“What do we do about the professional aspect of this?” she asked.
“I don’t see why we can’t leave it how it is for now. Under regular circumstances, we’d have to tell our superiors, but our superiors have to be up for school in nine hours.”
“It’s that easy, huh?”
“Unless you’re not okay with it, which I totally get. Rejection isn’t fun, but I can handle it.”
“No. I am...I am okay with it,” she admitted. Every reason she could think of not to do this just didn’t apply. They were two consenting adults who wanted to give it a go. Every complication she could think of had to do with the girls and those would come up with any person she tried to date. She nudged his shoulder. “So you wanna be my boyfriend?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Okay. I know how this might sound, but can we keep this under wraps until I’m ready to tell the girls? If we decide it’s not working, I don’t want to them to think they are losing more than a nanny—if you decide to move on.”
“I think that’s a good idea.”
“Good. Are you okay with quickies and panicked fucking except for one weekend a month?”
The deep snort Rafe let out jostled the bed. “I think I can manage it.”
“Okay, then we’re on the same page. Oh and you should still take your weekends. I know this is muddy waters and all, but you still get breaks from us.”
“Who said I was giving you my weekends?” he said, deadpan.
“Oh, it’s like that?”
“I’m kidding. I will take my weekends. I’ve reached that age where I finally appreciate my parents and Hope’s off to college next year. I want to get as much time with her and Gracie as possible.”
“See, I love that you love your family.”
“They’re pretty alright.”
“I’m sorry about earlier, when the girls brought up your mom, and for bringing her up now. Sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“They mentioned that you told them she’d passed away.”
“When I was thirteen,” was all he said. Sloan reached over and squeezed his hand, letting him know that he could talk about it as much or as little as he wanted, but he didn’t continue. He just squeezed her hand back.
“Listen, I’ll be up for at least another hour. You may have fucked me boneless, but my babies have their first day of school tomorrow and I know I’m more nervous than they are. You want to hang out with me while I anxiously recheck their backpacks and rearrange the whole kitchen?”
“Count me in.” Rafe stood and gestured for her to lead the way.
Sloan leaned down and looked at them both one more time. She knew she was being overdramatic, but she wanted to press this moment into her memory. She couldn’t believe her girls were old enough to start school. Rafe had let her ramble like a maniac until she had to force herself to call it at night. She slept terribly and woke up with more than enough time to get the girls ready for their day. They were all business, going through their list of what they needed for the day together. Sloan had to head off Avery’s attempt to bring the tablet with them. Eventually, after she took seven hundred pictures on the front steps, it was time for them to go.
“Okay, my love bugs. It is time for school. Are. You. Ready?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Addison said with a bright smile. Avery looked at her, her brow drawn in.
“I was born ready, mama.”
“Yeah you were.”
“I have a little something for you both.” Sloan looked at Rafe as he squatted down to their level. He still towered over them by a good foot, but it worked. He opened his palm and revealed two plastic starfish, one pink and one purple.
“I had some time to think and I discovered another animal that makes the cut for all-time fave.”
“You can’t have more than one favorite.” Avery said, cocking her head to the side.
