Page 134 of The Nanny and the Nerd
Rowen
Rowen lookedpast a cluster of lilac bushes to find his fuming mother, a frowning Mrs. Sullivan, and a stone-faced Madelyn Malone seated at one of the picnic tables that dotted the park.
“Who’s that lady screaming at you with Madelyn?” Raz asked, peeking over the foliage.
He should have expected this!
“The screamer is my mom, and the other woman is my house manager.”
“We tried to warn you,” Mitch said, taking a step back when Madelyn addressed them.
“Gentlemen, why don’t you join us,” the woman called, waving them over.
Rowen checked the playground. Oblivious to his damned life coming apart at the seams, his niece sported a wide grin as she pumped her little legs on the swing, rising higher and higher with each pass.
“Well, come on now!” his mother called.
“I wasn’t expecting to see the entire group,” Madelyn said with a sly smirk.
The men filed over, then stood before the woman as if they were preparing for a firing squad.
“It’s nothing,” Mitch answered. “Rowen’s the first one to go through the nanny match process. We were curious when you said he was having some issues.”
“So, you came to help your friend?” the woman pressed with an appraising eye.
“I don’t really have friends,” Mitch remarked, which wasn’t that surprising. The guy could be a real asshole.
“Me neither,” Raz added.
Landon shrugged. “I have two point two million followers on social media.”
Madelyn raised an eyebrow.
“But no close friends,” the guy confessed like a defendant under cross-examination.
“You’re here for Rowen,” Madelyn confirmed.
“We’re physically here,” Mitch conceded.
“Like it or not, you’re going through this process together,” Madelyn continued.
“This process looks terrifying,” Mitch mumbled as Raz and Landon nodded in agreement.
“If you don’t mind, boys, while I appreciate that you’ve come to support my son, I’d like to have a word with him,” his mother said, using her high school teacher voice. And that meant one thing.
He was in deep shit!
Mitch, Landon, and Erasmus released audible sighs of relief, clearly grateful to be off the hook.
“Good luck,” Mitch whispered.
“He’s gonna need it,” Landon added, getting a nod from Erasmus as the trio hightailed it out of the park.
Rowen sank onto the bench seat and set the box on the table. “I get the feeling you know what’s going on.”
“Phoebe filled me in on your trip to the Caribbean,” his mother began, eyeing the box.
“Not to mention I’ve noticed your absence this week,” Mrs. Sullivan added.
