Calista is made of bone, flesh, and raw, magnetic charisma. She drives me up a wall—we bicker as much as siblings—but she’s loyal to the bone. She and April are my chosen family. When I could barely stand, Callie stepped in without hesitation, doing everything her hospital shifts allowed to help me and Lily. She kept me—kept us—going.
The poor waiter is still there, holding the chair, waiting for her to sit. But Callie doesn’t.
Her gaze locks onto Mia.
I watch as her grin sharpens, her eyes glinting withsomething dangerous. I know that look. And if I know her well—which I do—this night’s about to get worse.
For me, of course.
“Mia,” she states. Not a question. A verdict.
My friend and colleague purrs my nanny’s name. I think she's already made a decision about her. One I’m not bold enough to ask about tonight.
“Callie?” Mia’s voice holds a thread of hesitation. Her smile, though? That’s the real giveaway. There’s curiosity in it, challenge too. I guess she’s finally meeting the storm she’s only heard whispers about.
A headache brews behind my eyes as I watch them size each other up. Callie’s a lot for most people. But I’m afraid Mia might keep up.
Callie squeals, arms already flung open. “Welcome to New York, babes!”
Then, without hesitation, she wedges herself between our chairs, shoving her ass right into my face. “Fuck’s sake, Calista.” I push my chair back before I suffocate in overpriced fabric softener. “Do you want to take my seat?”
I’m already halfway up when she slams a vice grip on my shoulder and shoves me back down, barely breaking a sweat. Jesus. What is she benching these days?
“Oh no, mister. You stay right there.” She winks as if that’s supposed to mean something, then turns her attention back to Mia.
“I’ve been dying to meet you, girl. I was so jeal’ of April partying with you in London. But now you’re here, so I don’t have to”—she grabs a blunt knife from the table and lightly presses it to Mia’s ribs—“break into your house atnight and steal her back.” Mia’s eyes flick to April, alarmed, but April just winks back. “We can all hang out together.”
“Yay?” Mia echoes weakly.
Callie, clearly unsatisfied with the lack of enthusiasm, jumps in place—like the kid she’ll never stop being—still gripping Mia’s hands until Mia has no choice but to bounce too.
I glance at Liam and mutter, “I attract crazy women. That’s it. I’m the problem. I see it now.”
Liam, for once, actually laughs, then leans in, voice dropping to a wicked hush. “Yeah, I get why you drink now.”
April slaps him again, harder this time, and I can’t decide if I’m laughing at his pain or at my own damn life.
Against all odds, the night goes smoothly after Callie arrives. But after April yawns twice, Liam lifts two fingers for the check. The second it lands, I reach for it, only for him to thunder, “The fuck you are, Preston.”
“Fuck you, Gunn. Don’t be an ass. We’re splitting.”
“You’re my guest, and this is Mia’s welcome dinner. Your money’s no good here.”
“Or anywhere you go, it seems,” I clip back.
“Oh good, you’re finally catching on. Can we stop measuring dicks now?”
April hurls, then gags for good measure.“That man is like my father,” she says, pointing at me. “Can we not talk about the metrics of his genitals? I’d love to keep dinner in my stomach. Thanks.”
* **
The bill is settled, but we’re not done eating our desserts. Oh, and would you look at that? After Mia ordered hers, Liam went ahead and ordered her the other two in the menu. She just blushed and smiled, as if that was perfectly normal. First of all, that’s ludicrous.
Who the hell eats three desserts? Mia, that’s who. Second? That level of attention felt way too intimate for a boss and an ex-assistant. Isn’t April finding this strange too?
Apparently, she’s too tired to pay attention, yawning nonstop. Before they excuse themselves, Liam looks straight at my new nanny. “Would anyone like a ride? Mia?”
I stare point-blank at the asshole. Didn’t he just suggest we stop measuring dicks? Why is he offering Mia a ride home if she came with me? If she’s coming back tomyplace?
