Page 15 of Protecting the Boundary
When he walks in, his face is guarded like it’s been every time he looks at me.
“Hey.”
Short and to the point. Not friendly, but not exactly cold either. I let out a sigh because I am not looking forward to sharing bad news with someone who already can’t seem to decide whether he wants me here or not.
“Hi,” I say back, the room already filling with awkward tension. “I’m glad you’re here before Kay woke up because we had a bit of an incident today.”
He stiffens, and then his gaze turns sharp. “What kind of incident?”
I walk over to where the figurines are and hold up the bear in one hand and the piece of its ear in the other. “Kay accidentally hit it with her soft little football—the pink one,” I added as if this man doesn’t know what toys his own daughter has. I nearly roll my eyes at myself. “The ear broke off,” I say, despite it being obvious since I’m holding the ear up.
A slew of emotions I can’t quite understand crosses his face. Then his gaze shutters once more, and when he turns to me, it’s cold as ice.
“Those belonged to her mother, my wife.”
I swallow thickly as my heart drops into my stomach.
Oh, shit.
“I’m sorry, it happened so quickly,” I start to ramble. “I think it can be fixed with superglue—” He stops me by holdinga hand up. I swallow any other words that want to come stumbling out.
“Just go,” he says, his gaze now back on the bear. “We don’t need you for the rest of the day. I have practice again tomorrow, same time. So we’ll see you in the morning.”
I stare at him, completely speechless and stunned.
I have never been so dismissed.
“Fine. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say, as calmly and professionally as I can, and then I walk out the door.
I thought nannying would be a good option while I sort myself out and figure out my life.
But now I’m questioning if this is such a good idea after all, if this is how it’s going to be, no matter how much I’m enjoying my time with Kaylee.
NINE
Usually, I can admit when I’m being a giant jackass, especially since it’s so rare that I am one. Apparently, this is not a skill set I have where Meredith is concerned.
Two days ago, I had every intention of coming home and trying to clear the air after the rough incident with the pool net and me being a gruff bastard.
But then I saw the broken bear in Meredith’s hand—the bear that Sydney had cherished because it was a gift from her grandmother.
And all my good intentions went out the window.
I’d left the figurines out despite childproofing the entire house because they were up on a high shelf, so I figured Kaylee would never be able to get them. Plus, it made me feel closer to Sydney knowing something she cherished was still present in our space.
Sometimes Kaylee and I would look at the figurines while I held her in my arms. I’d always been very clear with her that they were special and were not to be played with. She knew that they were her mommy’s but that someday they’d be hers.
In hindsight, I know it’s partially my fault theywere out and that accidents happen. But that doesn’t change the fact that seeing Meredith holding it broken—the bear that had been Sydney’s personal favorite—made something in me shut down.
And instead of clearing the air, I once again became an asshole which isn’t something I’m proud of.
As I drive home from another day of practice, I’m determined to make things better this time.
Because this isn’t me. I’m not this guy—the one who’s rude and cold to someone, especially when they don’t deserve it. And if Meredith is feeling the tension half as much as I am, then one of us is bound to break sooner or later.
Despite my misgivings about having a nanny in the first place, I can’t deny that she and Kaylee have been good together. Kay is always sharing stories with me at dinner about what she and Meredith did during the day. And while I can’t understand half of what she’s saying, she’s happy and that’s the most important part.
So, I need to learn how to not be an asshole to Meredith, which shouldn’t be hard since I’ve prided myself on being a good guy for my entire life.
