Patricia gives me a sympathetic smile.
“He’s a good man,” she says quietly. “Whatever you’re worried about.”
I nod, but my heart doesn’t stop beating wildly.
I stand in the kitchen,gripping the edge of the counter, the marble cold under my fingers.
Comfortable with gay men.
Not “comfortable with children” or “experienced with toddlers.” Gay men. Specifically.
He asked for that before I moved in.
What if he knows about me?
The thought makes me dizzy. The kitchen tiles seem to tilt under my feet. I grip the counter harder.
“Mr. Enzo?” Patricia’s voice is gentle. “Are you alright?”
I snap my arms to my side. “Of course.”
And then I exit the kitchen.
Enzo
A few days later, we get ready to drop Luca and Patricia at Evan’s parents’ apartment.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I ask.
I’m talking about leaving Luca. Not about the thing we haven’t talked about—the thing Patricia said three days ago that’s been rattling around my skull ever since.
He wanted a nanny who was comfortable with gay men.
Axel hasn’t brought it up, and neither have I. We’ve just... continued. We sleep every night in the same bed, and every night we help each other “relax.”
And every morning I wake up with his words in my head:comfortable with gay men.
I’ve drafted the conversation a hundred times.Hey, so Patricia mentioned—No.I’ve been meaning to ask—Worse.Are you—Absolutely not.
So I say nothing. And he says nothing. And his hands keep finding me in the dark like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“I hope it’s a good idea,” Axel says.
My smile falls.
“Look, I’ve only met Papa and Mama Evan a few times. But this is a good option. We’ll see what it’s like.”
I nod distractedly.
Patricia carries the luggage to the door.
Axel rushes toward her. “I’ll get that for you.”
“Come Luca,” she says. “We’re going to go on an adventure.”
He looks at me uncertainly, and I try to nod and put my best smile on.
“Your daddy and I will be back in one week,” I promise. “We’ll talk every day. Multiple times.”
