Page 120 of The Nanny

We don’t tell Sophie until the day of the party. It’s probably not the smartest thing either of us has ever done, dragging our feet like this, but I think Aiden has been as nervous about her reaction as I’ve been. She’s sitting in the armchair opposite the couch, her fingers steepled under her chin like a mob boss as she regards us thoughtfully.

“So... you’re like, boyfriend and girlfriend?”

Aiden and I share a look, and I shake my head. That one’s all him. “Yes,” he answers, clearing his throat. “We’re dating.”

Sophie looks from me to her dad to me again. “Why did you keep it a secret?”

“We weren’t trying to keep it asecret,” I urge. “We just—”

“Didn’t want to confuse you,” Aiden finishes.

Her little face is still as blank as an empty canvas. The way she is looking at us is almost enough to make me squirm; it feels likeI’m telling my dad about my first boyfriend, which is hilarious since I know he wouldn’t have given a shit. Clearly, telling Sophie is a much more nerve-racking experience.

“Iknowwhat dating is,” Sophie says. “It’s like kissing and stuff.”

I notice Aiden looks like he’d rather be anywhere else. “And going out together,” he says, ignoring that comment. “Like tonight. I want to take Cassie to a party.”

“On a date,” Sophie clarifies.

“Yes,” he says. “On a date.”

Her eyes narrow, like she’s thinking. She looks like the damned Godfather. Like a four-foot-five crime lord. Or maybe I’m projecting.

“But Cassie is still my nanny. Right?”

“Of course I am,” I assure her. “None of that will change.”

Her nose wrinkles. “Do you have to kiss?”

“We can try to keep the kissing to a minimum,” Aiden counteroffers, even though I’m pretty sure he intends to keep doing it as much as possible out of Sophie’s line of sight. “If that makes you more comfortable.”

“It’s gross,” she says, making ablechsound.

This makes me laugh. “You won’t think that one day.”

“Yes, I will,” she argues.

Aiden snorts. “Forever, I hope.” He regards his daughter carefully then. “Are you... okay? With this? It’s very important to me that you’re okay with all of this, Soph.”

“Oh. It’s fine.” She shrugs. “But if you break up, I get to keep Cassie as my nanny.”

“I’m glad to know where I lie in the pyramid of your priorities,” Aiden mumbles.

I pat his shoulder, grinning. “Don’t you forget it.”

“Can I go play my Switch now? I almost beat the boss last time.”

“Yes, you can go,” Aiden tells her. “If you’re sure you’re okay.”

She moves to leave but turns back with a puzzled expression. “Wait. Where am I going tonight?”

“Oh,” I pipe up. “So. If you’re okay with it, Wanda asked if you wanted to hang out with her tonight.”

Her eyes light up. “Can I spend the night?”

“Sophie,” Aiden interjects. “I’m sure Wanda didn’t mean for you to—”

“I’ll ask her,” I cut in, knowing Wanda won’t care. I turn to Aiden. “She’d probably love it, honestly. As long as you’re okay with it.”

---