I take her in. Her smile that brightens my day. Makes something feel alive inside of me again. Makes me feel playful and spontaneous, like I’m young and free again. “No, I wouldn’t.”
The words spill from me with such ease, and as soon as they’ve escaped and I take one look at the glint in Flo’sblues, I regret them because I can’t take them back. It’s the truth, but it doesn’t mean it needed to be said.
My phone pings in my hand, saving me, and I glance down at it.
Alexander from Starbound AKA ignore:Have you had a chance to look at those dates yet, Evan? I also have a few reporters who are keen to do interviews with you about the recent claims from all of these women. I’ve emailed you with all the details.
This man. He’s been texting me the past few days, trying to book a date for my next appointment, but I’ve been pushing it back. The last thing I want to do is spend one of my only days off sitting in his office discussing brands I have no interest in collaborating with. That doesn’t stop him, though. He’s already sent me through a contract he’s mocked up with a sportswear brand I’ve never worn in my life, which I’ve ignored. And now he’s suggesting I do an interview? What meds is he on, and why has he suddenly stopped taking them? He’s really ramping things up lately.
Suddenly, a tall, blonde woman approaches us, steam practically puffing from her nose. She looks like a dragon, and I have to raise a hand to my mouth to cover my quirking lips, since I can already guess what this is about.
“Did you call my daughter a brat?”
Flo blinks, a proud smile on her face. “Why yes. Yes, I did.”
“That’s no way to talk to a child. Especially mine of all.” She looks her up and down in judgment, sneering at my nanny.
“Hey, if the shoe fits.”
Offended, the woman recoils, mouth ajar. “What kind of person are you? You shouldn’t be in a play park if you’re going to harass the children.” She looks at me now. “Are you really just going to stand there? You’re a man. Do something about this.”
I click my tongue. “I think she covered all that needed to be said.”
I’m hoping this woman won’t recognise me and run to the tabloids to sell a story about how Evan West has an out-of-control nanny who calls children names at the park, but there’s also a big fat part of me that doesn’t care because her daughter is indeed a brat. I’m in the tabloids anyway, so what’s one more report?
“You.” The blonde woman glares at Flo with what she believes is an intimidating glint in her eyes. “Don’t speak to my daughter again. Don’t even look in my daughter’s direction, got it?”
Flo’s wearing her large glasses, which she claims make her look like Edna Mode—that character I know since Leo loves The Incredibles—and she slips them off and folds them up. “Not a problem. I’ll just take these off so I won’t have to look at her face, which is extremely—”
“Okayyy, that’s enough of that for today,” I pipe up, taking a step forward and attempting toforce down my snicker because I don’t know what’s about to come out of Flo’s mouth, and I have a feeling it could get us in a lot more trouble than I have the energy for today. Still, Flo shoots me a humoured look.
Leo quickly joins us, oblivious to the tense exchange happening before him. He wraps his arms around Flo’s long legs, and she places her hands on his shoulders, protectively moving him behind her as the woman continues to shoot daggers at her.
My spine tingles.
Leo’s mother was never nurturing towards him. She looked at her own son as if she hadn’t carried him for nine months. I used to tell myself that she showed her love in a different way. Buying him toys and gifts was her way of spoiling him, but I now realise it was also a way for her to distract him from what she wasn’t providing.
She wasn’t maternal. I could tell she didn’t like motherhood, and although I understand it can be a big struggle for women, especially with post-partum depression being so common, it didn’t stop her from trying to live the life she had before she became unexpectedly pregnant.
Running off with other men. Partying. Doing all the things she kept hidden from me during the two months we were together ahead of finding out we were going to have a baby.
She’d play happy families in front of others for the first month with Leo, before she packed up her things and left,rocking him and bragging about how gorgeous a baby he was. But behind closed doors, she was a different person.
It’s why we didn’t last long. I knew she wasn’t the woman for me, but by then, she was already expecting our son, and even though I was fucking terrified, I wanted to give that kid the best chance at life. And that meant a stable upbringing with two loving parents who cared for each other.
Only, Zara never cared for me or our son. She proved that the second the pregnancy test came up positive.
But then there’s Flo—the woman who wasn’t even around when Leo was born, didn’t carry him for nine months, and yet, she reminds him not to chew with his mouth full so he doesn’t choke. Helps him face his fears. Bakes with him. Takes him to the animal shelter where Mae works to play with the puppies. Protects him when the mother of a brat is staring at them like she’s about to hit the roof. All the motherly stuff, without being his mother and having an obligation to do any of it.
“Keep her on a leash,” the angry blonde orders me before marching away, and I release a loud chuckle as Flo holds her hands up to imitate paws and barks out a loud, “Woof.”
I don’t like that this woman has just insinuated she’s a dog, but the last thing Flo wants is a man standing up for her when she’s perfectly capable herself.
It doesn’t mean that there isn’t a part of me that wants to head over to the raging bull of a mother and demand shenever talks about Flo like that again, though. But I keep him at bay.
“Who was she?” Leo questions. “Was she a dick?”
Flo slaps a hand over her mouth, containing her laughter.
