I shrug, feeling sheepish. Evan turns the white sweatshirt around in his hands to reveal the front, which I’ve embroidered with the words ‘You’reNo. 1’.
I haven’t put anything after it. Not player. Not father. Because Evan West would be number one without being those things, too.
“Wow, thank you, Flo, this is—”
“There’s also a little secret in there for you.” Rolling up the left sleeve of the sweatshirt slightly, so the inside is showing, I point to the delicate words that say ‘I fucked my nanny.’
Evan splutters.
“Okay, race you!” I’m pushing off my heels before I can finish, but Evan’s by my side with a few heavy strides, already wearing the sweatshirt.
I’m no stranger to a celebrity party, but usually, I’d be the one rushing around trying to make sure that all my clients’ requests were being adhered to. Instead, I sit at the lavish white-clothed table with Evan and Leo, being served plates of duck, roast beef, and chocolate fondue.
We’re at a table with Bennett, Sam and his date for the evening—a woman I’ve never met, but who I’m certain he probably picked up at a bar on the way here—as well as a female tennis player and her husband. An NFL player named Riley Donovan joins us too, who Bennett and Sam try not to talk to. Apparently, there’s bad blood between the teams because of some interviews Riley did, and all Evan has to do is mouthHe’s an assto fill me in, while he finishes wiping Leo’s chocolate-covered mouth with a wet wipe.
Soft jazz music plays, and once people are finished with their food, they get up to mingle. I was hesitant to attend the annual sports party with Evan, but after being promised that nobody would bat an eye, I agreed, especially since Leo would be coming.
I’m leaving soon, so why not end this nanny job with a bang?
Everyone’s been really respectful, and by that, I mean they haven’t even looked in my direction. Who I am doesn’t matter to most of these people. They’re just here for a good time; to celebrate what they’re good at all together, with people who appreciate the sacrifices they have to make. Of course, Evan tried to duck out at the last minute, but Peter wasn’t having it.
"You look beautiful," Evan whispers into my ear, and I straighten his tie when no one is looking.
“So do you." I smile. "Does anybody want a drink?”
Bennett and Sam nod eagerly, and after promising Leo I’d get him a juice, I head to the bar. Evan’s watching me intently, eyes smouldering.
“Oh, shit, I’m sorry,” I say once my elbow nudges someone else’s, and I pivot to see a tall blonde woman standing at the bar, her belly round and swollen, her hand lying over the top of it.
“Oh, you’re all good.” She beams at me with her pearly whites.
My eyes flit down. “Congratulations. Can I ask how far along you are?”
The woman grins, clearly excited to talk about the baby she’s carrying. “Eight months. I feel like I’m ready to burst.”
“Oh, I bet. Is it your first?”
“Yep. It’s definitely an adjustment, but I’ve enjoyed every moment of pregnancy. Love your dress by the way. Who is it?” That’s fancy person for, who’s the designer,which means nothing to me since it’s an old dress I found at a thrift store that I spruced up. She flicks her wrist down to my almost floor-length black velvet frock, the neckline high but the back extremely low.
“Oh, honestly, I don’t know. It’s second-hand.”
“Oh, vintage! Wow.”
Sure, let’s go with vintage, apart from this dress cost me the same as a cup of coffee.
“I don’t recognise you. Are you a plus-one?”
“Yeah, I wish I could say I was talented enough to play sports, but I have the coordination of a freshly born deer on ice.”
That makes her laugh. “You’re funny. I’m here with my husband, he’s—”
A tall and heavily tattooed man soon appears beside her, and he wraps his arms around her stomach from behind.
“Oh, here he is, this is the hockey captain for the Regina Snowhawks, Adam Parker. Honey, this is… sorry, I didn’t get your name?”
I recognise him immediately. The bear tattoos crawling up his arms. His eyebrow piercing. Cropped hair. He’s a dirty player out on the ice.
“I’m Flo.”
