like her. And it shouldn’t surprise me because Whitney’s always been good with kids. But still, watching it unfold in real-time? It does something to me.
I clear my throat. “All right, space explorer and tea party queen,” I say, drawing their attention. “Before you take off, I have an announcement.”
Mia and Nico stop giggling, eyes wide and waiting.
I nod toward Whitney. “She’s gonna be your new nanny.”
Their reaction is instant.
Mia gasps like she’s just been told she won the lottery. “Really?!”
“Yes!” Nico jumps, his little fists pumping in the air.
Whitney blinks. “Wow. That’s a lot of enthusiasm.”
Mia tugs on her sleeve again. “Do you like us, Whitney?”
Whitney stills for a second like she wasn’t expecting the question. But then, a small smile tugs at her lips. “Of course, I do.”
Mia beams, looking over at Nico. “She likes us!”
Something tugs in my chest. I clear my throat. “So…, when do you wanna start?”
She sighs. “The day after tomorrow.”
I nod. “All right.”
She huffs. “God forbid I ease into this.”
I smirk. “Where’s the fun in that?”
She rolls her eyes, but there’s no real heat behind it. Then, suddenly, Nico tugs at her sleeve again.
“Whitney?” His little voice is serious. “Can you make pancakes?”
Whitney bites back a smile. “I might know a thing or two about pancakes.”
Nico narrows his eyes like he’s trying to figure out if she’s bluffing. “Good ones?”
“The best ones,” she declares confidently.
Mia gasps, looking at me like I just became irrelevant. “Better than Daddy’s?”
Whitney smirks at me, eyes full of mischief. “I don’t know. Maybe we’ll have a pancake showdown and find out.”
The kids love this idea. They start talking all at once - chocolate chips! Sprinkles! Syrup! and Whitney listens, nodding along like she’s already strategizing.
I shake my head, watching them. And darn it…! For the first time in a long time, I feel it again.
That pull toward her.
That attraction I thought I had buried.
