Page 42 of Nanny for the Damaged Ex-SEAL

"I'll accept whoever you bring, okay? No one is judging you, Connor! It's okay to move on," Amy shouts at me from the dining room.

I'm standing in front of the mirror, my hands on the sink beneath it, as I ruminate on her words. I'm sad. I'm sad because I know that's not true. Amy and Charles won't accept me wanting the one person that I want.

Chapter 15

Aria

I’mmeetingupwithBria on her lunch break at a restaurant close to her workplace. Connor is down at the gym and it’s my day off at the animal shelter. My phone goes off on the bed. It’s probably Bria calling to remind me of our lunch date.

I’m right, it’s her.

“Are you on your way?”

I turn to look at my reflection in the mirror. I’m not even halfway done getting ready. My hair is a mess, it’s wet and tangled underneath the towel I have on my head. I still have to blow dry it and make it presentable. And I still haven’t decided on what to wear.

“Erm,” I stutter. “I’ll be out of the door soon.”

“How soon?”

“Soon, soon. I’ll be out in five minutes,” I say and cringe, because I know if I show up late, Bria won’t let me hear the last of it.

“Alright. I’m heading to the restaurant now. See ya.”

I drop the phone without even thinking to end the call and I yank the towel off my head. I reach for my hairdryer but it’s not on the dresser where it should be. Then I remember I left it in Connor’s room. I rush out to get it and rush back into my room. I do a shabby job at drying my hair and I do a shabbier job at straightening it. The sun is out today; it’s not too bright, but it’s shining enough for me to wear a sleeveless top. I throw on a red tank top and a leather skirt, slide on a pair of red strappy sandals and grab a jacket in case the weather changes its mind.

I run down the stairs, almost tripping and breaking an ankle, but quickly I’m in a cab heading for 2ndstreet.

I don’t see Bria when I get to the restaurant. I go to our favorite seat, a booth beside one of the large windows. We had lunch here a couple of times when I still worked as a teacher. My former workplace is just a block away. Bria’s is a short drive away from here. I miss teaching. I miss my former students, but I console myself with the fact that I’m doing way better financially.

I’ve been waiting for ten minutes, still no Bria. I’m getting my phone out of my bag when she walks in through the double doors.

“You made me rush out of the house just to make me wait for ten minutes! No, twelve minutes. I almost broke an ankle.”

She plops into the other chair at the table. “You won’t believe who I saw on my way here.”

“Wh—” I begin to ask, but she cuts me off.

“Cheating ass Jake. I’m driving down here and as I’m turning onto the street just around the corner, I see him. I stop the car, get out, and go up to him.”

“You didn’t.”

“Oh yes, I did. I gave him the talking to of his life.”

I put my hand to my head.

“You’re acting like I shouldn’t have done that. He cheated on you and I haven’t seen him since then. He told me he was sorry and all that dick fuckery. He looked like shit. Shithead deserves to look like shit.”

A low laugh bubbles out of me. Bria is my ride or die. We’ve been this way since we were kids.

She scowls. “You’re not saying anything.”

The waiter comes and we place our orders.

“There’s nothing to say, but thanks for sticking up for me, Sis.”

She flips her hair back, looking smug. “You’re welcome.”

A few minutes later, our food is ready.

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