Page 7 of Double Fault

“See? It makes sense for you to come work with me until you find the perfect position.”

“Actually.” Alyssa sets her slice on her plate and wipes her hands on a napkin. “I may have a solution.”

I frown, dread coiling in my stomach. “What?”

Knowing Alyssa, this could entail any sort of fuckery.

“It’s a friend of a friend type of situation. He travels for work and he’s a widow. He needs someone willing to travel with him to watch his daughterandteach her.”

“Basically, I’d be a glorified nanny?”

Alyssa presses her lips together. “It is technically a nanny position, but you’d help her with her homeschool work too. You’d still be doing some teaching. I’m sure it would look great on a résumé.”

It’s honestly not the worst idea.

Lips pursed, I run through the details in my mind. “You mentioned traveling. Where?”

She exchanges a knowing look with Lucy. “All over the world. Do you have a passport?”

“Actually, I do.” I got it for a trip to Mexico that I never took. I had to use the money I’d saved when Pearl broke down and needed a thousand dollars’ worth of work.

“Perfect. I’ll set up an interview.”

Unease works its way through me. “I haven’t said yes.”

Lucy sighs. “It’s just an interview. If you’re offered the job, you can go from there.”

I tap my nails on the table as question after question flits through my mind. “I suppose.”

“It’s not a bad gig.” Alyssa takes a bite and chews. “You’d get to travel the world and you’d be teaching. Sort of.”

“All right, all right. I’ll do the interview.” It wouldn’t hurt to meet the guy and learn more about the requirements, right?

For a moment, we eat in silence. Eventually, Lucy says, “By the way, I told her about the baby.”

“Babe!” Alyssa leans back in her chair and laughs. “I knew you couldn’t keep it a secret for long.”

“In her defense, she dropped her purse and a pregnancy test fell out.”

“See? Totally not my fault.” Lucy beams at her wife.

One day, I tell myself.I’ll have a love like that. I’ll find a person I don’t want to take my eyes off.

CHAPTER 3

NOAH

With a groan,I rub my temples.

Fisher, my best friend and part of my coaching team, enters the room, his shoulders slumped.

I leave for the Australian Open at the end of the month, and I’ve yet to find suitable care for Maddie while we’re on the road. I need an extra set of hands and eyes when it comes to her. My training schedule is rigorous, and that’s before the tournaments begin. Once that happens, I’m practically an absentee parent.

“What did you think of her?”

I lower my hands and glare at Fisher, hoping he can read theare you fucking joking right now?on my face.

“She was too busy flirting with you to take any bit of this seriously.”

---