Page 141 of The Nanny and the Nerd
“Penn Fenn!You’re kicking ass and taking names!” Harper exclaimed, her voice echoing inside the library’s grand vestibule amid the low buzz of conversation.
“Harper, be quiet! It’s still a library,” Libby cautioned.
“Not today! Today it’s Penny’s day to shine! Our girl is going to be the Denver literary world’s next darling,” Harper countered.
“It’s not over yet,” Penny replied, taking a sip of water as her friends huddled around her.
She was on a break.
And she needed it. It had been a grueling day.
Round after round, the entrants were whittled down. And one by one, writers were bumped out. But her story, her unconventional take on the topic, continued to claim the top spot as she’d climbed through the ranks.
It was safe to say the word drought had ended.
Sayonara, Writer’s Block City!
The words had come along with a serene tranquility. She’d taken a new approach to writing this piece. There were sticky notes and slips of paper with scribbled thoughts. But she’d come full circle. She’d purchased a refurbished laptop with the money she’d earned—not, to Harper’s displeasure—with the nanny credit card.
And there was also no revenge shopping—also to H’s displeasure.
She hadn’t had time for anything this week besides caring for Phoebe and writing. Part memoir and part want ad, she’d poured her heart into this story. Her story. From doubting who she was to understanding that whatever path she took, win or lose, she did it with her whole heart.
“I think you’re going to win,” Libby chimed.
“We’ll find out soon enough,” she answered, then glanced around the room. The place was packed! Hundreds of writers had entered the contest, and many more had come to observe the competition. Along with the cavernous vestibule, the library offered a large auditorium that looked out into a tranquil open-air courtyard. She tried to draw some serenity from the foliage, but she was too keyed up. And that nervous energy wasn’t due entirely to the competition.
Charlotte leaned in. “I know who you’re looking for.”
Penny sighed. She’d be lying if she said she’d gotten over Rowen’s rejection in seven days. She hadn’t—not even close. From the moment she woke to her last thought before she succumbed to sleep, he was with her. And her body ached for his touch. But her anger had morphed into purpose. “I know he can’t come, Char. It’s a huge day for him with the debut of AI-77.”
“They have you to thank,” H tossed back, crossing her arms.
“It was dumb luck. Leave it to me to not save the files to the right server. Turns out my low-tech savviness was a blessing. But if that game does well, it’s because of the team at Gale Gaming—not only me,” she answered. Jerome had called and shared the news about finding the final demo files on her laptop. The relief in his voice had spoken volumes, and as much as she’d wanted to stop by and see Boomer, Man Bun, Just Randy, and Goose, she’d kept her distance.
“Who’s watching Phoebe today?” Charlotte asked.
“Mrs. Sullivan,” she answered, working to keep her tone even. She couldn’t imagine not being a part of the child’s life.
Charlotte lowered her voice. “I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, but have you decided what to do about the nanny gig?”
Penny had laid awake last night wondering the same thing.
What came next?
“Today is the sixtieth day. I have to let Madelyn know,” she answered.
Char gave her a sympathetic grin. “Have you spoken with Rowen? Texted, anything? Do you know where he stands on the issue?”
Penny shook her head. “I don’t know if he’s said anything to Madelyn about the nanny situation. But I get the feeling something’s going on with him and Phoebe.”
Char cocked her head to the side. “Why do you say that?”
“He’s picked her up every day from school this week, and she’s quite coy about what they’ve been doing.”
“That’s a good thing, right? They’re bonding,” Charlotte offered.
“Yeah, it is,” she agreed, working to keep the thread of longing from her voice. How she missed being a threesome—how effortlessly they’d fallen into that easy rhythm. But she had to keep her focus on the future. She had to trust Delores’s words and appreciate life’s lessons.
