I hesitated, then shrugged. “Sometimes. I got to take care of kids like you, and I liked that.”
It wasn’t the whole truth, but it wasn’t a lie either. I’d liked helping out with the younger kids at the homes when I could. Part of me hoped that if they saw how helpful I was, they might want to keep me.
Hailey was quiet for a moment, then took another bite. She chewed slowly.
“Daddy and I can be your family now,” she said decisively.
I blinked, stirred by her openness.
“You’re really nice,” she added. “And very pretty.”
My face heated. “Hailey—”
“I know Grandma would like you too,” she continued in earnest. “When she comes back with everyone, they can be your family too. They’re the best.”
My entire body felt hot and cold at the same time as myriad emotions raced through me. This was so dangerous. This silly, brilliant, kind little girl was making that fickle hope swell inside me.
My life didn’t work like normal; I had accepted that. I took care of people, and when they no longer needed me, I moved on.
But as I stared into Hailey’s sure, optimistic eyes, I couldn’t imagine anything more beautiful than belonging to something so precious. But I couldn’t indulge it, no matter how much I wanted to. I had promised myself that things would be different this time. My heart needed to survive this job.
I leaned back in the chair and wrapped my hands around my mug of hot chocolate, forcing myself to smile as if she hadn’t scraped at an old wound.
“Tell me about them,” I prompted, needing to change the subject. “Your grandparents and your uncles, what are they like? Other than being the best, obviously.”
Hailey lit up.
“Oh!” She practically bounced in her seat. “Okay, so my grandma makes the best hot chocolate ever, and my grandpa always sneaks me candy even when he’s not supposed to—”
She launched into it with enthusiasm, her words tumbling over each other as if she’d been holding them in all day.
I sunk into the conversation, losing myself in her world as she spoke about the people she loved the most.
I especially enjoyed hearing about Roman’s brothers.
There was the youngest, Reid—Uncle Reidsy—who Hailey adored completely. Then Uncle Gus, whose real name I was pretty sure was August, and who sounded like the complete opposite of Roman’s broody grumpiness. Fox was August’s twin, though quieter and apparently brilliant with computers. And then there was Graham—Uncle Ham—a nickname that made me laugh out loud the first time she said it.
Hailey talked about them with so much admiration, so much happiness, that by the time her plate was nothing but crumbs and our mugs were empty, she seemed more like herself.
Before Hailey and I could get up to leave, there was a soft tug on my hair.
My entire body went rigid.
The sensation was so familiar it sent a strange jolt through my chest. For a second, I wondered whether I had imagined it. My hand lifted toward the back of my head—
When the gentle tug came again, I stilled.
Across the table, Hailey was frowning at someone behind me.
Cautiously, I turned and saw Maverick standing there, staring at me.
He was small for his age, a five-year-old boy with dark hair that stuck up in every direction and big blue eyes. His fingers were tangled in the soft ends of my hair.
The sight of him made every thought in my head collapse. It felt like I hadn’t seen him in forever, even though it had only been a week since his parents had fired me.
I smiled softly at the little boy, keeping the concern from showing on my face. “Hey, Mavie.”
He immediately looked away, but didn’t let go of my hair.
