“Yes, Nick. That’s extortion. And extorting a woman who works for you for sex is not a good look.”
“Shit. Annie. I didn’t mean that. Fuck. I’m just . . . the guys keep giving me advice and telling me how to be and frankly, they are probably not the best people to get advice from. All I know is that I think about you all the time and I’m both mad at you and obsessed with you and I just, Annie, fuck!”
He’d been pulling at his hair so hard that it stood out at all sorts of angles, giving him a harried look. I stepped toward him and he flinched when I extended my arms. It was a little funnyand kind of endearing in a sad way. He was beyond flustered.
“I’m not going to smack you, bub,” I said, wrapping him up in a hug.
He sighed into my shoulder. “You’d be right to smack me. I’m acting like an asshole.”
“Yeah, you are,” I laughed. “But I don’t think you’re trying to be one.”
Nick squeezed me tight, resting his head on my shoulder. “Thank you.”
It was so dang sweet and charming and he really was so lovable despite his misguided attempts at winning me over.
I separated from him, holding him at arm’s length. “I know you think you’re obsessed with me, Nick, but it’s just the idea of me. We really don’t know each other. We were together for a few days.”
Nick shook his head. “We had a connection, Annie. Chemistry. A shared wavelength. Those don’t happen every day. Didn’t you feel it too?”
I worried my bottom lip with my teeth, gazing into his earnest eyes. “Yeah, I felt it.”
He shifted closer to me. “Don’t throw it away. We could both get what we need. Some affection. Some friendship. Some . . . benefits. I could be really good to you.”
In a perfect world, I could say yes.
But the world isn’t perfect. So I let him down easy. “I hear you, bub, but you know we can’t.”
He chewed his lip, casting his eyes down. “You know I want to argue with you and tell you all the reasons we can.”
I gave him a wry smile. “But you know I’ll win, because I’m right. Let’s look at this contract. You can decide whether it’s a good fit for you. I’m okay with whatever direction you want to take it. I’m sure lots of kids will appreciate it if you sponsor some scholarships.”
Chapter 19
Nick
OCTOBER | Tarot: Four of Wands
I was out at the dog park with Greg on a Wednesday when my phone rang. People so rarely called me that it surprised me to see Dylan Sorrento’s name on the screen.
“Hello?”
“Obi, thank God. Can I cash in that favor from you?” A kid wailed in the background.
“Yeah, sure. What’s wrong? It sounds dire.”
“Jeanine’s out of town and two of the kids are sick with something. You’ve got that immune system of steel. Can you come help me with them?” His voice softened. “It’s okay, sweetie, Daddy’s trying. Do you want another popsicle?”
“Yeah, of course. I can run Greg home or I can bring him along? He’s a good cuddle buddy. Do you need me to pick anything up?”
“Whatever, man. Just come if you can. Yes, baby, Uncle Obi’s coming over—” was the last thing before the call ended.
* * *
I walked in to abject mayhem at the Sorrento house. He had three kids: Greyson, 5, Alice, 3, and Bella, who was a little over one.
Greyson had a bit of a destructive streak and had clearly been working his magic in the playroom. Crayons, paper, and markers littered the floor, with the paper mostly torn into little shreds. Dylan had Bella on his hip in the kitchen, with Alice lying in a pathetic heap on the kitchen floor.
Dylan’s eyes were worried. “They won’t eat or drink anythingand they’re burning up.”
