Page 81 of Nanny for the SEAL

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I shake my head, deleting the message and decidedlynotdealing with that situation. There are too many things going on right now, and I can’t handle a new one.

I also don’t trust a word my mother says. Both my parents are responsible for what happened, and my mom isn’t getting off the hook just because she served her time.

Focusing on the screen, I let myself fall into the fake world of “the boys.” Sam and Dean’s problems seem a hell of a lot more straightforward than mine, and I’m going to live in there for a little while.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Xaden

Dinner with Ivy is precisely what I needed after being apart from her. It’s strange to think how much Ihadto be around her even after such a short time apart, but being around her fills me up in ways I still can’t explain.

Still, she’s been off. I don’t want to push it because I know she’s been under the weather, but something is…weird.

Ivy won’t make much eye contact with me, and she seems to be paying particular attention to Daisy, like my daughter is a little shield between her and having to truly interact with me.

I don’t have much experience when it comes to dating. I was with Maeve since college, but it almost feels like she’s trying to break up with me or something.

Come on, Xade. You’re being ridiculous.

But my stomach clenches. I’m a tough guy, ex-SEAL, but if Ivy drops that bomb, I don’t know how I’ll take it.

Idon’twant that.

“That was really good. You said it was from Sam’s grandmother?” Looking over at Ivy as we walk to the couch, I hike Daisy up on my hip. “Or abuela as it were.”

Ivy nods, taking a spot on the couch and grabbing the remote. “Yeah. She brought it by yesterday, and I asked her if we could have more for tonight since it tasted so good and didn’t upset my stomach.”

She tenses as she says “stomach,” and I see that she’s still on edge about what’s been making her sick.

Is that all I’m reading into, though?

Daisy asks forTangled, her current favorite Disney movie, and Ivy gets it started as I hold my little kiddo in my lap. She’s already so relaxed against me that I can’t imagine she’ll last long before passing out.

The movie starts, though, and we watch quietly, the three of us sharing the sofa. I’ve noticed that Ivy’s phone is nowhere in sight tonight, and my mind churns as the opening scene plays.

Ivy is always on edge because of her phone, and I’ve seen those messages make her face go white. It’s not spam. I know that much, but I still don’t know what they’re about.

Is that what’s bugging her?

As Flynn discovers the tower, I hear Daisy’s gentle snoring. She’s completely out, and if I ever wanted to ask Ivy what’s up, the time is now.

“Hey,” I whisper, getting Ivy’s attention, “you okay? You’ve been off tonight.”

Her eyes flare wide, but the strangest expression washes over Ivy’s face. It’s this screwed-up tension that screams guilt and shock and overwhelm.

Tears spring to Ivy’s eyes in seconds, and she sucks in a sob before practically leaping from the couch and running down the hall.

“Ivy!” I whisper-shout, but she doesn’t come back, and I hear the bathroom door close. “Dammit.”

As gently as I can, I slip out from under Daisy and lay her across the couch with a blanket so she’ll stay asleep. From there, it’s down the hall to the bathroom, which is shut with the door locked.

I knock softly. “Ivy, come on, honey. Talk to me.”

From inside, I can hear Ivy heave, that harsh sound when there’s nothing behind the motion to throw up. My heart breaks into a thousand pieces, and I lay my hand flat against the door.

The water comes on inside, the muffled rush interrupted by what I have to assume is Ivy splashing her face.

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