“Well, the offer stands.I’m happy to give you some pointers or create a workout plan for you.As far as eating healthier, I have a chef who preps these meals for me during the season.I can ask him to double what he makes, then you don’t have to think about it at all.”
“That’s really kind of you, but seriously, I'm not trying to make things more difficult.”She smiles up at me as I set her drink in front of her and take the seat across the table from her.
I tug my phone out of my pocket and shoot off a text to the chef, asking him to start making me meals for two.I want to help her and make her feel more at home here.
I don’t know why, but Winnie makes me feel comfortable having her in my space.I was worried about having a stranger here, but she doesn’t feel like a stranger.She feels like she belongs here and like we’ve known each other forever.
Once I’ve taken a bite of food, Winnie follows my lead.Her eyes widen and she stares down at the bowl.
“This is amazing!”She covers her mouth as she speaks with her mouth full.
“I eat them every day and Tali loves them too.Right, baby girl?”
Brushing Tali’s loose strands of hair away from her face, I press a soft kiss to her cheek.She smiles up at me with sweet potatoes squishing out from between the few teeth she has.
“Holy crap, the two of you are adorable together,” Winnie gushes, placing a hand over her heart.
“Thanks?”
“No, I'm serious!I'm not sure I’ve ever seen a cuter daddy daughter pair.You’re making me want kids and that’s not good.”She waves her hands through the air like she’s trying to erase the thought from existence.
“Why isn’t that good?”
“Because every time I think I want to settle down and have a family, I crawl back to Wheeler and that’s the last thing in the world I should be doing.”
“You said you and Wheeler dated?”
“Throughout all of college,” she sighs.
“What happened?”
“Well, I didn’t want to follow him through the minors and majors.I was already working for the Marshalls and I didn’t want to give them up.It was like a unicorn job.So, I broke things off with him, but he was put in the majors so quickly and stayed in Philadelphia.We’ve dated off and on since then.”
“But you don’t want to date him?”My brows crinkle as I try to figure out why she wouldn’t want to be with Wheeler.He’s a really great guy and he seems like he’d be a good boyfriend, I don’t understand why she wouldn’t want that.Most women would be jumping at the chance to date a professional athlete.
“Wheeler and I are… We’re great together, until we’re not.Things are either going better than imaginable, or we’re at each other’s throats.I know it will never work out long term.We’re too similar.Too stubborn.Neither one of us are ever willing to break.And, I don’t think he’ll commit to me.Not really.”
“He wouldn’t cheat on you.”I scowl, I know Wheeler enough to know cheating isn’t his thing.
“No, I know he wouldn’t cheat, but he doesn’t want a wife and kids.He doesn’t want that sort of responsibility, at least not yet.He likes being free and I don’t want to ruin that for him, but that isn’t what I want.”She pushes her food around on her plate as she thinks.“I always wanted that picture perfect life, but it’s never going to happen.”
“Why not?”
“I’d have to find someone I like enough to spend the rest of my life with.”
Chapter 4
Winnie
“Howwasyourinterview?”Liliana asks with so much excitement in her voice.She knows how much I want to find another family like the Marshalls to work for.That isn't an easy feat though.
“It was good.I think we’ll be a good fit,” I say, my attention on anything except this conversation.
I’m trying to get my entire apartment packed before the movers come.I'm not sure when they’re even coming, I just know Jamie said he’d handle it.
I wonder what my room at Jamie’s will be like.I should’ve asked him to see it, but I didn’t even think of it.I was too focused on watching how adorable him and Tali are together.
“Do I know the family you’re working for?”Lils asks.
