Page 60 of Nanny for the SEAL

“Sorry. Distracted is all. But don’t worry,” she smiles, “the noodles are still good.”

Setting down the stack of plates I had pulled from the cupboard, I walk over to her.

“You know if something is upsetting you, I’m right here. You can always talk to me. I’m here for you.”

Ivy’s face softens, her brows pinching together as the corner of her mouth lifts up in a lopsided grin. Giving the water a good stir, Ivy taps off the wooden spoon and sets it down on the counter.

“I know.”

But this time, I’m not okay to just let it go, at least not entirely.

“I want to help, hun. And I can. I will.”

She shuffles over to me, leaning against my arm. “I know, Xade. I do. And I believe you, I swear. Everything’s fine.”

When I look down at her, I can see the conflict in her eyes. If I’m right, part of her wants to open up, to say something at last, but the rest of her holds it back, keeping her silent.

I’m not going to push her, though. It doesn’t work for one thing, and for another, I don’t want Ivy to feel like I’m demanding something from her.

So, I just kiss the top of her head, and we go back to getting ready for dinner.

Spaghetti and meatballsare eagerly eaten by the entire house when we sit down at the table for dinner. Something that’s become far more common with Ivy around.

There’s something about having the three of us gathered around for a meal that feels so good. It’s ridiculous from an objective point of view, but this normalcy has been lacking in my life.

“Yummy!” Daisy calls out, burping right after she does.

We can’t stop the laugh, but at least Ivy is quick to gain a bit of composure.

“What do you say, Daisy?” she squeaks out through a laugh.

“Excuse me!”

I shake my head as Ivy stands up from the table and begins to collect the plates. “Oh, you don’t have to do that. I can.”

“Eh, sit. It’s no biggie. I’m just tossing them in the sink.”

That gets another laugh, and Daisy hops down from her chair on the other side of me, heading straight to the living room.

“Where are you going, little miss?” I raise my brows at her when Daisy turns around with a sheepish expression.

“Princess Ponies?”

Rolling my head back, I nod. “Oh, that’s right. I said you could watch. Alright, go on then.”

She smiles from ear to ear and hurries off to the living room. It’s still weirdly adorable to see her grab the remote and speak into the voice command.

“Princess Ponies, please.”

Ugh, she still says please. Damn, she’s cute. This is so nice…to be happy.

Feeling like a true sap, I roll my eyes at myself. But it has been a long while since it’s been like this, and I’ll admit that I missed it.

Crunch!

The grinding sound of metal on metal rings out from the kitchen, and I spin around in my chair to face Ivy. She’s standing at the sink with her hand on the switch for the garbage disposal, which she’s now shut off.

“Oops. I think I dropped something in there.”

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