Page 17 of Nanny for the SEAL

Surprise hits me as I realize that it’s Adam. It really has been ages since I connected with another member of my SEAL team unit, and I take the phone back to the island so that I can eat and talk.

“Holy shit. Hi, Adam. It’s been years. I’m doing good. How ‘bout you?”

I take a bite of eggs as he responds.

“I’m good, man. In a new unit. We’ll be deploying soon, actually. I just figured I’d give you a real call since we mostly just chat on social media since…yeah.”

I know exactly how long it’s been since we talked in person or over the phone. After Maeve’s funeral the house emptied out, and it was the last time we were in the same room together.

“Yeah, it’s been a minute. It’s really nice to hear from you, Adam. Thanks.” I sigh, the memories of the nightmare twirling together with the memories of grief. “Sorry, I’ve been…quiet.”

He scoffs on the other side of the line, and I take another bite. “Don’t worry about it, dude. That’s why I’m making the effort. So, really. How’s things?”

“They’re okay. I’ve obviously still got Daisy, and she’s amazing. Just the best little kid on the planet. Though, I did just have to fire the nanny because she was stealing from me.”

“Oh shit. That sucks. The hell are people thinking nowadays?”

I laugh, struggling through a mouthful of eggs until I can speak again.

“Careful, Adam. You’re starting to sound like an old man when you talk like that.”

He offers his own laugh, and I can hear the sounds of planes taking off not too far away.

“Fair enough. So, did you get a new one?”

“I did. I actually hired my next-door neighbor. She just moved in from New York City. Ivy’s been great. She and Daisy get along quite well.”

There’s a pregnant pause and then Adam breaks it with a question that nearly has me choking on the last of my eggs.

“So, you seeing anyone yet?”

Sputtering, it takes me a good five seconds before I can answer. “Umm, that’d be a big no. I’m a single dad of a four-year-old, not a lot of takers. And besides, it’s a lot just to look after her and keep my company going. I don’t have time to date.”

“I’m a Navy SEAL, andIfind time to date,” Adam retorts. “I mean, sure. It’s not very serious, but still. You can’t stay single forever. It isn’t what Maeve would want.”

I laugh, but it’s humorless, my chest tightening. “Ha, that’s what you think. She often joked about haunting my penis so…”

Adam chuckles, but he’s never been one to let something go. “That’s a joke, dude. And come on. It’s not for you to be alone. You’ve always been a bit of a romantic.”

Scoffing, I get up from the stool and walk my plate to the sink. “That’s a bit of a stretch, dude. Just because I wasn’t as big of a hit-it-and-quit-it type of guy as you and Benji does not mean I’m a romantic. I’ll firmly assert that I know jack-shit about romance.”

“Whatever, Xaden. You can preach all you want, but I’ve seen you tear up atThe Notebook.”

“They die at the end! I was surprised.” I chuckle, running the water over the white plate until the crumbs go down the garbage disposal. “But enough focus on me. What about you? Settling down any time soon?”

“That’s a no. I’m happy to hang out for a few days and then call it. I’m still on active duty, after all. Never in one place for very long, you know?”

Nodding to myself, I raise my brows and sigh. “I do. It’s why I left. I didn’t want to do that to Maeve anymore, especially not when I found out she was pregnant.”

“Hey, I totally get it. If I did ever find someone that made me want to quit all this, I’d know it was real. Which has a probability of about one in a million, so yeah. But hey, I need to head out. I’ve got a briefing for the next mission. We should chat again soon, though. This was good.”

I smile. “It was. Definitely, well, get to it then. Keep your powder dry.”

The archaic phrase is one our unit took to using a lot as a way of saying good luck, and I warm a little bit employing it again.

“Thanks, man. Don’t fuck the nanny. There’s rules about that shit.”

“Ha! I’m not worried about it. Talk to you later, Adam.”

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