Page 50 of Second Chance with the Single Dad Goalie
Her jaw drops. “You – You - You homeschool them? You? Blake Carter? Homeschooling two kids?”
I frown. “Why do you sound so…”
“Oh my God.” She presses a hand to her forehead like she has a headache. “You mean to tell me I just signed up for not only nanny duties, but also full-on teacher duties? Blake, are you serious?”
“What? No. A tutor comes to teach them. I help out whenever I can.”
She exhales, pressing a hand to her chest. “Okay. Good. Because for a second there, I was about to have a stroke.”
I roll my eyes. “Drama Queen.”
Her lips press together like she’s physically restraining herself from saying something. Finally, she exhales, shaking her head.
“Why?”
“They struggle with socializing,” I say. “They’ve been in school before, but group settings didn’t work well for them. They’renot naturally outgoing, and I didn’t want them to feel like they don’t fit in. I wanted to try a different approach, so, decided to homeschool them - for now.”
Whitney glances at Mia and Nico, watching as they share a milkshake, giggling over something only they understand. A look flickers across her face, something soft, before she turns back to me.
“Okay,” she says slowly. “... and the working days and hours?”
I rub my jaw. “About that…, you’d be a live-in nanny.”
She blinks. “I am sorry. Awhatnow?”
“A live-in nanny.”
“Blake, this has got to be one of the most shocking things I’ve ever heard from you.”
I roll my eyes. “Glad you approve.”
She mutters something under her breath, probably questioning her life choices. Then she folds her arms and with her eyes narrowing. “Why? You’re literally in the same house. Why do I need to live there?"
I exhale, running a hand through my hair. “This period is going to be hectic for me. My schedule is packed, and I won’t be as present as I usually am. Normally, I don’t do live-in nannies, but this time, it’s absolutely necessary.”
"Definitely needed."
I pause, jaw tightening. “I need someone in the house, someone who can handle mornings, afternoons, and those random nights when I’m stuck in some city across the country. It’s not just about watching them - it’s about being there when I physically can’t.”
Leaning back slightly, I hold her gaze. “I leave for an away game next week, and I don’t want to be worrying if they’re okay the whole time. I need to know they’re with someone I can trust.”
She exhales after a moment. “I get it; I do, but how about this counteroffer? I take the kids to my place every day, watch them,and you come pick them up in the evening, and in this case, when you’re back.”
I shake my head. “That won’t work.”
“Why not?”
“It…, it just won’t.”
Her eyes narrow. “Wow. Compelling argument. You should be a lawyer, instead of a hockey player.”
She groans and drops her head onto the table dramatically. "Can I take back what I said about being the nanny? Because this is starting to seem like a bad decision."
"Nope," I say instantly. "You gave your word."
She lifts her head just enough to glare at me. "Words can be recanted. It’s not written down. I haven’t signed anything. I can absolutely take it back."
"Darn it," I mutter. "I should’ve recorded it."
